Ramadan is coming up and it is during the beginning of summer. This means that the days will be hot and long, and for someone who is not eating or drinking all day, that can be very difficult. However, it is a month that many Muslims look forward to, especially the challenges that face them, as it allows them to really tap into their devotion and self-discipline. Here I have put together five tips to help make Ramadan during the hot summer days go by safely and smoothly.
Avoiding spicy, salty, or high-fat foods during Iftar is in your best interest during Ramadan. These foods can make you thirsty for the night and increase to the next day, and when you can’t drink water throughout the day, it can make fasting a lot harder. Instead, you can try eating foods that have been steamed, baked, broiled, grilled or poached, as they are cooked a way that is a little bit more healthy.
Suhour is a very important and necessary meal for the mornings of the month of Ramadan. Without something to eat in the morning, your body will be weak throughout the day, which could hinder your productivity during the day. Your Suhour should include foods that have complex carbohydrates and are rich in fiber. This way, you will have the strength that is necessary to last throughout the day. It is also important to be sure to be drinking water during Suhour to keep you hydrated for the long and waterless day to come.
Whether it is during Iftar, Suhour, or in between, it is important to drink water. Staying hydrated is a necessity even when you are not fasting, which makes it all the more important during the month of Ramadan. For many hours you will not be drinking water or eating and you will be faced with the hot sun, which can help increase your thirst. Between the hours of Iftar and Suhour, drink water periodically to ensure that you will be hydrated for the day to come and that you are drinking enough for what you missed throughout the day.
Traditionally, people break their fast with a date. To bring your blood sugar back up at the end of your fast, eating a date is a perfect thing! Dates help to spike up your blood sugar levels and they give you a burst of energy at the end of the hot day since they contain sugar, fiber, potassium, carbohydrates, and magnesium. They are also significant because they were known to be the fruit that the Prophet Muhammed chose to break his fast with every night. It also helps to keep you full as it is a food that takes a little longer to digest.
When you eat slowly, you allow your digestive system to slowly get back into the groove of processing food. Eating slowly will also prevent you from overeating, which could result in weight gain, despite the fact that you spent all day without eating or drinking anything. It is best to eat slowly outside of the month of Ramadan as well for the same reasons, but it is important to do this during Ramadan to maintain good health.
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