The Quran was revealed to the Prophet in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and was accompanied by a month-long fast by the Prophet himself. Fasting for 30 days during Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. The followers do not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset for 30 days. The fast lasts 29 to 30 days and because it follows the lunar calendar, the duration depends on the sighting of the moon.
After sunset, the followers break their fast with iftar. One usually takes dates and water to break the fast. After that, you can continue to hydrate and have snacks and dinner. The pre-breakfast ritual is called sehri, the last meal before the day begins. The beauty of Ramadan is that it is a month of reflection, prayer and abstinence. But after Iftari, sometimes people tend to eat together and enjoy delicacies. However, when you eat heavy foods, the detoxification reaching the body during the day is weakened in the process. There is also pressure on the digestive system and one can experience acidity, reflux and other digestive problems.
Adopt the healthy way to fast during Ramadan
The experts at HealthifyMe propose a simple guideline that will help you stay energized, healthy and happy during these 30 days.
Practice clean eating. Use drinks like coconut water, chaas, sattu and drink plenty of water during the eating window. During iftar, have dates followed by water and some dried fruit for essential healthy fats. Then follow it up with a simple meal of roti/brown rice, dal, vegetables, paneer, or lean protein. During the night you could drink water. Keep the app handy and set a reminder. Avoid samosas, fried foods, kebabs, biryani, soda etc. Sleep at least 7-8 hours. Go to sleep after Taraweeh, because your body needs sleep to rejuvenate itself. Move after Sehri. Eat a simple filling meal and drink 2 to 3 liters of water. You can have dal rice or roti dal and some salad. Go low on spices, ghee and oil. Prepare your body to get used to this routine. Eat your main meal at least an hour after iftar. In between you can eat fruit, nimbu pani and curd. Go for a walk after Sehri. The daily dose of vitamin D will keep you going. Spend some time being yourself. Like physical detoxification, silence purifies your soul. Take a rest in the afternoon. A power nap keeps you energized.
It comes down to
These thirty days are about practicing self-discipline, self-control, charity and empathy for the less fortunate. After this period comes Eid – the days of celebration. One should enjoy the days of feasting followed by fasting. So don’t even think about reining in yourself during those days of unadulterated fun, frolic and laughter.
Eid is the occasion when we meet our friends and family. Three days of Eid-Ul-Fitr come with specific food associations – Biryani, Haleem, Shahi Tukda and Seviyan. Of course, the delicious snacks and sweets should not be missed. The ideal way to celebrate Eid is to eat without negative thoughts, fear of gaining weight or wondering how many calories we are consuming. These are the days when you let go of all limitations. After the celebration is over, go back to normal.
We all need to remember that if we are aware of what we eat, we are true to ourselves. When we stay healthy, we perform all our duties to ourselves and our loved ones to the best of our ability. So remember the basics even after Ramadan. We must eat well, hydrate well, have simple foods that are well seasoned but without excess fat and ghee, have fruits and vegetables, keep moving and keep our faith intact.
This post Ramadan Eating, Made Easy and Healthy- HealthifyMe was original published at “https://www.healthifyme.com/blog/ramadan-eating-made-easy-and-healthy/”