Ramadan is approaching quickly, evoking excitement and anticipation about this holy month. The very thought of Ramadan conjures up images of a splendid month of fasting and guarding of the soul, highlighted by extra visits to the mosque for Salat-ut-Taraweeh and a general spirit of well-wishing and generosity. And no mention of Ramadan would be complete without referring to the special foods and drinks that are prepared during this month and have come to strengthen our cherished bond with this time of the year.
Helpful tips
In Ramadan people who fast face issues such as excessive sleeping and eating. To prevent that, they should prepare their minds and bodies by trying to sleep earlier and waking up earlier since sleeping at night tends to become limited during Ramadan.
As Ramadan draws nearer, they should make a sincere effort to switch to healthier eating habits because overeating on food cannot be made the focus of this month. Here is some general mealtime advice:
- In the time leading up to Ramadan, adopt a simple plan that encourages healthier food habits, like eating only when you are hungry and refraining from eating your fill.
- Make sure you're eating a balanced diet that contains food from all the major food groups — cereals, poultry, meat, fruits and vegetables.
- Organise your meals, especially at iftaar. The best recommendation would be to take an iftaar of fruits; juices and other light snacks and then, if you want, take a light dinner later.
- For Suhoor, include slow-digesting foods such as foods that contain grain and seeds like barley, wheat, whole meal flour and unpolished rice. These last longer — up to eight hours — and provide good energy, compared to fast-digesting foods that last about three to four hours.
- Avoid eating spicy and fried items excessively as they cause heartburn, obesity, acidity and they also increase people's thirst.
- Juices and fresh fruits are a must for iftaar as they restore essential minerals and water levels.
- Try to cut down on caffeinated drinks and beverages during Ramadan because these drinks actually rob the body of essential minerals and salts, thus aggravating dehydration and cramping of muscles.
Try these simple and easy tips and you'll notice the difference. I speak from experience when I say that you'll actually enjoy yourself more and even lose weight by the end of Ramadan.
The above tips could be helpful in unlocking the joys of Ramadan and making the most of this precious time.
— The writer is a Gulf News reader from Pakistan.
Would you like to write for this column?
Do you have strong opinions? Are you a regular reader of Gulf News? Do you have a story to tell or a comment to make? If your answer to all is yes then perhaps you would like to be a member of the READER'S CLUB. Write to us at readers@gulfnews.com and find out the details on how you can register.
Submission guidelines:
The word limit is 550. The deadline is Tuesday, midnight. The topic is of your choosing. We will edit for space and amend to maintain civility at all times.
