Fasting and You

I believe that I have posted something similar to this before but it's good to refresh our memories especially when it concerns your health during the month of Ramadhan. Here are some good tips on fasting and health which I found from a very good website here which I thought would be a good thing to share with you guys hehe. :) Have a read!

What to avoid

Fried and fatty foods,

Food containing too much sugar,

Over eating especially at sahur,

Too much tea at sahur: Makes us pass more urine thus taking valuable minerals along with it which are needed during the day.

Smoking cigarettes: unhealthy.

What to eat

Complex carbohydrates at sahur so food lasts longer, making us less hungry.

Eg. bananas are a good source for potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates. Other examples include oats, unpolished rice, beans, lentils etc.

What to drink

As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that our body may adjust fluid levels in time.

Constipation

Can cause hemorrhoids (buasir), fissures (painful cracks in the anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.

Causes: too much refined food, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.

Remedy: Avoid excessive refined food (fast-burning food that contain sugar, white flour, etc), increase water intake, and use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.

Indigestion and wind

Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty food, spicy food, and food that produce wind (angin) eg. eggs, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola (which I love, haha) also produce gas.

Remedy: Do not over eat, drink fruit juices or better still water. Avoid fried fruits.

Lethargy (low blood pressure)

Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from a sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with low blood pressure. This tends to occur towards late afternoon.

Causes: too little fluid intake decreased salt intake.

Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.

Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. People with high blood pressure may need to adjust their medication during ramadhan.

Headache

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, hunger usually occurs as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When associated with low blood pressure, the headache can be severe and can also cause nausea towards iftar.

Remedy: Cut down tobacco and caffeine slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan . Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganise schedule so that we can get enough sleep during Ramadhan.

Low blood sugar

Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headaches, palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.

Causes in non diabetics: Having too much sugar such as refined sugar especially at sahur. The body produces too much insulin causing blood glucose to drop.

Remedy: Eat something at sahur and limit sugar-containing food or drinks.

Muscle cramps

Causes: inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium food.

Remedy: Eat food rich in the above minerals eg. vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat and dates.

Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult with their physician.

Peptic Ulcer, Heart burn, Gastritis and Hiatus Herniab

Increase acid levels in the stomach aggreviate the above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can extend up to the throat. Spicy food, coffee and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.

Kidney stones

May occur in poeple who have less liquid to drink. Thus, it is essential to drink extra liquid to prevent stone formation.

Joint pains

Causes: during Ramadhan, when extra solat are performed, the pressure on the knee joints increase. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.

Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not need to carry the extra load. Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional strain. Before physically fit allows greater fulfilment, thus enabling one to be able to perform solat with ease.

Happy Ramadhan everyone!