Call us on 0121 456 7820

Five tips for a healthy Ramadhan

26th June 2013

crescent-moon
Happy Ramadhan (Ramadhan Mubarak). This year, Ramadhan will start around the 9th July, meaning that we will have sixteen hours of fasting between dawn and dusk every day. So here are five tips from the Health Trainer team to help you prepare and to ensure you have a healthy diet during Ramadhan.

  1. Don’t change your diet

    It’s easy to think your diet has to change while you’re fasting, but this is not the case. Try and stick to your normal diet as much as you can. After all, you’re not starving yourself during Ramadhan – you will still be eating every day.

  2. Get some energy in the morning

    Eating before dawn in the summer might be a bit more difficult, but it’s important to make sure you take in lots of energy and fluids in the morning, to prepare you for the day ahead. Try and eat foods that will release energy slowly, like cereals and fruit.

  3. Try and avoid a big feast in the evening

    When you’re not eating all day, it’s easy to feel like you need to make up for it at dusk with a big meal. But you don’t have to eat loads of fried food, or sugary treats, to break your fast. Try and make sure your meals contain foods from all the major food groups.

    Ramadhan is often a time for family to come together – and of course that means you want to eat some good food – but try not to go over the top.

  4. You don’t have to fast if you’re taking medication, pregnant, or sick

    Islamic law states that people should not put their health at risk by fasting. So if you’re ill, don’t fast. You can compensate by fasting at a later date.

    If you’re on long term medication, you could talk to your GP to find out whether you can change the way you take it. You may be able to take it outside of fasting times.

    If you have diabetes and you control it with your diet or tablets, speak to your GP to check that it’s OK to fast. However if you control your diabetes with insulin, you should not fast.

    Fasting during pregnancy, or whilst breastfeeding, is not recommended at all, and Islamic law gives you clear permission not to.

  5. Don’t assume you’ll lose weight

    People often think that they’ll lose weight during Ramadhan, but this isn’t necessarily the case. If you break your fast with a big, oily, fatty meal every day, your body will find it difficult.
    If you do want to use the time to try and lose weight, make sure you eat a normal sized, balanced meal in the evening. Don’t forget your 5 a day!

For more advice on a healthy Ramadhan, visit the NHS Choices Healthy Ramadan pages.

We hope you have a blessed Ramadhan.

Related Posts

A New Era at Gateway Family Services

This new month brings changes at Gateway Family Services (GFS), with Jo Harper, the Head of Operations, taking over as Chief Executive. Jo is a familiar face at GFS, having worked for the organisation since 2009. During the past year, she has displayed significant...

In memory of Bob Teagle

Bob was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer almost a year ago, but in the end his death was relatively sudden. Over the last year we understand he had been telling his friends to be aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer...

Christmas opening times and foodbanks update

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all the staff and volunteers at Gateway Family Services. Please take note of our opening hours during the festive season. Our office will close for Christmas at 5 pm on Thursday 23rd December...

Comments

0 Comments