Tips to Stay Fit and Healthy in Ramadan
In Ramadan, it’s important that you maintain your health while fasting. The first thing is to have a healthy eating habit. Given below are some tips that can help you stay fit and healthy in this holy month.
Never skip the First Meal
Just like breakfast, Suhour is the first meal of the day in Ramadan. This meal will help your body keep hydrated until the Iftar time. Moreover, it will help you avoid overeating at the Iftar time. Make sure your suhour meal consists of foods rich in fiber, carbs, and protein.
Eat Fruit and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and veggies make a great snack. In fact, they are a great alternative to the junk food we consume on a regular basis. Ideally, you should opt for fruits and veggies that are full of water, such as pumpkins, squash, melons, and cucumber, to name a few.
Don’t have Processed Foods
It’s a good idea to stay away from processed foods, such as white flour and sugar. They contain a small number of nutrients and a lot of fat.
Eat Slowly
You may have the urge to eat a lot at Iftar, but this is not going to be good for your health. So, it’s better if you slow down while eating.
You can eat a few dates and then have some water. Dates are full of energy and they help your digestive system as well. After having some dates, you can have some lukewarm soup.
Your meals shouldn’t contain a lot of heavy oils and fats. Ideally, you should have some veggies to meet your need for protein and carbs.
Stay Hydrated
Make sure you have a minimum of 8 cups of water on a daily basis in Ramadan. Staying away from sugary drinks like Hibiscus and Tamarind is a good idea. While milk, soup, and juices can help you stay hydrated, know that nothing can take the place of water. So, it’s better to have small quantities of other drinks.
Avoid Caffeinated Drinks
As far as keeping hydrated is concerned, caffeine is the worst thing you can have in Ramadan. So, it’s better to avoid drinks like colas, coffee, and strong tea.
Avoid Deep-Frying
Deep-fried foods are no good either. In other words, it’s better to avoid foods that have a lot of oil in them. If you want to have them anyway, make sure you use as little oil as possible. For instance, you can use half a cup instead of one full cup of oil.
Also, it’s a good idea to opt for monounsaturated fats like corn oil, canola, and sunflowers. Don’t go for olive oil either.
Consult your Doctor
If you are over the age of 50, don’t forget to consult your doctor before Ramadan. In the same way, kids, people with diabetes and pregnant women should follow the same advice. You don’t want to make your health condition worse in Ramadan.
So, these are a few things you should keep in mind to stay fit and healthy in Ramadan.