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IslamOnline Health & Science Section
Name
Rashida
- Algeria
Profession
Question
I always find difficulty in concentration during the fasting hours of Ramadan, what shall I eat to avoid this, by the way I am diagnosed as having mild anemia.
Answer
Bismillah, Al-hamdu lillah, may all the peace and blessings be on Muhammad and those who follow him to the Day of Judgment.
As salamu ’alaykum,
Dear sister the problem of concentrating could be the result of the Anemia you have, it is true that naturally a mild Anemia won't cause this difficulty but in some cases a mild Anemia is enough.
Another reason is that you might be eating a lot of simple sugars especially in Suhur. This in turn raises your insulin to a level causing hypoglycemia after some hours. Naturally if someone takes suhur at 4 o'clock (for example) the blood sugar will decrease at 10 and 11 o'clock in the morning then it rise again in a unique compensatory mechanism.
So I would advise you to eat complex carbohydrate at suhur like beans or whole wheat and drink about 2 liters of water starting after iftar until suhur to be well-hydrated as dehydration could be another cause. During the iftar eat red meat and a full plate of salad and it is OK to have iron supplement during Ramadan until you recheck after the holy month.
Name
hazina
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaykum.
May Allah reward you in this Holy month of Ramadan. I'm a 30-year-old woman, unmarried, but i look like I'm 12 or 14 and very, very, slim. With female body parts still underdeveloped... as I have no appetite... in my life all other preoccupations come before eating...I'm so concerned over work or anything that troubles me in life that I lose appetite... I'm driving my mother crazy. Even when I do feel hungry, which is rare, I quickly feel full after 4 or 5 bites...
My question: Is there anything natural and simple that I could take before eating that would excite my appetite... Walahi I tried several things but never for more than two or three weeks then I give up. I know that to gain weight I have to take life easy and worry so much... but please, if u could suggest something that could help me, I would be very thankful, sister.
Assalamu alaykum
Answer
Dear sister, leanness ( being too thin ) is a problem just as obesity, people who are obese sometimes don't believe that there are others who CAN'T EAT, but I know that what your are saying is true.
First and foremost you should check your blood levels of Thyroid hormones and the sex hormones, you can see a good endocrinologist to see if there are other hormones to be checked, especially if you have an irregular menses or no menses at all. Sometimes the problem is much easier that we think. if you have low levels of a certain hormone, in many cases a substitute will be enough to solve the problem. A stool analysis to exclude parasitic infestation is also as important
After you finish with the endocrinologist, you should see a medical nutritionist and do a nutrition assessment to find the specific element(s) lacking.
Meanwhile, your appetite could be increased by taking multivitamins or appetite stimulants found in every pharmacy.
Also include beetroot in your daily menu (once daily). It stimulates the appetite and fights hair loss and some of the problems of complexion.
Drink marjoline daily as it balances the body hormone. Add wholewheat, meat, bread and macaroni to your daily diet, until you do your checks to know the real reason. If you try hard to eat just for two weeks the capacity of your stomach will increase adapting more food inshaAllah.
Don't forget Salatul haja daily and duaa that Allah would ease your thoughts, sister. There is no need to worry about things, just trust Allah and He will suffice.
Name
yy
-
Profession
Question
What is the ideal diet in Eid to make it a gradual transition rather than a sudden one?
Answer
Blessed Ramadan and Happy EID to you in advance.
This is a good question that you posted, thank you!
The problem here lies in that the body has a high ability to adapt to different situations but the change from one regimen to another could take some time and should not be sudden.
Your body has adapted in Ramadan to two main meals, so the body takes its needs mainly twice daily, and in a different time than what it was originally used to. This means a different time to secrete the digestive enzymes, it also means a different capacity levels.
The stomach was resting in Ramadan with no overload. Cholesterol levels are lower, waste materials are lower (or at least should be!)
But if you suddenly in the morning of Eid stuffed it with all large amounts of al kinds of food, where are the enzymes to digest it? They are not secreted yet so we feel signs of ill digestion, regurgitation, heart burn and bad mouth smell. The body is giving you signs that is not ready yet for this push.
The best way is the Sunnah way.
First eating three dates which means giving an alarm to the body for the change of eating timing, then go to pray after which you may introduce a light breakfast. Then have a rest to resume eating in lunch as little as possible. In just two days you can resume your usual norm as the body will be adjusted.
Try to refrain from eating too much sugars or fats, you can be happy without it anyway, the other option will be adding some pounds to your weight in the days of Eid which is not a happy one!
Name
Rasha
-
Profession
Question
I want to know how to avoid dehydration in Ramadan?
Answer
In normal situations with no underlying diseases, dehydration is manageable during Ramadan. The body can easily adapt to water loss during the fasting hours and can compensate for it.
The big mistake that most of us do is to keep eating from the iftar to suhur, then drink a bottle of water in the suhur. This will go out of our bodies as urine in no time, leaving our bodies dehydrated all day long.
Instead we should hydrate our bodies from iftar to suhur. This means drinking water at regular times throughout the period from iftar to suhur. For example between every two rakat of tarawih, before you sleep and after you wake up, you should drink no less than 12 glasses of water.
By that I mean decaffeinated water not coffee or tea because they cause dehydration themselves. This way the cells of your body will swell with water combating dehydration throughout all the fasting hours.
Name
Raheel mohammed
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
Assalamu Alaikum
is it permissible for one to use toothpaste for brushing his teeth if he does not have a miswak available during his or her fasting?
Answer
I think it is permissible providing that it doesn't reach your throat. But if it does you may risk losing your fasting.
Please submit your question to Ask the Scholar for further clarification.
Name
Safa
- Jordan
Profession
Question
Can you tell me about the types of food that can act against headaches?
Answer
Headache is not a disease itself, it is a symptom for an underlying one. To cure headache the underlying cause should be dealt with first. This may be an error of refraction or a problem in the eye, ear or throat and sometimes it a psychological problem .
Some people get good results using aqua punctures, other use cupping and blood letting to relieve the pain.
Some types of herbs might be used such as lavender, Ginkgo biloba and peppermint, but their interaction together could cause harm to the liver so either take them separately or better consult a herbalist.
In you diet avoid foods rich is fats and added sugars. Take small meals frequently rather than eating heavy meals.
For everyone, there are certain foods that trigger headaches; discovering these is left for trial and error. But mostly avoid alcohol, flavorings, caffeine, chocolate , non-fresh meat. Sometimes peanuts and foods rich in tyramine or tannins are incriminated.
Eat in moderation and avoid sudden changes in your diet and avoid cutting caffeine all of a sudden, that's why preparatory period before fasting is very important.
Name
Monique
-
Profession
Question
What do you recommend for Children suhoor?
Answer
Children and adult suhur should include
Some things from the bread and cereal group; e.g. bread, whole grains, cereals, pasta, etc. These take a long time to be digested thus giving the sense of fullness for a longer time.
A little from the fats and oils group. Have some of it over the beans or a few drops over any food available as it decreases the feeling of hunger.
Eggs are important and milk and milk products e.g. milk, cheese, yogurts.
