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Yours,
Health and Science Editor
Name
Om Majid
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Profession
Mother
Question
We have moved to Korea for a year. How good are essential oil. I join a company that sell essential oil so i would like to learn more on safety in using and danger on using do you have any information. I love the oils and I have found that they were us in the arabic world way back in history.
Ms Rose
Answer
Dear Ms. Rose,
Essential oils can be used to lose weight before and after Ramadan and are just as effective as any other natural therapy as long as they are used correctly and with caution. Here are some tips:
1. Make sure the oils you purchase are of good quality. One way to tell is the price. Each bottle of essential oils contains hundreds of flowers and some are very expensive. You can see the market price for the oils online. If someone is selling you a bottle for below the market price there is something wrong with it.
2. Make sure the oils you purchase are pure and are not mixed with base oils.
3. Make sure the oils you purchase have been stored in opaque bottles away from heat and sunlight and that their manufacture dates are clearly marked. Essential oils only have a shelf life of about one year (for therapeutic use). If they are mixed with a base oil this window reduces to about 6 months.
4. Be sure to check the contraindications and cautions for each oil. Some are safe during pregnancy and some are not. Some are not safe for people with low blood pressure, high blood pressure, anxiety, etc…
5. You do not need to use a lot of the essential oil for it to be effective. For adults three drops per tablespoon of base oil is usually adequate.
6. Make sure you always mix your essential oil with a base oil. The only oils that can be used “raw” are lavender and tea tree (with caution).
I hope this gets you off to a good start!
My favorite time to use essential oils is with clients who do not like to take teas or herbal formulas, with children, and for acute problems that demand immediate relief such a headaches, cramps or burns. Since essential oils are directly absorbed into the skin and the bloodstream they can work very quickly.
Name
Pasha
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Profession
Question
Thank you Karima for this session. I wanted to ask how I can continue to lose weight after Ramadan. During Ramadan it's easy as I can't eat all day and then only have a few hours to eat at night and I am already full from the Iftar, but as soon as Ramadan is over I go back to my ole ways. What can I do?
Answer
Dear Pasha,
This will happen any time you use an extreme lifestyle change to lose weight. Although Ramadan is not intended as a weight loss program, some people are able to use it that way. However, because it involves an extreme lifestyle change, the body is not able to "keep up the pace" after Ramadan.
The best way to continue weight loss after Ramadan is to continue good weight loss habits. However, one habit you do not want to continue after Ramadan is skipping the morning meal. After Ramadan the morning meal is especially important in any weight loss program.
Instead of skipping the morning meal think about what other good habits you were able to maintain during Ramadan. You mentioned only having a few hours to eat at night. This is a good start. Many people gain a lot of weight by eating late at night. If you can continue to only eat one meal in the evening - even after Ramadan - this will help with weight loss.
What are other good habits you have had during Ramadan?
Are you eating more home cooked meals and fresh foods instead of fast foods or sandwiches? This is also beneficial to weight loss.
Are you drinking more herbal teas like mint? These herbal teas can replace more fattening drinks and can help you digest food more efficiently.
Are you keeping regular meal times?
Regular meal times can contribute to weight loss.
Were you praying more rakat (more exercise)?
All of these are important habits to continue after Ramadan as well.
Name
Persia
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Profession
Question
I gave birth several years ago and since then I have had lax abdominal muscles.
I heard that if I suck my tummy area in while sitting this will help, is that true?
What else can I do to strengthen these muscles?
Answer
Dear Persia,
You are right - this will help. Basically, any time you are using those muscles in a focused and regular way for a period of time you are toning them. So even if you are just sitting and sucking in your tummy area, as long as you are doing it a few times a day for about 20-30 times each session, you will see results.
If you would like faster results or would like to do an exercise that does not involve as many repetitions or sessions each day you can try something more intense like sit-ups. There are a number of methods of doing these and, if you like, a number of machines that you can purchase to make these sit-ups more efficient. It would be best to look up the different methods online as the websites that have instructions would have pictures as well. It is very important to follow the instructions precisely as you want to make sure you are working the right muscles in the most efficient way.
Name
Fatima
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Profession
Question
I have been trying to lose weight for several years now, I start eating healthy for a few weeks and sometime longer and begin to excercise but it never lasts. What can I do to stay motivated and to not fall off the wagon each time I start?
Answer
Start by making gradual changes. Make a list of goals you would like to achieve and make these changes over time - not all at once. It is difficult for the body to adapt to so many changes at once so often, if we make extreme changes, the body will not be able to "keep up" and will return to the place that was "normal" before the changes.
It is like a swinging pendulum. If a pendulum swings in one direction very strongly it will have to swing back in the opposite direction just as strongly.
To avoid this "pendulum effect" you can make small changes instead of large ones. Start with the most important changes. Once you have made a change and you feel comfortable with it, then continue on to the next one. Over time you will find that you are naturally falling into healthy lifestyle habits without any effort at all.
Here is an example:
Start with exercise. Do something you know you will enjoy on a continuous basis. If you don’t like intense exercise then don’t join a gym. If you like to walk then do that instead. If you don’t like yoga or exercise routines don’t join a class. Perhaps you like stretching instead? Do this for 40 days. Once this becomes a habit and you are enjoying it then add in something else.
The next step could be eliminating or reducing some of the “junk food” or poor food choices you are making now. What are your weaknesses? Ice cream? Coffee? Potato Chips? Whatever they are you can now start to reduce one or two of these. If you are eating your item daily then reduce it to once a week. After you have gotten in the habit of going without this item for a week or more at a time you can start on the next change you want to make and so on…
This may seem like a very slow way to lose weight. However, the body itself often does not adapt to a diet very quickly anyway. Sometimes a person can diet for 3-4 months or longer before the body decides it is ready to let go of that extra weight. Many people wonder why they stop losing weight or why they can't lose weight. Many times it is because they have given up too soon. Before the weight loss comes the body is making some inner adjustments and healing so it often takes some time for the real weight loss to start. It is happening on some level under the surface, but is not obvious on the scale yet.
Insha’allah this gets you off to a good start!
Name
salam
- Australia
Profession
Question
Salam !
I find that i gain heaps of weight duirng ramadan.... how can i try manage my weight and hopefully lose some of it, as i am slightly overweight.
Thank you
Answer
Answer
You are not alone! Most people do gain weight during Ramadan. Ramadan is filled with all sorts of potential bad eating habits. Of course one does not need to follow the bad eating habits during Ramadan, but it is the easiest (and often the most enjoyable way) to spend the month.
Here are some trouble points during Ramadan that you can work on now and try to continue into the months after Ramadan is over.
1. Eating late at night. This can often cause an increase in weight gain. Try to eat your main meal at Iftar, refrain from eating any sweets or larger additional meals after iftar, and then have a good size suhur in the morning before fajr.
2. Don’t eat all your meals with large groups of friends and family. It is much easier to eat too much when one is eating with a group of people and chatting and having a good time. Make sure at least some of your meals are peaceful and perhaps even eaten alone or with immediate family only.
3. Eat Suhur. Many people skip suhur like they skip breakfast during the rest of the year. This will slow down your metabolism for the day and will make it difficult for you to lose weight.
4. Reduce consumption of sodas and coffee. These beverages will cause you to gain weight. Even “sugar free” beverages are not safe. Studies show that, in fact, “sugar free” beverages cause you to gain more weight because of the way your body reacts to the chemicals in them.
5. Reduce consumption of sweets. When you are offered baklava and other wonderful Ramadan treats take small portions or eat only half the portion that was given to you. People often serve very large portions during Ramadan. You don’t need to avoid the good foods completely – you just need to moderate them.
6. Eating a heavy Iftar. If you eat a large Iftar and then feel tired afterwards and sit and rest you will gain more weight. It is better to eat a light iftar and then take a walk afterwards. Or to eat your soup and some dates, do your prayers and then come back and have a regular size meal. A walk after that is perfect.
Insha’allah some of these tips will help you during Ramadan and afterwards.
Name
Somaya
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Profession
Question
I get fat round my tummy area more than anywhere else and it looks awful!
What is the fastest and easiest way to get rid of this fat?
Answer
Unfortunately the fastest and easiest ways are not the ways that are the most healthy and/or last the longest. Of course one could have surgery but that is risky, expensive and uncomfortable. However it is fast and easy. One could also take medications or powerful herbal formulas. This is also fast and easy. However, many of these formulas have dangerous side effects and once you stop taking them the fat will come back quickly.
There is not a fast and easy way to lose fat around the belly. However, there are some methods that will provide you will significant and lasting results.
They are:
1. Target exercises. Stretching and toning this area of your body for only 15 minutes a day will show results after only 30 days. Combine this will some regular exercise like walking and good eating habits and the results will be significant.
2. Exercise classes that target the tummy area. There are a number of exercise classes that can help you work on your tummy such as yoga, tai chi, and others.
3. Herbal wraps – these are available at health spas. This involves wrapping areas of your body with cloth soaked in herbs that help extract toxins and dissolve fat. You can target areas of your body with this therapy. However, to be really effective it needs to be done at the same time as a low fat diet.
4. Aromatherapy oils such as grapefruit and fennel can help dissolve fat deposits in targeted body areas. Add three drops of essential oil to a tablespoon of massage oil and massage into your abdomen twice a week.
5. Reduce wheat products , starches and bread in your diet. Starches, especially wheat, can cause you to be bloated in the abdominal area without even realizing you are bloated.
6. A regular healthy way of eating that involves eating foods lower in fat and salt and higher in vegetable content.
7. Find your ideal eating style. Many people continue to gain weight and accumulate fat in certain areas because they are eating the wrong foods. Some people need more meat, others need more vegetables. Some people need more grains and others get fat with grains. Some people can be vegetarian and others can get fat trying this kind of diet.
Insha’allah this helps you get off to a good start.
Name
Anisa
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Profession
Question
Asalam,
I have suffered from vinge eating disorder. Now alhamdulilah I seem to have somewhat recovered for the last year and I have lost 20 pounds of weight. The last time though I have become again more self conscious of my weight and my eating and I´m afraid it will be spinning out of control. How can I prevent that from happening?
Answer
If you are suffering from a binge eating disorder then there are a lot of complex issues surrounding this that go beyond diet. It is easy to see a binge eating disorder as having to do with food, however, many people with this disorder actually have more control over food than most people. Many also have a good knowledge of what foods are healthy and what are not. So it is not for lack of willpower or knowledge that you are having trouble with food.
You need to find the source of what is causing this disorder and find someone you can speak to who will support you in your efforts to stay away from this practice. You could see a counselor or attend a support group. You could tell a friend and ask them permission to call them any time you feel the temptation to start again. In any case, you need someone else to help you with this problem as it is difficult to overcome alone.
Along with finding the source and talking through the reasons behind this habit, you need to create a deterrent to going back to this habit. A very effective technique here would be visualization.
If your binging involves bulimia then most people who use binging in this way have an image in their head that the they are helping their weight loss efforts. They think of getting rid of the food as a clearing of the body and they imagine they are cleaning their body and getting rid of the bad things that make them gain weight.
You need to change this image to something more realistic and less attractive. Starting today – any time you think of throwing up (if this is something you do, I was not sure if you were just experiencing binge eating only or binge eating/bulimia) then imagine the images of your esophagus burning, imagine what it would look like if someone was watching you do this, imagine as many negative images as you can. Over time this will cause your body to have an “allergic reaction” to the habit.
If your problem is simply binge eating (without bulimia) then you need to find, once again, what image you have in your head when you are doing this and change this image. Do you imagine comfort and happiness when you binge? Are you fearful or stressed? Once you have figured out what image you have when you are binging then work on changing that image to something different.
Name
Rosa
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Profession
Question
Salaam! I need to loose weight by any means, preferably with natural products. I have no major health problems, except for blood pressure that I keep in check with medicine. What can you recommend?
Answer
Dear Rosa,
I would recommend that you avoid any prepared weight loss supplements or herbal formulas and that you create your own based on your own needs and situation.
Assuming you have healthy eating habits and exercise regularly, what is stopping you from losing weight? Do you suffer from constipation and slow elimination? If so then pysllium seed (daily) and /or cascara sagrada (once a month only and always mixed with fennel) can help.
Do you often get indigestion and/or feel bloated? Herbs like aloe vera, peppermint, or chamomile could help.
Do you or have you eaten a lot of fatty foods in the past? If so then your liver may need cleansing. Good herbs for that are milk thistle, burdock root and dandelion root.
Do you retain a lot of water and often feel bloated? Then nettles or hibiscus tea can help.
Once you pinpoint your problem spots you can find the perfect tea combination for yourself, check to make sure the herbs you have chosen are safe, take with your blood pressure medication and start to lose weight more efficiently.
