The session has just started. Please feel free to join and submit your questions now.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the Archive.
Yours,
Health and Science Editor
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
What do you mean by getting our bodies ready for Ramadan and what is the importance in doing this?
Answer
For most people, Ramadan means that your way of eating, sleeping and living will change dramatically. Any dramatic change on the body can cause physical and emotional stress.
In the case of Ramadan most people undergo many changes. Some of these changes may include: sleeping fewer hours, sleeping different hours, eating more sugar, eating richer foods, eating less food, eating at different times, drinking less water, praying more frequently, and more.
To minimize the emotional and physical stress on our body we can prepare for Ramadan before it starts. By doing this we are better able to fulfill our duties of fasting and prayer during this holy month. Additionally, we are able to function better, get more work done and enjoy Ramadan more when we are feeling less stress.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Are there any particular foods one should stop consuming the month before Ramadan?
Answer
When our bodies are healthier it is easier to digest fats, metabolize sugar, use nutrients we consume and eliminate toxins from our system.
When our bodies are imbalanced it becomes difficult to digest fats, metabolize sugar, use nutrients we consume and eliminate toxins from our system.
During Ramadan our bodies need to be as healthy as possible so when we change our dietary habits, our bodies have the "reserves" to handle this change and extra stress. Without "reserves" a person fasting during Ramadan will feel weak, tired, emotionally stressed and more.
The foods one should stop consuming about a three-four weeks before Ramadan starts are also the foods one should minimize or eliminate from their diet on a regular basis. However, if you don't feel you are ready for such a lifestyle change at this time, it will at least be beneficial to eliminate these foods before Ramadan so you can enter the month of fasting with less risk to your health and more energy.
My "top ten" list of foods/substances one should eliminate for optimum health is:
1. Sugar
2. Coffee
3. Cigarettes
4. All Caffeine including green tea and all sodas with caffeine.
5. Sodas
6. White flour, including pastries, white pasta and white bread.
7. All oils except olive oil.
8. Artificial sugars like Aspartame or Splenda.
9. Anything containing MSG
10. Processed snack foods like chips and candy bars.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Are their any foods or supplements that one could begin to take before and perhaps during Ramadan that accelerate weight loss?
Answer
The first thing I need to say about weight loss supplements is that there are no real "weight loss" supplements that are completely safe.
Many supplements sold as "natural" that help increase weight loss contain pharmaceuticals that can have adverse side effects. Others contain a mixture of herbs that can have contraindications for some people. Many contain diuretic pharmaceuticals or herbs that can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, heart problems or issues with anxiety or depression. Some depend on caffeine or other substances that accelerate metabolism, which can be dangerous for many people, including those with thyroid problems, anxiety, or any health problems associated with the nervous system.
The only way to be completely safe with a "weight loss" supplement is to have your health care practitioner determine why you are not losing weight, why you are gaining weight, what the imbalances in your body are, what herbs may not be safe for you and finally, what dietary and lifestyle changes you can make along with taking supplements. This is highly personal for each person.
I help my clients create diets that are most suitable for them through my consulting site at www.HerbnHome.com. Other health care practitioners, healers, and dietitians can do the same for you at your request. Many people wait until they are ill to see their health care practitioner but they forget that this person can also help them with prevention as well as healing.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
What is the best diet to follow to prepare ones body for this holy month?
Answer
There are a few dietary changes you can make to prepare your body for Ramadan. You can choose to do any one or all of these things. If you are already following a healthy lifestyle you may already be doing some of these things!
1. You should start by switching your diet to a whole foods diet. Ideally this diet would contain adequate amounts of protein but also contain about 50% fruits and vegetables. Foods you consume should be as close to their natural state as possible. You should choose potatoes over potato chips, apples instead of applesauce and rice instead of "rice cakes" (yes, even "health food" can be unhealthy). Your body can maintain a better balance when it has adequate amounts of fiber and nutrients. A body that is in balance feels better, has more energy and can handle stress more efficiently.
2. You should cut out the foods that I mentioned before - sugar, white flour, etc...or at least minimize these foods. Sugar, especially, can throw your entire body's metabolism off balance. And it is the proper metabolism that will keep you feeling alert and energetic during Ramadan. If your body is accustomed to the rapid "rush" of sugar and the "crash" after, it can continue this state of dealing with food even after you minimize your sugar intake. This means that during Ramadan your body will quickly take in the energy from your food but soon leave you feeling hungry and weak.
3. You can slowly start to change when you are eating. Ramadan is not only about what you are eating, but WHEN you are eating it. To prepare for the different habits you will have during Ramadan you will want to start eating breakfast and eat it as early as possible. Many people have the poor habit of skipping breakfast and then find it difficult to eat a proper Suhur during Ramadan. Adapt your body to this habit before Ramadan comes. After eating an early and proper breakfast, practice having a very light lunch. Eat your dinner as close to "iftar" time as you can. Once Ramadan comes your body will not need to adjust very much to accommodate the days of early breakfast, fasting and Iftar.
Name
Ziadh
- Australia
Profession
Question
Salam,
what is your suggestion for the researchers who have lot to read? How should they have to prepare? Because, during Ramadan, fasting sometimes makes people dizzy. Is there anything they could do to keep themselves fresh and active? Also, after Sahar and Fajr only during Ramadan, I feel sleepy. Is this natural due to sahar? If not, is there any tips to get rid of it?
Answer
When a person does not eat, their metabolism slows down initially. Most people think of metabolism in terms of dieting and define it as the amount of energy a person's body burns.
However, this is actually a small part of what the metabolism does. The term "metabolism" refers to the combined sum of all the biochemical and bioelectrical reactions that continually occur on a cellular level to sustain life.
During Ramadan the body automatically goes into "slow metabolism" mode as a survival technique. We can be thankful for this because it is this slowing down of the metabolism that helps us feel fuller all day and that helps us maintain energy levels for a longer period of time. However, this slowing metabolism can also cause people to feel lethargic, sleepy, slow or even dizzy.
To avoid these feelings you can improve the way your metabolism functions BEFORE Ramadan, using some of the dietary tips I mentioned in previous questions. If you have a healthy metabolism your body uses up and rebuilds biochemicals in an efficient manner. It will continue to do this even if it has slowed down a bit during Ramadan. So the first thing you can do is prepare your body for Ramadan using the healthy tips I listed in previous questions.
The second thing you can do is to give your metabolism little "jump starts" throughout the day. A lot of people do this with coffee, caffeine, sugar or other substances during regular months of the year. It is actually good that one does not have those "tools" during Ramadan because they are not healthy and do not produce effective long term results.
A better way to give yourself little "energy jump starts" would be stretching, walking, or herbal sprays. Just five minutes of stretching (you can sit while you are stretching if you feel dizzy) can increase your metabolism and give you more energy. Ten minutes of walking can do the same. If you usually read for an hour without stopping, during Ramadan you will need to take breaks every 20 minutes to have a short walk, stretch or herbal spritz.
An effective herb to keep you alert is rosemary. I like to put ten drops of rosemary essential oil in a 6 ounce spray bottle with water and spritz it onto my face (eyes closed). You can also use grapefruit, lemon or bergamot essential oils.
You also asked about being sleepy during Sahar and Fajr. This is normal. If you really need to be alert and awake for some reason you can try the tips above. However, during Ramadan we need to remember that we are not usually getting as much sleep as we usually do, or we are getting irregular sleep. Our bodies may need one or two small naps aside from our regular sleeping time.
Even if you are able to close your eyes and rest for ten minutes this may be enough to get you through the "sleepy" feeling. A lot of people try to "work through" the sleepy feeling and this only draws it out or makes it worse. If you, instead, just rest immediately when the "sleepy" feeling comes, you will often find that it will quickly go away if you allow your body just a few moments of rest.
Name
myrna
- Qatar
Profession
teacher
Question
salam alaikom!
the man is still keeping the marriage only for the sake of his kids. and he believe that he please Allah if he willnot divorce her because she's old already...even they are not living togetehr for long time. He is willing to support her fiancially like his own wife even if he will divorce her, is his reason valid (that he dont want to hurt the kids)in keeoping the marriage or he shoud divorce her? he is marriead again to another woman.
Answer
The topic of the discussion tonight is "Preparing Our Bodies for Ramadan". Did you have a question about this topic?
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
What is your take on ramadan fasting pills that help you fast without feeling hungry or thirsty?
Answer
My take on any "pill" is that it is only effective or safe when recommended to you by your health care practitioner. There cannot be any such thing as a fasting pill because to say there is, is to say that everyone's body is the same and that we all need to same substances to fast more efficiently. We all know this is not true. If our bodies all dealt with food in the same way then people who ate the same things would weigh the same and have the same health problems.
As with all "pills", diets and miracle solutions there is always a section of people who will find this method or pill effective. This is possible. It is possible to take herbs that will make you personally better able to function during Ramadan. However, this combination of herbs will not be the same for everyone. For those that find the Ramadan pill suitable, they are fortunate that someone has created one! For those that don't, they will have to create their own formula.
However, as with all supplements I caution everyone to read all the ingredients listed and check each one for side effects that may be harmful to you. Never take a supplement that does not disclose all the ingredients it contains.
