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Muslims face a whole month of fasting during Ramadan, which occurs in the 9th month on the Islamic Calendar every year. Now suddenly stopping the intake of food and water from sunrise to sunset takes a toll on your body. Most people start feeling bloated, gassy, indigestion, constipation, headaches, lethargy or too full from over eating.
The discomfort during the day or after iftaar is understandable so we’ve developed some tips on what to avoid during Ramadan!
1. Avoid fried and fatty foods because these high-fat content foods don’t have nutrients and make you feel sluggishness and fatigue. Avoid breaking your fast with foods like french fries, sweets, fried samosa, pakoras, parathas, greasy curries and biriyani.
2. Avoid salt and salted food because it will dehydrate you quickly so although you may love them, you’ve got to resist achars pickles, papadums, sauces, nuts, chips and olives.
3. Sugar filled food are empty calories, they may give you that quick boost you need right after iftaar but it will cause you to crash soon. Avoid all that mithai and those commercial energy drinks.
4. Avoid tea or caffeine because they are diuretics and will cause you to lose valuable minerals, salts and fluids from the body. For avid coffee and chai drinkers try to reduce your caffeine intake before Ramadan begins so you don’t face withdrawal symptoms.
5. Avoid overeating (especially during suhoor/sehri time!)it can cause further metabolic imbalance, like highs and lows in your blood sugar and dehydration. It is better to eat smaller portions allowing your body to digest the food you eat.
6. Don’t go to sleep right after eating, your body needs time to digest so be sure to wait at least an hour.
7. We know it’s hard but do not avoid exercising during Ramadan. Be sure to stay active with some light exercise like walking or stretching
8. Eat slowly! It’s important to remember that it takes 20 minutes for the stomach to signal to the brain that you’re full. We know it’s hard to resist stuffing your face as fast as you can right when the clock strikes the right time but slowing down will make you feel much better the rest of the night.
9. Avoid beans, legumes, breads and foods with high wheat content during iftaar because these foods will have you feeling lethargic and bloated later
10. Avoid dehydration by drinking lots of water! Try to get in at least 8-10 glasses of water between iftaar and suhoor
Hope this helps guys! Stay strong this Ramadan, we hope you have a healthy and prosperous Ramadan!
