1. Break your fast (Iftar) with some dates and water
you’ve
been holding back the whole day, and you have your plate piled high
with your Ramadhan bazaar loot. The moment you hear the Azan Maghrib,
you scarf down all the sugar-laden kuih-muih, a roti john, a murtabak
ayam and 10 satay sticks. This is not a good thing to do to your body.
Usually when you binge eat after starving the entire day, you end up
consuming way more calories than you would have normally, and that could
also interfere with your spiritual growth during this month. Take it
slow and start off with a few dates first, following the Prophetic
traditions. Dates give you a nutritious burst of natural sugar (energy!)
while water hydrates you without all the sugar.
2. Don’t skip Suhur

Source: healthiack.com
While it might be very tempting to sleep in just a few more hours
instead of waking up for Suhur, your pre-dawn meal is perhaps the most
important meal of the day as it’s what’s going to keep you fuelled up
and running. Eat some slow-digesting foods (like wholegrains, beans,
veggies and fruits) and drink water or fruit juices to keep you hydrated
throughout the day.
3. Drink more liquids

Source: weddingpartyapp.com
Your body is made up of 60% water and it’ll need the same amount of
H2o intake regardless of whether you’re fasting. Make sure you catch up
to your daily requirement of liquids by drinking up in the evenings and
during Suhur. This will help keep you alert and hydrated, and will
probably help you poo easier too.
4. Go for complex carbs instead of simple carbs

Source: nlm.nih.gov
Complex carbs release its energy slowly throughout the day, which
helps when you can’t eat anything. Simple carbs on the other hand
(candy, sugar, cakes, soft drinks etc) are broken down very quickly by
the body to be used as energy. Simple carbs are found naturally in foods
like fruits, milk, and milk products, and they’re also found in
processed and refined sugars such as candy, granulated sugar, syrups and
soft drinks. While simple carbs give you a sudden burst of energy, you
will feel depleted later on and hungry again. You don’t want that when
you shouldn’t even be thinking about food. Complex carbs on the other
hand are made up of sugar molecules that are strung together in long,
complex chains. You can find them in peas, beans, whole grains and
veggies. Try basing your carb intake on complex carbs that are high in
fibre like whole grains.
5. Eat balanced meals

Source: health.harvard.edu
Like mentioned above, the problems commonly faced when fasting
include constipation, indigestion and headaches. A balanced meal during
both Suhur and Iftar is vital to not experience any of these. Make sure
your plate looks like the one shown above, fulfilling all the food
groups needed, but try not to overeat. If you’re shopping at a Ramadhan
bazaar, do keep an eye out for healthier alternatives like kebab (ask
for less mayo and sauce on the side), popiah basah, mihun soup and nasi
campur (which can be healthy if the right entree is chosen, like ikan
bakar and ulam, or vegetable soup).
6. Avoid caffeine

Source: freelancestar.com
If you are a hardcore coffee, Coke or tea drinker, you might benefit
from cutting back on it during puasa month. This is because caffeine is a
diuretic (which means it makes you pee faster and causes loss of
liquids from your body). When you can’t drink from sunrise till sunset,
that’s the last thing you want. Also, try decreasing your intake
gradually leading up to Ramadhan so you don’t get any withdrawal
effects.
7. Say no to sweet drinks

Source: pastelbambi.com
Come on, I was a good boy / girl the entire day! Can’t I have just
another pack of sirap bandung / cendol/ ice kacang? Whether you’re
fasting or not, the same rules to weight loss applies. Energy expended
must exceed energy intake, otherwise you’ll gain weight. To many of us,
our downfall comes in the form of these sugary sweet drinks. It’s pretty
easy to sip up 1,000 calories without you realising. It’s better to
stick to water or stop yourself at one drink. Alternatively, you could
try one of these pretty
homemade fruit-infused waters instead!
8. Look to the Holy Qur’an for food choices

Source: deenoverduniya.wordpress.com
If you’re unsure of what you should eat, and what’s good for you, the
Qur’an has some answers. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) commonly
consumed milk, dates, lamb / mutton and oats. The Qur’an also mentions
fruits and veggies like olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes,
and lentils. Fish is also encouraged, as the Islamic law spares fish from
any specific slaughter requirements, making it easy to incorporate fish
in a meal.
9. Follow this chart if you’re not sure of what to eat

Source: NHS UK
10. Sleep earlier
Since you’ll be waking up for Suhur, it makes sense to tuck yourself
in bed earlier than usual. Lack of sleep takes a toll on your cognitive
abilities, and could lead to a host of diseases in the long run,
including what you want least – weight gain
Happy puasa-ing from the HealthWorks team!