Ramadan is a special month for Muslims.
Celebrated in many parts of the world, the holy month is marked by prayer and refraining from consuming food and drink from sunrise to sunset.
For many, this is also a time of self-reflection and self-improvement. As such, on top of charity, devotion and sacrifice, the period also entails paying attention to one’s health.
This aspect is one of the reasons why many non-Muslims have now taken to fasting alongside their Muslim friends and family members.
However, as bountiful as the spiritual and physical benefits of fasting are, it can be challenging and entirely possible to feel short of strength and energy.
Fortunately, staying healthy during the 30 days of Ramadan and maintaining focus — especially for entrepreneurs, direct sellers and many others who continue to work during this time — isn’t too difficult. All you need is to maintain your resolve and adhere to a few simple and practical tips.
1. Eat a balanced morning meal
Suhoor or sahur, the pre-dawn meal taken at the start of the day before fasting, is an essential part of the holy month and crucial for ensuring you have the nutrients needed for the rest of the day.
Essentially, you want to consume a meal that will keep you full. It should also be balanced.
For vegans, get enough plant-based protein to help manage those hunger pangs. Include pulses and whole foods like kale and spinach in your diet. Waterlogged fruit such as watermelon is also good for stabilising water levels.
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Speaking of water, drinking enough water and other fluids during non-fasting hours is essential to avoid dehydration during Ramadan. You should ensure you sip enough when you break fast in the evening, several times at night, and before the start of the fasting day.
The recommended daily fluid intake when fasting is 2-3 litres. As for what to drink, limit caffeinated drinks — coffee, tea, and sodas — that can increase urination. The most ideal is water filtered using HomePure Nova. The 9-stage filtration system is designed to remove contaminants such as chlorine, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals, ensuring your water is safe to consume. It also helps improve the taste and odour of the water, making it more appealing to drink and encouraging you to stay hydrated throughout the day.
3. Move, but don’t overdo it
It’s tempting not to want to exercise when you’re fasting, but the fact is that light physical activity will both keep you fit and give you an energy boost.
So, try a brisk walk or gentle stretches when you’re at work and feel your energy levels flagging. You can also wear the Amezcua Chi Pendant 4 to balance your energy levels throughout the day.
For those with a regular exercise routine, experts recommend taking it down a notch and simply aiming to maintain what you’ve previously achieved. Moving your workout schedule around will also help. Ideally, exercising before the breaking of the fast is best. But you could also do it after eating.
4. Don’t overeat when you break fast
Yes, you’re hungry, and everything looks tempting. But a huge meal at iftar, the breaking fast meal, will leave you fatigued. Worse, feasting can cause indigestion and harm our health and weight.
Traditionally, one broke fast with dates and water, and there’s good reason for that. Dates are loaded with vitamins and nutrients and can help restore the body’s glucose levels.
Of course, as mentioned, you can eat more than dates. But do pace yourself when you eat. And just like with suhoor, ensure the evening meal is nutritious and balanced.
To help manage your nutrition during the fasting season, you can also take Belite 123. It helps your body manage food and weight by increasing your satiety, reducing food cravings, curbs hunger, and eliminating toxins and harmful substances that may accumulate.
5. Prioritise sleep
Sleep rejuvenates the body. And it’s even more critical when you’re fasting.
However, the problem is that irregular patterns and eating habits adversely affect many people’s sleep schedules during Ramadan. So, try sticking to a fixed routine for food and sleep.