Feasting, fasting and staying fit: how to have a healthy Ramadan

Ramadan, a month-long quick for Muslims, starts this week and one Vancouver nourishment consultant has some tips to assistance we say your health and aptness goals during a fast.

During a month of Ramadan, adherents equivocate H2O and food from emergence to sunset. Those with medical conditions or women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating are free from fasting.

Nutrition consultant Arooj Hayat, who will be fasting via Ramadan herself, says a annual quick is an critical post of Islam.

“It’s some-more than [just] fasting,” Hayat explained.

“It’s families entrance together, building a devout tie with God, attending nightly prayers during a masjid, removing reconnected with your community, all of that.”

Those celebrations can also meant abounding feasts — called iftar — to mangle a fast.

Hayat pronounced while normal iftar dishes like roasted meats, curries, buttery rice, boiled snacks, and honeyed desserts can fill we up, they can leave we dull for a latter partial of a day.

“Things that do work unequivocally good are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and slow-digesting proteins [like] yogurt, gaunt duck and fish,” she said.

Oatmeal is a healthy choice for Ramadan, says nourishment consultant Arooj Hayat. (CBC Food)

And another go-to choice, generally for her pre-dawn dish or suhoor?

Oatmeal with nuts, seeds, and fruit.

“It’s something we’re used to during breakfast time and it’s also good during Ramadan,” she said. “[And] oats used to be a favourite of a Prophet Mohammed.”

Staying fit

As for staying fit, Hayat says veteran athletes are a source of inspiration.

She records U.S. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad fasted via her heated training sessions and so did many Muslim soccer players during a 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Hometown favourite and thereafter Vancouver Grizzly Shareef Abdur-Rahim made headlines in a 90s for adhering to a Ramadan quick during a basketball season.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim drives a line while shielded by Dallas Mavericks brazen Gary Trent during Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas Jan 25, 2001. (Reuters)

“It’s extraordinary what a tellurian physique is means of doing during a fast,” Hayat said. “The immeasurable infancy … competence not be means to do it during that level, so people try to do opposite things.”

The biggest challenge, she says, is staying hydrated.

While some people try and practice after their pre-dawn meal, Hayat says it’s improved to practice an hour or so before a nightfall dish so that we can splash H2O afterwards.

“Staying with low amounts of cardio is better,” she said. “Put an importance on strength training, pilates, yoga, things like that that we can do when we are progressing your flesh mass.”

Listen to Ayoor Hayat’s talk on The Early Edition:

Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/how-to-exercise-and-stay-healthy-while-fasting-this-ramadan-1.4663912?cmp=rss