Friday, July 19, 2013

How to keep your body healthy and nourished during Ramadhan

From energy foods to how you can stay hydrated, we’ve got the tips for you straight from the expert!

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

tomatoes (© Getty Images)

Can you share some tips to stay healthy during Ramadhan?

When we fast, our bodies naturally become less active because of the reduced energy that we are getting from food. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the level of high impact exercise you perform during Ramadhan. Rather than lifting weights at the gym, consider something like yoga which will place less stress on your body and also allows you to relax during your exercise. If you need to work out or train at the gym, consider exercising after you have broken the fast.
As fasting during Ramadhan only extends from dawn until dusk, there is ample opportunity to replenish energy stores at pre-dawn and dusk meals. This provides a progressive and gentle transition from glucose to fat as the main source of energy, thereby preventing the breakdown of muscle for protein.
Balanced food and fluid intake is important between fasts. The kidney is very efficient at maintaining the body’s water and salts, such as sodium and potassium. However, these can be lost through sweating. To prevent muscle breakdown, meals must contain adequate levels of ‘energy food’, such as carbohydrates and some fat. Hence, a balanced diet with adequate quantities of nutrients, salts and water is vital.

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