RAMADAN ...THE PURPOSE BEHIND FASTING

Ramdan is the month in which Quran was revealed. Fasting is done by all able bodied , men and women . If a person is sick or has some medical reason or if a woman is pregnant then they are waived from fasting. During Ramadan,the people who fast are not allowed to eat or drink anything (including water) from dawn to after sunset. Also one has to restrain other body parts which may render the fast worthless. despite the main factor of hunger and thurst. For instance, must avoid backbiting , slander,hurt people physically or emotionally, lies etc. Also when one is fasting he/she has to remember other people of the world who are less fortunate. It is done for the purity of mind and soul

Charity is one of the extremely recomended acts during fasting. Muslims are required to give minimum of 2.5% of their annual savings as charity to poor and needy people. Also various saying of the prophet(pbuh) where he has said that any charity made in Ramadan multiplies upto 70 times. If people who are poor and can not afford to give money for charity then even a smile is an act of charity. 

In recent years lot of research has been done about the medical benefits of Ramadan. The physiological effects of fasting is including lowering blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of systolic blood pressure. In fact fasting is an ideal recomendation for treatment of mild to moderate stable, non insulin diabetes.obesity ,and essential hypertension.There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is minimum. 

Health guidelines for Ramadan.

In view of the long hours of fasting, we shold consume slow digesting foods including fiber containing foods. Slow digesting foods are foods that contain grains, seeds like barley, wheat oats, semolina,beans,lentil,whole wheat flour , unpolished rice etc (complex carbohydrates). Fiber containing foods are bran containing foods such as grains seeds, vegetables like spinach, beans peas herbs like methi, leaves of beatroot fruits with skin especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds etc. 

The food eaten should be well balanced containing from each food group. such as fruits, vegies meat like chicken and fish . Fried food should be avoided as they cause indigestion , heart burn and weight gain. 

Avoid fried foods totally. Avoid foods containing too much sugar. Avoid overeating especially at Sehri. 

Eat complex carbohydrate at Sehri so that food lasts longer making you less hungry. Dates are excellent source of sugar, fiber and carbohydraes,potassium and magnisium . Almonds are rich in protein and fiber with less fat. Bananas are good source of potassium magnisium and carbohydrates. 

Drink as much as water and fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time. If you take too little fluid in those hours you will feel lethargy and week in the afternoon. 

Lastly, some people think one month of fasting is too much,while others feel it's the only time for the redemptions of their sins. It is the time to get their sins forgiven and reward increased. 

MAY GOD BLESS US ALL AND FORGIVE OUR SINS  AND MAKE US GOOD HUMAN BEINGS.(AMEEN)

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