Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem --In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Health Tips for Ramadhan
   If this is your first time fasting or just need some guidance, these are good tips for fasting during the Holy month of Ramadhan or throughout the whole year, InshaahAllah (God willing).






   Considering the long hours of fasting, the first thing we should incorporate to our diet (Iftar and suhoor**) is slow digesting foods (complex carbs).  This is because these kinds of food last up to 8 hours in your body, while fast digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.  Slow digesting foods contain grains and seeds and fast burning foods contain sugar, white flour, among others (called refined carbs). 


 Examples of slow digestive foods : 


Whole grain cereals , brown rice, whole wheat, barley, oats, millet, buckwheat, rye, corn, bulgur, popcorn, squash, whole wheat pasta, yam, cassava, manioc, potatoes, carrots, bananas, beans, Nuts, fruits with skin, vegetables, and high protein foods.  


 Another important tip is to drink lots of water during the permissible hours (especially betweet Iftar and bedtime). You can also drink fruit juices but keep an eye on their sugars and calories.  Not because you have been fasting all day long that gives you the green light to neglect yourself.  


XXXPLEASE, AVOIDXXX

Fried and fatty foods, foods containing too much sugar (too many sweets), Over-eating (believe it or not even if you are fasting, you will gain weight if you over eat and of course you won't feel comfortable when praying or you will have heartburn), and Smoking cigarettes (besides being an expensive addiction, it is unhealthy and will make you feel exhausted all day long).  You should also avoid drinking too much tea at suhoor. Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.

Hope InshaahAllah this will help with your fasting. Ramadhan Mubarak!

These are some blogs and articles you can read about Tips for Ramadhan: 

99 Tips to Help Kids Fast during Ramadan
Ten Tips for Ramadhan
Ramadan Marathon! Are You Ready? Psychological Approach to Achieving Your Goals
A Minor Memoir: Ten Tips for Ramadan

    

**Iftar: breaking fast, suhoor: meal before at dawn/before fast.