The 10 tips to keep healthy this Ramadan

Ramadan is just around the corner with is long hours of fasting and its daily struggle at Iftar to resist the food. Ramadan is the Holiest Month of the Year for billions of Muslims but it could also be the best time of the year to offer your body a smart detox and end up the month in better physical and mental shape. Follow these 10 tips to make the most of your fasting.

1. Do not over indulge at Iftar !

Yeah I know you are starving and all this yummy dishes are just too hard to resist ! Hold tho !

Overindulging will only have disastrous consequences for you. Stuffing yourself on an empty stomach will for sure lead to stomach cramps and sickness without even mentioning the extra pounds on the scale by the end of the month.

2. Eat mindfully

This can sounds like a distant dream when you haven been starving for hours but you will not been able to control your hunger if you do not practice mindfulness.

Eat slowly, take time to chew your food and give time to your brain to register the fact that your are eating and giving you the right signals when you had enough. If you are binge eating, your brain won't have time to process the information and you will end up over indulging.

So slow down, feel the flavors and appreciate the food and the way your body react to it. After all Ramadan is about appreciation and gratitude right ? So be grateful for this yummy food and honor it by feeding yourself in a mindful way, taking your time to enjoy it.

3. Be wise on your food options

Oh look at these amazing fried dishes, or this one full of Bechamel !! Looks yummy huh ?

Well these may look yummy but they are typically the ones you should avoid or at least control if you do not wanna have a bad surprise on the scale by Eid.

To help you control your cravings, always start your Iftar with some dates and a large glass of water, followed by a soup. That should settle your stomach and leave less space for the fatty food. Ideally, you should wait 10 to 15 minutes before carrying on with your meal, just for your stomach to be ready for the next step.

For your main meal, always prefer vegetables, lean proteins and wholesome carbs to the fried items. Take it easy on bread, dip some carrots on cucumber sticks into the hummus if you can not help yourself.

And if for you a Ramadan would not be a Ramadan without Samboosaks or Kebbehs, cook them in the oven or using an Air fryer. No deep frying tho !

4. Eat at Home !

Just avoid the gigantic buffets and their abondance of super tempting (and unhealthy most of the time) food ! I mean come on ! Who can resist that much food ?

Eating at home allows you to avoid temptation and also to control the amount of sugar or fat you are cooking with.

Still wandering why restaurant food is that yummy ? Well because they use a LOT of butter, oil and sugar... Could be good as a treat from time to time but stick to Iftar at home as much as you can.

5. Do not skip Suhoor

One meal a day is not enough and it will end up encouraging over indulging on the next Iftar and feeling low the day after (another excuse to skip working out huh ?).

I know you are tired but do not skip Suhoor, your body will thank you for that.

The ideal Suhoor should included complex carbohydrates, lean protein and indeed vegetables. It could be some wholewheat bread and white cheese with Tomatoes and cucumber or veggie sticks with Hummus or even a yogurt and granola bowl. Just keep it light but stuffing to help you go thru the day.

6. Get your water intake !

Ok you are not drinking during fasting hours. However, your body DOES need water to work and you need to catch up at night.

Body needs 2 to 2.5 liters of water a day so from Iftar to Suhour make sure to drink plenty. Look for extra water intakes as well on fruits or soups. Be careful with tea and coffee tho as they can be highly dehydrating.

7. Easy on sugar !

"Oh it's ok ! I have been fasting all day, my body needs sugar"

Sounds familiar ? Have you been using this excuse to jump on the desserts ?

If yes, well you should know that your body does not need more sugar than usual. So basically, your body do not need any refined sugar to work and certainly does not need any compensation for your fasting.

So let's make it clear, if you want to drop weight during Ramadan just avoid the sugary treats and stick to fruits. On the other hand, if you just want to maintain your weight, still favor fruits and home-made desserts, avoid the ones over-dipped in syrup and honey.

Watch out also what you are drinking, some of the traditional drinks and fruits juices are super high on sugar so always request the not sweeten version. Sodas must be banned for life anyway, yes even the "diet" one, they are just bad for you !

8. Work out !

Yes you read me well. Ramadan is actually a great opportunity to exercise and see faster results. First of all, you have more time as the working hours are decreased. Second of all, when your body is fasting, actually it happens 8 hours after your last meal, he will start using fat to function.

Extra effort means extra fat loss !

Easy then, working out does not mean run a half-marathon on Kite Beach. Prefer low intensity exercises like pilates, yoga or gentle weight lifting especially if you train before Iftar, one of the best timing to do so. However, if you feel really down, exercise after Iftar to be able to recharge before sweating.

9. Meditate !

Ramadan is a slow pace month that contrast to hour hyper active Dubai life. It is a great time to slow down and take time for yourself.

It is also proven that meditation and fasting work well together so maybe it is time to give it a try.

10. Spend time with your loved ones

Ramadan is also about getting together, sharing Iftar with your friends and family, spending quality time with your dear ones.

Remember that what keeps you happy keeps you healthy thanks to the happiness hormones your body produces when you are having good times. So enjoy this blessed time and

Ramadan Kareem !