Recommended Ramazan Diet

Ramazan Mubarak.

Drink Plenty of Water

Proper hydration is essential during Ramadan. Drink plenty of fruit juice and water during Suhoor and bedtime to maintain proper fluid levels. This helps avoid common health problems associated with dehydration such as headache and fatigue.

Replace Sugar with Fruit

Sugar absorbs necessary vitamins and minerals from our bodies. During Ramadan, it is important to retain as many vitamins and minerals as possible. White rice and bread act in the same way sugars do in our bodies. Whole wheat and unpolished rice are a good substitute.

Avoid Overeating

It’s a sad truth that the majority of Muslims gain weight during Ramadan, but there is no need to consume excess food at suhoor or iftaar. This may result in indigestion, bloating, upset stomach or lack of sleep. There is no reason to vary your diet too much from your normal diet before fasting. During a period of fasting, our bodies are able to compensate so there is no reason to eat more than normal.

Ramazan Diet Suggestions

Soup

Soup is a quick and easy way to get the nourishment your body needs. Soup provides two basic needs during a 

fast: nourishment and water. It is an excellent choice for iftar.

Dates/Almonds

Dates are an excellent source of fiber, sugar, potassium , magnesium and carbohydrates (Sunnah). Almonds are low in fat and a good source of protein and fiber.

Fruit

Bananas are a good source of carbohydrates, magnesium and potassium. Other fruits, such as pears, nectarines, oranges, plums and apples are a good sources of natural sugar.

Foods to Avoid During Ramazan

Avoid fatty and fried foods as they will make you feel sluggish and possibly cause indigestion. You should also avoid foods with too much sugar, which is why fruits are a preferred option. Avoid tea and opt for water instead. Tea passes quickly through the digestive system and takes valuable mineral salts with it that the body needs to function properly during the day.

Benefits of FASTING

Fasting is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that has many lasting benefits.

1. Heightened consciousness of Allah
Fasting helps you to become less preoccupied with bodily appetite, and gives the heart and mind the freedom to reflect upon deeper spiritual matters, such as your relationship with Allah and with fellow human beings.It enables a person to develop sustained consciousness of Allah (Takwa).

2. Healthy lifestyle
A fasting person learns restraint and only responds to hunger and thirst in a heightened level of conciousness and discipline . Through fasting, a person begins to appreciate the value of food. In the Quran, ''healthy and wholesome food'' is desciribed as the best of provisions.Thus fasting makes a person to choose a healthier life style by making small but lasting changes to their daily diet.

3. Compassion and charity
When fasting, you should think of those in need who may be fasting but have no food at the start or the end of their fast, those whose tiny children are also having to go hungry because of poverty. The Prophet Muhammad described Ramadan as “the month of mercy”. His companions observed: “The Prophet (Muhammad) was the most generous of people, but he would be his most generous during Ramadan …”

4. Community spirit
During Ramadan, the one who fasts has heightened concerns for the well-being of the community – rich and 
poor, intellectuals and labourers. Community spirit is promoted as people start fasting at the same time and break their fast at the same time, and reflect together through longer prayer and deeper devotions. It is greatly encouraged to break fast together.

5. A fast without the spirit is empty of blessing
Abstention for long hours can be very hard physically and spiritually. However, by the end of the long month you should feel cleansed and with a renewed spirit. Ramadan is an ideal time to break bad habits, to reflect on personality and to improve your character. Those who fast but make no change to their lives except 
delaying a meal cannot really expect to become any different in their behavior during or after Ramadan. In 
many ways, this is a wasted fast, as stressed in a number of sayings of the blessed Prophet: fasting is not merely “abstention from eating and drinking, but also from vain speech and foul language”.
Fasting is, therefore, about much more than just giving up food and drink and hoping to lose a couple of pounds.

By fasting, a person reflects, acts and betters his or her character.

Halal Haram food

What is Halal food ? 
The following products are definitely Halal: 
1. Milk (from cows, sheep, camels, and goats)

2. Honey

3. Fish

4. Plants which are not intoxicant

5. Fresh or naturally frozen vegetables

6. Fresh or dried fruits 

7. Legumes and nuts like peanuts, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, walnuts, etc.

8. Grains such as wheat, rice, rye, barley, oat, etc.

Animals such as cows, sheep, goats, deer, moose, chickens, ducks, game birds, etc., are also Halal, but
they must be Zabihah (slaughtered according to Islamic Rites) in order to be suitable for consumption. The procedure is as follows: the animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim. The animal should be put down on the ground (or held it if it is small) and its throat should be slit with a very sharp knife to make sure that the 3 main blood vessels are cut. While cutting the throat of the animal (without severing it), the person must pronounce
the name of Allah or recite a blessing which contains the name of Allah, such as "Bismillah Allah-u-Akbar".

What is Haraam food?
1. Meat from swine - pork, ham, gammon, bacon, etc

2. Pork-based products and by-products -sausages, gelatine etc

3. Animals improperly slaughtered, or already dead before slaughtering is due to take place

4. Animals killed in the name of anyone other than Allah.

5. Intoxicants

6. Most carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears (i.e., snakes, reptiles,
worms, insects etc.)

7. Blood and blood by-products

8. Foods contaminated with any of the above products.

While many things are clearly halal or clearly haraam, there are some things which are not clear.
These items are considered questionable or suspect and more information is needed to categorise them
as halal or haraam. Such items are often referred to as Mashbooh, which means doubtful or questionable. Food falling into this category should be treated as haraam until you know otherwise.

Ramzan a month of blessings

A month of Blessings
A month of Rewards
A month of Unity
A month of Oppurtunity,
A month of Mercy...
Subhanallah, the greatest month RAMADAN will be with us in 5 days.

Namaz Sajda proven by science

Namaz benefits proven by science

Wakeup - Ramzan Round the corner

With nearly just week a week for Ramzan, time to rejuvenate ourselves to prepare ourselves better for the salaat and ayyaam. I pray to Allah  that HE give enough strength to perform ROZA and NAMAAZ with full ikhlaas and HE pardon our innocent misdeeds.

Reposting the Ramzan health guidelines which was appreciated by many
http://wakeup-mumineen.blogspot.com/2011/07/health-guidelines-for-ramadan.html