What is Ramadan? 2016 Dates, Rules on Fasting and Frequented Food During Muslim Holiday
The holy month for Muslims will start in a few days with fasting expected to last longer during the day because of the summer solstice.
Dubbed Ramadan, this holy month for Muslims will begin on June 6 and will be observed until July 5, Metro noted. The month-long celebration commemorates the time when Allah handed the Koran, the holy book of Islam, to Prophet Muhammad.
Independent explained that Ramadan is also the ninth month in the Islam calendar, which is considered the most scared because of the Koran's history. For the entire month, Muslims do not eat nor drink from the moment the sun rises to sunset. They also pray, contemplate and practice acts of generosity towards others.
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Rules on Fasting
Two meals in a day, as per Metro, are the only food consumption allowed for Muslims during Ramadan. The meal before sunrise is called suhoor while the meal after sunset is termed iftar. All are expected to follow these guidelines on fasting except the young people, elderly and sick.
Allowed Food Items
People who are fasting are advised to eat carbohydrates since it slowly releases energy into the body. They are, however, warned about eating food which are high in fat and sugar.
The Week said some food items that Muslims can eat are oats, wheat, lentils, baked samosas, milk-based puddings, dumplings and grilled meat. Fried food should also be avoided because they are unhealthy and could make a person easily hungry.
Staying Healthy and Active During Ramadan
Senior nutritionist Lovely Ranganath told Gulf News that there are secrets to maintaining a healthy and body during the whole month of fasting. Aside from avoiding unhealthy and spicy foods, she said that having enough sleep is a big help for people who are fasting.
"Waking up for suhoor becomes difficult as the digestion of fried foods interferes with our sleep cycle," the nutritionist explained. "The body needs to put in more effort to break down the fats which is a long process."
She also noted that not having enough water in one's body can cause dehydration and bloating of the stomach, especially after eating the meal at the end of the day.
The End of Ramadan
Celebrations usher in the end of Ramadam with Muslim families gathering for big feasts, giving gifts and forgiving past mistakes. They also thank Allah for helping them get through Ramadan.
