Ramadhan Tips

With Ramadan in the midst of summer this year, we need nothing more than hydration and good eating habits to keep us going. However, Ramadan is not only about omitting food and drink from sunrise to sunset. It’s not about sleeping all day and waking up an hour before sunset to prepare a meal. It’s not about indulging all night and sleeping all day. No, Ramadan is a spiritual car wash for our souls. It’s a time to check in on ourselves, omitting desires, and focusing on what we were initially created for: worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He).

While we focus on our spiritual upbringing, we also need to focus on our physical well-being. Instead of praying Maghrib and rushing to eat, set your intention to eat to nourish your body so that you can stand and pray. In this case, you make eating an act of worship and get rewarded for it, Allah (swt) willing. Set your intention to eat suhoor (the meal before sunrise) to worship and have energy all day. Set your intention to eat iftar (the meal after sunset) to worship and pray during the night. Now, let me share a few tips on what to eat to stay hydrated, energized, and motivated all day long.

1)     Eat dates.

I personally don’t question any food that was eaten by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) or recommended by him.

Anas Ibn Malik radi Allahu `anhu (may God be pleased with him) narrated: “The messenger of Allah ﷺ  used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates, but if there were no fresh dates, he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates, he took some mouthfuls of water.” [Sunan Abu Dawud]

Fasting all day means facing difficulties reaching the required daily value for many essential vitamins and nutrients. Dates are known to provide many of these nutrients with just a few pieces:

Dates have immense health benefits, including high fiber, potassium, magnesium, copper, and B vitamins.

Dates are known to regulate blood sugar, weight loss, blood pressure, cancer, and arthritis. Dates also aid in facilitating oxygen to the brain and the formation of healthy skin.

Tip: Eat three or more dates at suhoor to give you energy all day. Break your fast on dates and pray Maghrib. This regulates your blood sugar and causes you to not overeat at iftar.

2)     DON’T skip out on suhoor.

Yes, it’s 4 a.m. and yes it’s going to be difficult, but my number one piece of advice is don’t skip out on suhoor. The Prophet ﷺ advised us to eat suhoor and promised barakah (blessings) in it. Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.’” [Sunan Al- Nasa’i]

Eating a meal before sunrise will give you energy to keep going during the long day ahead of you.

If you skip out on suhoor, you are putting your body in starvation mode and actually only going to cause yourself to overindulge at iftar.

So, EAT SUHOOR!

" Tip: Eat a light but nutritious, breakfast-like meal:

Try a zatar  or cheese pie with some cucumbers. Tomatoes and a cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice are also excellent sources of vitamins and nutrients.

Have nutrient-dense whole-grain toast with almond butter, cashew butter, or all-natural peanut butter. Top with berries or banana slices.

Try some quinoa with almond milk, raisins, cinnamon, raw honey, and bananas. It will definitely give you fuel for the day.

A bowl of steel cut oats or whole grain cereal and organic milk/almond milk are also great.Don’t forget the dates. ;) "

3)     Eat hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumbers, citrus fruit, and tomatoes.

It’s not only summer time, but we are fasting 17+ hours. Many of us have work and others are taking summer courses. We are going to lack energy and need as much nutrients as we can get from the food we eat. Hydrating ourselves with water-dense foods will keep our bodies from dehydrating in the heat.

Tip: Other foods with high water content include: lettuce, pineapple, berries, citrus fruit, and spinach.

4)     Drink plenty of water between iftar and suhoor

Water is the most purifying drink;  it cleans out toxins from your body and prevents you from getting headaches (especially when you’re not drinking or eating all day).

Tip: Skip the soda! Drinking soda with your iftar will only make you thirstier, and dehydrate your body more than it already is. Drink water with your meal and keep it at hand throughout the night.  Break your coffee and tea addiction.

If possible, regulate your body to get rid of your caffeine addiction before Ramadan starts. If you are drinking 3-4 cups of coffee daily, and on the first day of Ramadan you don’t drink any, you may get headaches and lack energy.

Tip: If you really need energy, opt for dates instead. Coffee and tea are known to dehydrate the body even more.

I hope that you find these eating tips helpful! I assure you that making these small changes in your Ramadan and even regular diet, will substantially improve your overall health and fitness.

Sources : Suhaib Webb Mosque

Ramadhan: Care For Hunger by Islamic Relief Malaysia

rogram Ramadhan: Care For Hunger adalah satu projek bermusim yang dilaksanakan oleh Islamic Relief di seluruh dunia dengan tujuan untuk membekalkan bantuan makanan asas kepada asnaf fakir dan miskin di dalam & luar negara (15 buah negara) semasa bulan Ramadhan. Melalui program ini, penerima manfaat akan dibekalkan dengan pek makanan yang mengandungi makanan asas dan seimbang nutrisinya; karbohidrat, tenaga, protein dan lemak seperti beras, gula, tepung, minyak masak, garam dan lain-lain.

Program Ramadhan: Care For Hunger dijalankan secara serentak melalui cawangan-cawangan Islamic Relief di seluruh dunia termasuk Malaysia. Pek makanan yang diagihkan berisi makanan asasi mengikut kesesuaian budaya dan geografi penduduk di negara tersebut.

Jadual harga pakej Ramadhan Relief mengikut kumpulan negara:-



Setiap pek  dijangka akan dapat menampung bekalan makanan untuk berbuka puasa bagi sebuah keluarga yang terdiri daripada tiga ke lima orang selama satu bulan pada bulan Ramadhan. Penerima manfaat terpilih adalah terdiri daripada golongan fakir, miskin, ibu tunggal, anak-anak yatim, golongan orang kelainan upaya, warga emas dan golongan yang layak mengikut pemerhatian serta kriteria yang ditetapkan oleh IRM. Sebarang bantuan yang ingin dihulurkan, orang ramai boleh menghubungi pihak Islamic Relief Malaysia di talian 03-89263434.

Eidulfitri adalah hari yang bahagia

* aku ke tu? entahlah?

* berehat sebentar di Petronas

Hari Raya ke8 - Eidulfitri

Setelah lama diriku tidak menulis blog mahupun menaip blog, aku terbengong akibat pelbagaikrisis yang di tempuhi di dalam beberapa hari percutian ku hingga harini. (*cuti sampai 8hb Oktober, esok nak keje doh!!!) Namun tidak aku mengenal erti letih dan jenuh sebagai penulis blog yang kurang aktif di dalam kareer nye, tetapi di sinilah aku mengenali diriku dan juga menyampaikan hasrat ku seperti kepedihan mahupun kegembiraan ku. Aku berharap dapat berkongsi bersama rakanku yang lain agar bukan diriku yang hina lagi kerdil ini mendapat hidayat mogaan mendapat petunjuk.

Selamat Hari Raya Eidulfitri ke - 8 Allahuakbar Allahuakbar walillahilham!! Semoga di hari yang ke 8 ini kita masih bermaafan antara satu sama lain dan semoga rezeki yang melimpah ruah akan bertambah khendakNya insyaAllah.  Aku mendapati bahawa hari raya ini amat bermakna buat diriku bukan sahaja di bulan Ramadan kerna diriku mendapat seorang teman baru yang amat ku kenali dan ku sayangi. Bulan ini Eidulfitri tidak lagi bermakna diriku beraya bersama keluarga ku dan saudara yang ku kenali tetapi juga kekasihku yang paling bermakna buat diriku. Bukan aku nak berjiwang ataupun meluahkan perasaan tetapi aku nak cakap yang aku bersyukur sangat sebab aku dah jumpa dia, sekarang lah baru aku tahu betapa manisnye bila kita beraya dan berpuasa dengan si dia.

Oh ye, bulan Eidulfitri aku sambut macam biasa. Solat sunat Eidulfitri di Kuantan, kemudiannye prepare utk tetamu beraya pada hari pertama. Dan tak silap pada waktu Asar aku dan keluarga mula pergi ke Temerloh untuk menyambut raya bersama saudara yang lain. Nak buat macam mana memang tiap2 tahun akan gi ke Temerloh nye, oh ye kepada Abam Baha aku nak pohon dan menyusun 10 jari sebab tak gi rumoh mung. Tapi insyaAllah klo ko nak beraya bulan ni ada lagi kuih banyok lagi pong. Datanglah ye, jangan merajuk ye Abam hehehehee.

Lagi satu, masa raya kedua / 2 aku gi ke Jerantut ke rumah si Dia le. Ermm macam biasa jumpa "mak" bakal mertua heheheheeh dan beborak lah apa yang patut, aku gi dengan adik2 pompuan ku. Seme sporting tapi yang paling tak patut, adik bongsu aku bley pengsan sebab tak makan tengahari kot? mujur Alhamdulillah di pengsan masa tengah duduk ermm dkt KFC temerloh plok tu. Alhamdulillah setelah di diagnostik seme nye berjalan lancar dan tiada tahanan @ sekatan di lakukan.

Alhamdulillah keluarga aku berjaya juwe mengadakan BBQ mini di rumah kami di Alor Akor, dengan kehadiran daripada pakcik makcik sepupu seme dan beberapa orang kawan adik laki aku tu, maka secara tak langsung meriah gak lah dan happening gok acara berkenaan. Oh ye, kepada pembaca setia buat blog ku ini, ampun maaf di cipta dan aku ada gak selit beberapa gambor silalah komen yek. Ok nak solat Asar dan kemudian memikir apa yang bakal ungka berkenaan akan berkata @ bertitah pada hari esok nye? ermmm aku memikirkan keje yang baru dan berlambak akan ku buatkan oooohhh migrain ku!!.