Fast safely during Ramadan

Health chiefs at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) are advising Muslim residents in the borough to fast safely during Ramadan, particularly with the current flu pandemic.

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan can be good for your health if you follow a well balanced diet and it can also help you kick some of those bad habits, like smoking for example.

However, if you get flu, you need to be careful that fasting is not damaging your health.

“One of the risks of complications leading to a more severe illness with flu is dehydration,” explains Dr Sheila Will, Director of Public Health at NHS HMR. “Therefore, if you have flu you must make sure that you drink water regularly.”

“Islamic law exempts the sick from fasting so if it is likely to be detrimental to your health then it is advisable not to fast,” says Dr Will.

It also states fasting must be made up for at a later date, or people can make a charitable contribution as compensation. See the Ramadan Health Guide on the NHS HMR website for more details.

General tips for healthy fasting:

• Eat slow-digesting foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, beans, lentils and unpolished rice. These foods can last for up to eight hours, making them more suitable for fasting.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, including foods from all of the food groups.
• Drink as much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.
• Eat complex carbohydrates at suhoor so that the food lasts longer, making you less hungry.

Try to avoid:

• Fried and fatty foods.
• Foods containing too much sugar.
• Over-eating, especially at suhoor.
• 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.
• Smoking and chewing tobacco.

If you do have any concerns about you or your family’s health during fasting, speak to your local doctor. If you have flu symptoms, telephone your doctor direct rather than going into the practice.