islamabad - As some see in the fasting month of Ramazan an opportunity to lose weight, health experts said the best time to practise sports is in the hours before the breaking of the fast.

“Doing sports before Iftar will enhance the body’s ability to burn fat by 100 per cent,” said a nutritionist Bushra Badarein.

Walking after Taraweeh prayer (special evening prayer performed in

Ramzan) is also effective in losing weight because the body is ready for physical activity, she noted.

Cardiology Consultant Eyas Al Musa said the best time for doing sports depends on the individual. “But I would recommend immediately before Iftar if the individual does not suffer dehydration, or three to four hours after the meal,” he said, noting that sports alone is not enough to lose weight if the person did not decrease total calorie intake.

In Ramazan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. Consumption of food and beverages in Jordan tends to rise during the fasting month due to the change in eating patterns.

“For cardiology patients I would recommend doing sports for 35 minutes before Iftar or after Iftar unless their medication does not allow them to perform vigorous physical activities,” Musa said.

 

Badarein advised those who are seeking a healthy diet to avoid soft and caffeinated drinks and other popular Ramzan juices.

“Milk is important after sports to avoid hypoglycaemia [low blood sugar],” she added. It is vital for diabetic patients to check their blood sugar before doing sports; if it was above 200 mg/dl, they should not exercise, the nutritionist said.

Patients who suffer from high cholesterol are advised to fast, exercise and take vitamin E to get rid of the cholesterol, she noted. She added that it is important to consume traditional Ramadan sweets such as qatayef (fried or baked pancakes stuffed with cheese, nuts, or cream) in moderation, and to replace the popular drinks such as tamarind with fresh juices.

Likewise, it is easier for a smoker or tobacco user to quit addiction while fasting during the holy month of Ramazan than in routine months because fasting has a great impact on body and soul.

Medical Specialist Dr Mustafa Yousaf while talking to a private channel said with bundle of blessings the holy month of Ramazan offers include getting rid of bad habits. He said the habit of smoking can also be avoided through observing fasts and as such this month gives a great opportunity those people who wanted to quit smoking for good. Fasting is considered as a strong tool to maintain good health. It is also an effective cure for various psychological and medical disorders, he suggested.

Mustafa Yousaf said, “Ramazan provides an ideal opportunity for smokers to quit. Activities during Ramazan such as family visits and prayers can help keep an individual occupied and assist him or her in quitting smoking”.

“Quitting smoking has various health benefits, especially for diabetics. It can result in improved blood sugar levels and blood circulation, increased insulin reception, decreased cholesterol levels, and decreased complications,” Mustafa Yousaf said.

Exercising, drinking plenty of water after Iftar and keeping away from other smokers are some steps that people can take to decrease the urge to smoke, he said.

Avoiding places such as shisha cafes and other areas frequented by smokers will also help prevent inhalation of secondhand smoke, which is responsible for thousands of heart disease-related deaths every year, he informed.

He said a strong willpower is needed to quit smoking, which the fasting readily offers during this holy month. Smokers experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anger, restlessness, impatience and difficulty concentrating but the fasting helps them maintain patience.

He said the fasting is a spiritual help to spend smoke free days during

Ramazan and ditch many other bad habits altogether. He said chronic smoking leads to several dangerous diseases like cancer, mouth cancer, lungs cancer, nose & throat problems, TB and asthma, so fasting can help people to quit smoking and save them from the diseases.

He feared that people having weak willpower may resume smoking again after some time due the pressure of peers.