Top 7 Ramadan Fasting Tips for Muslims

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It's a month where Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk. The fast is seen as a period of spiritual reflection, improvement, and increased devotion for Muslims.

Read these 7 Ramadan fasting tips and learn how to keep the fast, the spirit of Ramadan, and your health.

These are practical and easy tips that will help you fast remaining focused and energised. They will help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay as active as possible this Ramadan.

Don’t skip your morning meal -  Suhur 

Suhoor is the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting at dawn before the morning prayer is called. Suhoor is supposed to sustain us for the remainder of our daily fast up until sunset.  

It is recommended to eat a pre-dawn meal before starting the fast. You need Suhur to function properly at work, school or care for your children. The importance of Suhur is to provide the body with energy and nutrition to sustain it during the fasting period.

If you skip your morning meal before fasting, you may feel sluggish and exhausted by midday.

The truth is good quality nutritious food will always give you the best quality fuel for your body. What you eat during Suhur can greatly affect how you feel throughout the day. During Ramadan it is more important than ever to stick to a well-balanced diet to give the body the nutrients it needs to keep up with the busy lives we lead.

Read: 4 HEALTHY SUHUR IDEAS

Plan your meals 

Meal planning helps people be more mindful about what they are eating. It is a great way to save time, so you can spend more time in worship, as well as to avoid overeating. It also helps them stick to healthier foods instead of overeating at night when they break their fast with a big meal.

If you plan properly you won’t fall into temptation to act on your unhealthy cravings and making impulsive decisions when it comes to your food. 

Suhur is going to be smooth and not stressful as you will have anything ready for you.

Drink as much water as possible.

The importance of hydration during Ramadan cannot be overstated. The body needs to be hydrated all the time in order to function properly.

Drinking enough water helps maintain a healthy metabolism and aids digestion, which can make fasting easier for you. It also helps maintain your energy levels throughout the day so that you don't feel sluggish or fatigued at any point.

The water intake during Ramadan should be about the same as during the rest of the year. For instance, if you usually drink 2 litres of water a day then you should drink the same amount in Ramadan. Be more disciplined about water intake.

Watch your portion size.

As the fasting day progresses into the evening hours, people may find themselves overeating at these meals because of the excitement of breaking their fast and the extra focus on food as it’s one of the few pleasures they can enjoy during Ramadan.

It takes the body about 20 minutes to register that it's had enough to eat. So don't go overboard with eating during Iftar. Eating mindfully and listening for when your hunger is actually satisfied puts less stress on your body and gives you more energy than eating huge amounts at one time.

Stay active

Exercising during Ramadan is not a hard task. As long as you avoid strenuous exercises and focus on low impact workouts, like daily walks, yoga and Pilates you can maintain your fitness and keep your mental wellbeing in check.

Keep Yourself Busy

The best way to get through your fast with ease is by keeping your mind occupied. This keeps the time pass quickly and, before you know it, your fast will be nearly over. Focus on working towards achieving your ramadan goals - This helps break up the monotony of going without food. 

Fill the time at your lunch break at work or at school by reading an Islamic book, listening to a lecture on Youtube or taking a walk around the block to get your steps in rather than focusing on the fact that you’re not eating!

Approach fasting with positive mindset 

The approach to fasting with a positive mindset can help you have a successful Ramadan.

Focus on aspects of fasting that are beneficial for you such as getting closer to Allah SWT by praying more often or reading more Quran rather than the lack of food and water. 

Don’t dread fasting embrace it and enjoy it!

There are many ways that you can prepare yourself for Ramadan and make your fasting journey as successful as possible!