Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is a wonderful opportunity to cleanse the body. However, many people do not benefit from it because they fill their dining tables with unhealthy foods high in sugar and fat. Fasting removes fats and toxins from the liver and the body. Each meal's carbohydrates are converted into energy by our body. It starts searching for another source of energy after six hours of fasting thereby burning stored fat. When you eat salty, sugary, or fried food at iftar, you sabotage the detox process and miss out on one of the most significant advantages of fasting.
With Eid ul-Fitr here, returning to the daily 3-4 meals a day after observing a month of Ramadan fasting can be challenging for the body. You had been eating sehri in the morning and iftar in the evening for the past month, fasting for nearly 12 hours in between. Now that you are switching back to your old lifestyle, you'll need to follow a few guidelines to get your body back on course.
Tips To Maintain A Healthy Diet After Ramadan Fasting
(Also Read: 4 Chef-Approved Classic Eid Desserts To Savour This Festive Season)
Get back to a healthy lifestyle after fasting
Photo Credit: iStock
1. Breakfast
After a month of not eating breakfast, the body will be required to reconfigure to eat again in the morning. Begin by repeating what you did during Ramadan's iftar fast. Eat dates with a milkshake or smoothie. You can try options from different food categories but do not skip breakfast.
2. Food Choices
Don't consume fried foods, fast food, junk, outside food or food that is too fatty or spicy. Ideally this should be followed throughout the year, but it is particularly important after a fast because your body is more likely to experience bloating, acidity, and indigestion.
3. Hydration
Ensure that you are well hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids. Lemon juice, plain water, kokum sherbet, sugarcane juice, fruit juices and coconut water are all good to consume. From a hydration perspective you can also add chia or sabja seeds to your plain water. These will also hold you full and prevent hunger pangs.
4. Plan Your Diet
Ensure you eat plenty of vegetables, raw salads and whole grains to get enough fibre. You can also consume lean, non-processed protein. Curd and buttermilk should be part of your daily routine. This will not only help with digestion and stomach issues, but it will also help you stay cool in this hot weather.
5. Portion Control
Treating food and meal as a reward may jeopardise your efforts to develop healthy eating habits in your everyday life. "I have observed fast for a month diligently, now I am free to eat whatever I wish to eat!!" Fasting for a month won't give you a free license to overeat now. Listen to your body. Practice portion control. If you want to keep your digestion in good condition, you can't overeat even if you're eating foods that are healthy.
(Also Read: 5 Hacks To Stay Fit While Fasting During The Month Of Ramadan)
Here's a good smoothie recipe to try in the morning.
Try this recipe for breakfast
Break-Your-Fast Smoothie
Ingredients
Milk-350ml
Dates- 15 nos
Banana- 2 peeled
Oats- quarter cup
Topping
Nuts like Almond, Walnuts, Cashew. Mangoes are in the season you can mango pulp at the top. Berries are also a great option.
Preparation
Remove seeds from the dates. You can also use pitted dates instead of traditional dates. It will save you some time. In a blender, combine the milk, dates, oats, and bananas and blend well until smooth. Put the mixture in the refrigerator. Pour into the glass and top with nuts, mango pulp and your favorite berries.
This smoothie is an instant source of energy, tastes amazingly good and above all does not even use any artificial sweet source. Loaded with nutritional benefits and great for your health.
Ryan Fernando is a Celebrity & Sports Nutritionist and Founder QUA Nutrition. He is a go-to guiding figure for India's leading sports celebrities as well as Bollywood megastars and works with the likes of Virat Kohli, Kajal Aggarwal and Abhishek Bachchan among others.
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