Ramadan is a time for self-reflection that teaches us the importance of patience and self-control. However, it is often the time when we make the most unhealthy dietary choices such as overeating and excessive intake of sweets, fatty foods, and sugary drinks that can harm our health.

With the Holy Month just around the corner, here are a few tips to help you stay healthy while fasting:

• Limit the intake of sweets rich in fats and sugars (like kunafa and qatayef) as these can be difficult to digest.
• Limit the consumption of coffee and tea as these drinks have diuretic effects and make you thirsty during fasting hours.
• Drink plenty of fluids a few hours after Iftar as this can help eliminate dehydration-induced fatigue, constipation, and blood clots in cardiac patients.
• Consume fat-free foods during Iftar as they replenish the body’s water levels, regulate the body’s temperature, and enhance the functional capacity of the stomach and liver.
• After breaking your fast, utilize the Maghrib prayer as an opportunity to take a break from eating. This practice can help prevent common digestive concerns such as indigestion, heartburn, and gastritis.