VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 145, August 22, 2010
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
Volume 145, August 22, 2010
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
Editorial:
During this special month of Ramdan, our focus in this E-Zine issue is on Ummah's Health. Below three articles are related to fasting during the month of Ramdan.
PART I:
ED NOTE: Special thanks to Sister. Najmunisa Khanum from Bangalore, India who forwarded below e-mail originated by Sister Amina Omer. The author of below article is Dr. Farouk Haffejee from Islamic Medical Association of South Africa - Durban
B i s m i l l a a h i r R a h m a a n i r R a h e e m
Bismillaahi walhamdulillaahi wassalaatu wassalaamu `alaa rasoolillaahi
Bismillaahi walhamdulillaahi wassalaatu wassalaamu `alaa rasoolillaahi
Assalaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
Health Guidelines for Ramadhan
This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadan.
During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to normalize one's weight.
In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.
* Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
* Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
* Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
* Fiber-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
* Fiber-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.
AVOID
* Fried and fatty foods.
* Foods containing too much sugar.
* Over-eating especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur)
* Too much tea during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur). Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
* Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.
EAT
* Complex carbohydrates during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur) so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
* Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
* Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
* Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
* Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
* Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
* Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
* Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
* Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
DRINK
* As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar (Breaking fasting) and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.
Common Medical Problems
CONSTIPATION
Constipation can cause piles (haemorrhoid's), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.
Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.
Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.
INDIGESTION AND WIND
Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.
Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.
Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.
LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')
Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.
Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.
Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.
Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadan. They should consult their doctor.
HEADACHE
Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, hunger usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar (Breaking Fasting).
Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganize your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache, palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.
Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri or suhur) . The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.
Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri or suhur) . The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.
Remedy: Eat something at suhur (sehri) and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.
Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your doctor.
Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your doctor.
MUSCLE CRAMPS
Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.
Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.
Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.
Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.
Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.
PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA
Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadan aggravate the above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can extend up to the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.
Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadan.
KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
JOINT PAINS
Causes: The increased pressure on the knee joints during Salat. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs. Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment, thus enabling one to be able to perform salat with ease.
Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs. Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment, thus enabling one to be able to perform salat with ease.
PART II:
FASTING WOMEN RISKING HEALTH BY TAKING TABLETS TO DELAY PERIODS
(Saudi Arabia)
Written By: Imran on August 22, 2010
(Arab News)
Written By: Imran on August 22, 2010
(Arab News)
There is a growing tendency among young women, especially unmarried ones, to take drugs to delay menstrual cycle in the holy month of Ramadan.
“Out of their eagerness to observe fasting throughout the month of Ramadan without missing any days, many young women customers, including unmarried, are coming to buy Primolut N tablet. The sale of the tablet is on the rise with the advent of the fasting month of Ramadan,” Al-Watan daily reported, quoting a pharmacist in Taif.
“Out of their eagerness to observe fasting throughout the month of Ramadan without missing any days, many young women customers, including unmarried, are coming to buy Primolut N tablet. The sale of the tablet is on the rise with the advent of the fasting month of Ramadan,” Al-Watan daily reported, quoting a pharmacist in Taif.
According to the pharmacist, most of the customers of this tablet are unmarried girls. “They are not at all bothered about the side effects after using these tablets. They approach familiar pharmacists to buy it without a prescription,” he said.
Primolut N tablet contains the active ingredient norethisterone, which is a synthetic hormonal product similar to the natural female hormone progesterone. It is used in a wide range of menstrual disorders.
Primolout N is used for timing of menstruation and to treat disturbances in monthly bleeding, premenstrual complaints, menstrual cycle related complaints of the breast, endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Ummu Faris, a private sector employee, says that she takes the tablet out of eagerness not to miss any days of fasting in the holy month. “Being a married woman, I had never encountered difficulties while buying the tablet,” she said.
Reem Salem, whose marriage took place one month ago, said that she started using the tablet one week before marriage to delay menstrual bleeding for some days. “I consulted this matter with one pharmacist, and started using it as per his advice. I stopped using it two days after the marriage,” she said.
Nawf Al-Owad, an unmarried young woman, says that she has been using this tablet for about eight years. “I use this medication only during Ramadan. I never experienced any complications after using it,” she said.
Hayat Ahmad, another unmarried girl, says that she uses contraceptive drugs obtained from her married sister to delay menstrual bleeding during Ramadan. “I use this secretly without telling any other members of my family to avoid any misunderstanding among them,” she said.
Dr. Hanan Oyara, consultant gynecologist at Al-Ameen Hospital in Taif, warns young women against using such tablets. “Using such tablets may lead to serious health complications, including a possibility for sterility,” she said.
Echoing the same view, Dr. Fatima Younis, internist at the same hospital, says that these tablets would cause serious complications among women with hormone deficiencies. However, some other medical sources played down side effects of using the tablets.
Dr. Dalal Namnaqani, consultant pathologist at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital in Taif, says that taking this drug should be under medical supervision and that the quantity should be limited and only for a temporary period. “There may not be any serious effects if young women use them once,” she said.
Despite all these medical warnings, there has been huge increase in the number of customers for this tablet.
Muhammad Al-Sayyid, a pharmacist, says that a large number of women, especially girls, are coming to buy this tablet to delay menstruation. “This was more evident during Ramadan as well as during the Haj season. Similar was the case with the newly married women,” he said, adding that most of these women come without a medical prescription despite repeated warnings from medical experts.
Primolut N tablet contains the active ingredient norethisterone, which is a synthetic hormonal product similar to the natural female hormone progesterone. It is used in a wide range of menstrual disorders.
Primolout N is used for timing of menstruation and to treat disturbances in monthly bleeding, premenstrual complaints, menstrual cycle related complaints of the breast, endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Ummu Faris, a private sector employee, says that she takes the tablet out of eagerness not to miss any days of fasting in the holy month. “Being a married woman, I had never encountered difficulties while buying the tablet,” she said.
Reem Salem, whose marriage took place one month ago, said that she started using the tablet one week before marriage to delay menstrual bleeding for some days. “I consulted this matter with one pharmacist, and started using it as per his advice. I stopped using it two days after the marriage,” she said.
Nawf Al-Owad, an unmarried young woman, says that she has been using this tablet for about eight years. “I use this medication only during Ramadan. I never experienced any complications after using it,” she said.
Hayat Ahmad, another unmarried girl, says that she uses contraceptive drugs obtained from her married sister to delay menstrual bleeding during Ramadan. “I use this secretly without telling any other members of my family to avoid any misunderstanding among them,” she said.
Dr. Hanan Oyara, consultant gynecologist at Al-Ameen Hospital in Taif, warns young women against using such tablets. “Using such tablets may lead to serious health complications, including a possibility for sterility,” she said.
Echoing the same view, Dr. Fatima Younis, internist at the same hospital, says that these tablets would cause serious complications among women with hormone deficiencies. However, some other medical sources played down side effects of using the tablets.
Dr. Dalal Namnaqani, consultant pathologist at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital in Taif, says that taking this drug should be under medical supervision and that the quantity should be limited and only for a temporary period. “There may not be any serious effects if young women use them once,” she said.
Despite all these medical warnings, there has been huge increase in the number of customers for this tablet.
Muhammad Al-Sayyid, a pharmacist, says that a large number of women, especially girls, are coming to buy this tablet to delay menstruation. “This was more evident during Ramadan as well as during the Haj season. Similar was the case with the newly married women,” he said, adding that most of these women come without a medical prescription despite repeated warnings from medical experts.
Source : Arab News
PART III:
ENERGY DRINKS FOR IFTAR - WRONG CHOICE
(Saudi Arabia)
(Saudi Arabia)
Written by: Imran on August 22, 2010
(Arab News)
(Arab News)
It is true that after a long day of fasting and partaking of the iftar one can usually feel weak and in need of a long nap, but to get around this many youths in the Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia) have turned to taking energy drinks to break their fasts in order to give them a boost to enjoy Ramadan nightly activities and to stay up until the pre-dawn suhur.
“I prefer an energy drink after I have eaten my iftar meal,” said 22-year-old Saudi Afnan Labban. “It gives me a pick-me-up to go shopping and to enjoy other Ramadan activities with my family and friends.”
Faiz Al-Otaibi, a 19-year-old Makkawi, said using energy drinks has “become the newest way we have found of beating the fatigue we feel after fasting and allowing us to go out with our friends to clubs and malls.”
However, nutritionists advise against using such beverages to break fasts.
“After fasting the body is in need of fluids to cleanse and replenish the body as well as help moderately adjust sugar levels in the blood,” said Dr. Khalid Madani, general supervisor of the Nutrition Department at the Ministry of Health and vice president of the Saudi Society for Food and Nutrition.
“Consuming energy drinks which are high in sugar and caffeine can cause many health problems, such as kidney and liver damage and cause conditions such as diabetes and symptoms such as dizziness, nervousness, and severe headaches.”
Water is considered the best fluid to drink during fast-breaking. A recent article by researchers at Nova Southeastern University in the US state of Florida — published in The Physician and Sports Medicine journal — said energy drinks “may cause adverse effects, particularly with high episodic consumption.”
Energy drinks contain as much as 505 mg of caffeine in a single 355 ml can, the same as contained in 14 cans of cola, in addition to high amounts of sugar and taurine.
Stephanie Ballard, one of the US researchers who coauthored the article also said there is conflicting evidence about whether these drinks contribute to weight loss.
Ballard also indicated that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined the acceptable amount of caffeine to be 71 mg in a 355 ml can while energy drinks contain 505 mg in the same container.
“Many people think that one cannot overdose on caffeine, but it is a drug as any other and consumption of too much caffeine whether from energy drinks or other sources can cause sleepy and nervous tension, osteoporosis, heart disease, vascular problems as well as complications in the intestine and even death,” she said.
“I prefer an energy drink after I have eaten my iftar meal,” said 22-year-old Saudi Afnan Labban. “It gives me a pick-me-up to go shopping and to enjoy other Ramadan activities with my family and friends.”
Faiz Al-Otaibi, a 19-year-old Makkawi, said using energy drinks has “become the newest way we have found of beating the fatigue we feel after fasting and allowing us to go out with our friends to clubs and malls.”
However, nutritionists advise against using such beverages to break fasts.
“After fasting the body is in need of fluids to cleanse and replenish the body as well as help moderately adjust sugar levels in the blood,” said Dr. Khalid Madani, general supervisor of the Nutrition Department at the Ministry of Health and vice president of the Saudi Society for Food and Nutrition.
“Consuming energy drinks which are high in sugar and caffeine can cause many health problems, such as kidney and liver damage and cause conditions such as diabetes and symptoms such as dizziness, nervousness, and severe headaches.”
Water is considered the best fluid to drink during fast-breaking. A recent article by researchers at Nova Southeastern University in the US state of Florida — published in The Physician and Sports Medicine journal — said energy drinks “may cause adverse effects, particularly with high episodic consumption.”
Energy drinks contain as much as 505 mg of caffeine in a single 355 ml can, the same as contained in 14 cans of cola, in addition to high amounts of sugar and taurine.
Stephanie Ballard, one of the US researchers who coauthored the article also said there is conflicting evidence about whether these drinks contribute to weight loss.
Ballard also indicated that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined the acceptable amount of caffeine to be 71 mg in a 355 ml can while energy drinks contain 505 mg in the same container.
“Many people think that one cannot overdose on caffeine, but it is a drug as any other and consumption of too much caffeine whether from energy drinks or other sources can cause sleepy and nervous tension, osteoporosis, heart disease, vascular problems as well as complications in the intestine and even death,” she said.
Source : Arab News
THE END
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