Today, I am excited to share some info on healthy eating! But from an Islamic perspective. I came across this great blog and it had a good article so I thought it would be great to share it here. So hope you get something out of it, InsyaAllah. Enjoy...
Healthy Eating: An Islamic Perspective
By Hafiz Mohammed Zahid
Why it's essential for our physical and
spiritual well-being
To live in Islam is not merely
preparing for the Hereafter, but also to live a complete way of life right here
in this world. Hence, the question of healthy living, which has become a
much-discussed issue nowadays, is not new to Muslims.
From an Islamic perspective health is
viewed as one of the greatest blessings that Allah has bestowed on mankind. It should be noted that the greatest
blessing after belief is health.
Health is indeed a favour that we take
for granted. We should express gratitude to Allah for bestowing us with health,
and we should try our utmost to look after it. Allah has entrusted us with our
bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us to account on how we
looked after and utilised our bodies and health.
The Importance of a balanced diet
Various verses and texts within Islam promote the eating of healthy wholesome food and eating in moderation. Allah clearly states in the Quran:
Various verses and texts within Islam promote the eating of healthy wholesome food and eating in moderation. Allah clearly states in the Quran:
"Eat of the good things which We have provided
for you. (2:173) Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth."
(2:168)
A healthy nutritious diet must also be
balanced, in order to maintain the balance that Allah has established in all
things, this is addressed in the Quran when Allah says:
"And He enforced the balance. That you exceed not the bounds; but
observe the balance strictly; and fall not short thereof." (55:7-9)
As we know, eating excessively causes harm to our systems. Many ailments are related to uncontrolled eating habits such as, diabetes, vascular diseases, stroke, heart attack etc. It has been said that the 'stomach is the home of ill health' and is usually responsible in some way to ill health. Islam teaches us to eat moderately:
As we know, eating excessively causes harm to our systems. Many ailments are related to uncontrolled eating habits such as, diabetes, vascular diseases, stroke, heart attack etc. It has been said that the 'stomach is the home of ill health' and is usually responsible in some way to ill health. Islam teaches us to eat moderately:
"Eat and drink, but avoid excess."
(20:81).
Over indulgence and wasting of food are
further dissuaded in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):
'"No human being has ever filled a container
worse than his own stomach. The son of Adam needs no more than a few morsels of
food to keep up his strength, doing so he should consider that a third of his
stomach is for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing." (Ibn
Maja)
Physical and spiritual well-being
At a physical level, the Qur'an and the sunnah encourage healthy eating, and at the same time forbid all substances that cause bodily harm: intoxicants, drugs, and so forth. Fruits and vegetables, dates, yoghurt, milk, natural honey, black seeds, and the like are especially emphasized for their nutritious quality and health benefits.
At a physical level, the Qur'an and the sunnah encourage healthy eating, and at the same time forbid all substances that cause bodily harm: intoxicants, drugs, and so forth. Fruits and vegetables, dates, yoghurt, milk, natural honey, black seeds, and the like are especially emphasized for their nutritious quality and health benefits.
From a spiritual angle, controlling our
diet trains us in self-control. When food is spread out in large delicious
quantities and there is a temptation to gorge ourselves, we are required to
control our appetites and develop a sense of moderation in eating.
With regards to moderation, Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Muslims should be people who eat only
when they are hungry." That is to say, unnecessary snacks taken in
between meals should be avoided. The Prophet also said: "It is good to be always a
little hungry." Thus, over-eating can be avoided.
Fasting in Ramadhan, apart from the
spiritual and other self-control benefits derived from it, also has health
benefits. It cleanses and relaxes the stomach and gives it a "rest from
work" for about 16 hours a day for a month once a year. Other than the
Ramadhan fast, Muslims are urged to undertake voluntary fasting as much as they
could at any time throughout the year. Some Muslims make a point to fast every
Monday and Thursday following the Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet. Fasting
also enable a Muslim to lose fat and unnecessary weight.
What we should be eating
Many of us want to be fitter and healthier but have no energy for exercise at the end of a working day, or time to plan nutritious meals throughout the week. However just a moderate increase in your activity levels and a small decrease in energy taken in from food could make us healthier, happier, and more productive. Improving your diet and daily exercise is not as daunting as it sounds.
Many of us want to be fitter and healthier but have no energy for exercise at the end of a working day, or time to plan nutritious meals throughout the week. However just a moderate increase in your activity levels and a small decrease in energy taken in from food could make us healthier, happier, and more productive. Improving your diet and daily exercise is not as daunting as it sounds.
It is recommended by nutritionists that
to have a healthy diet most people should be eating:
- More
fruit and vegetables
- More
starchy foods such as rice, bread, pasta (try to choose wholegrain
varieties when you can) and potatoes
- Less
fat, salt and sugar
- Some
protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and pulses
- It's
also important to eat a variety of foods to make sure we get all the
nutrients our bodies need.
Top 5 practical tips to stay healthy:
- Start
the day with a good breakfast - Eating breakfast can help curb the
cravings for the wrong kinds of food and maintains a steady blood sugar
level throughout the morning period.
- Never
skip lunch - Skipping lunch leads to a drop in energy levels, alertness
and coping ability. It can also slow metabolism which is self-defeating if
you are trying to lose weight.
- Drink
plenty of water - Water re-hydrates the body much better than sugary fizzy
drinks. If you are dehydrated you're likely to feel tired and have a
headache, which will slow you down.
- Replace
chocolates with fruit or a low-fat yoghurt - This will reduce your day's
calorie and fat count significantly and ensure that you are taking in more
vitamins and nutrients.
- Ideally
try to eat slowly and stop when you're full.
