Dr Zahid Chauhan gives tips on how to last the fast

GP Dr Zahid Chauhan

Rochdale GP Dr Zahid Chauhan has offered those approaching the half-way point of their Ramadan fast some encouraging health and psychological advice.

Sensible sleep patterns, avoiding high-impact exercise and surrounding yourself with fellow fasters during daylight hours is amongst the good practice Dr Chauhan is giving Muslims and anyone else avoiding food and drink for spiritual reasons.

The Nye Bevan House based family doctor also believes that the key to success is to remember why you are being observant – and mix fasting with a healthy portion of kind, charitable acts, including donating produce to the local foodbank.

Dr Chauhan said: “Ramadan is about learning to give and not take. It should give us empathy with those deprived of food and/or the resources to buy it. It deeply disturbs me that nurses and other hard working professionals are struggling to make ends meet. Helping them should motivate us and fill us up with fulfilment.”

The doctor offered these physical and psychological hints for healthy fasting at Ramadan:

• Try not to obsess about food by keeping busy and surround yourself at daytime meal times with friends who are also fasting.
• Exercise sensibly and don’t push it. Fasting may starve your body of the carbohydrates that help fuel activities such as running.
• Ensure you get eight hours sleep and consider a short nap. A bit of shut-eye helps replenish the body.
• Discuss any difficulties you might be having with your religious leaders or GP. Fasting is all about refreshing your spirit – not damaging your body.

Dr Chauhan concluded: “Fasting can be massively beneficial for the body, helping us to lose weight, think carefully about nutrition and get rid of toxins. Making a fundamental change to your diet though, requires careful planning and consistent re-assessment.

"People fast for many reasons with spiritual enrichment and an appreciation for others their top priorities.

"Muslims should remember that Ramadan is not just about denying yourself food and drink during the day.

"We are taught to refrain from every kind of selfish desire and wrong doing and instead fill our hearts with compassion.

"We can demonstrate this by visiting a vulnerable neighbour or giving food to those with little or nothing to eat.”