Ramadan: Why you suppose break your fast wit dates?

Millions of Muslims for different parts of di world go do di same thing once sun don set for Ramadan dem go break dia fast with dates.

For dis one-month period of fasting, prayer and reflection, healthy Muslims no go chop or drink anyting from sunrise reach sunset, as dem dey obey one of di five pillars of Islam.

Na di Prophet Muhammad recommend say make Muslims break dia fast wit dates, and di Qu'ran di holy book of Islam mention am many times.

But dates no just get religious meaning e still get health benefits wey make am correct food for anybodi wey dey fast

'Unique' nutritional benefits

Di nutritional make-up wey dates get dey make dem di perfect food to chop afta you don dey fast for long.

"When you break your fast, your bodi go try produce glucose, bicos na wetin e need as fuel source," Shehnaz Bashir, UK registered dietitian wey dey observe Ramadan, tok.

Di high level of sugar wey dey inside dates dey help boost your blood sugar levels faster pass oda foods, wey your bodi dey take longer time to break down.

"Dates get one unique tin, dem get simple sugars, but dem still get complex carbohydrates," Bashir add.

Dis one mean say di fruit dey release energy small small throughout di day correct for times wey you no fit chop for long hours. Dem still full wit vitamins B6, A and K, plus iron, wey dey help di bodi get all di nutrients wey e need within short time.

Staying hydrated

Even though dates na dried fruits, dem fit still keep you hydrated.

Dem naturally get electrolyte potassium, wey dey act like magnet for water, dey pull fluid enter di bodi cells.

"A lot of pipo dey break dia fast wit dates and water togeda, and dat one dey very good for both energy and hydration," Bashir tok.

"So many times, no really dey need to add extra electrolytes join," she add.

Overeating

Some pipo dey lose weight during Ramadan - but fasting fit also make you add weight if you over-chop during di evening meal, wey pipo dey call iftar.

Traditionally, Muslims go chop odd number of dates, den dem go immediately do di sunset prayer befor dem come back to chop dia iftar meal.

As di bodi begin break down di fibrous dates, di strong urge to over-chop fit calm down.

"E dey give your bodi chance to realise say e don actually get small food, and di digestion process don start," Bashir tok.

Digestion

Constipation and bloating na common wahala for Muslims wey dey fast. Na bicos say eating and drinking throughout di day dey normally help stimulate bowel movement, sometin wey no dey hapun during long fasting hours.

Dates be correct source of fibre, wey dey help stool move through di intestines easily.

UK National Health Service recommend make person chop 30 grams of fibre every day.

"Sometimes during Ramadan… we fit dey crave simple carbs, but if we plan and prepare our meals bifor time, [we fit] make sure say fibre dey inside our food," Bashir talk.

To sprinkle nuts and seeds on top your meal fit be anoda easy way to increase your fibre intake.

What if I no like dates?

Outside Ramadan, intermittent fasting for health instead of religious reasons don bicom popular.

"E almost dey identical to how we dey fast during Ramadan," Bashir tok.

If you no like dates, hundreds of different varieties dey, so try some.

"Dem all get different textures some dey chewy, some dey very soft, some get thick skin, some get thinner skin," Bashir tok.

And if dat one no still work, blend am inside smoothie.