Longest fasting days expected this Ramadan

Manama

With the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims around the globe are getting set for the holy month of fasting.

This year, Ramadan falls in the hot summer season with average daily fasting hours between 15 hours + 18 minutes for the first day and 15 hours + 7 minutes on the last day of the month, according to University of Bahrain (UoB)'s Professor Waheeb Al Nasser. 

The maximum temperature this year could reach up to 36.4° Celsius average humidity could reach 77 per cent.

It is scientifically proven when temperatures reach above 35° Celsius and relative humidity reaches above 70pc, it is likely to cause heat exhaustion especially in fasting people.

To avoid excessive thirst during the daytime, doctors advise to drink warm soups, which aid easy digestion or a cup of fruit juice containing sugar, which is needed after many hours of fasting. An alternative is to begin with palm dates mixed with yoghurt.

Also, those fasting should drink about 3 litres of water a day and avoid spicy or highly seasoned meals.  They should also avoid sleeping immediately after eating, which may lead to indigestion, poisoning or stomach infections.

Ibn Al-Nafiss-based Internal Medicine and Obesity Consultant, Dr. Ali Al-Dhan, advices those fasting to break their fast in the evening (i.e. taking the Iftar at the end of the day) and to drink hibiscus tea aka Karkaday, which is very nutritious and contains ingredients that reduce the blood pressure.

However, they should walk to the mosque for prayers before taking a meal as the acidity of hibiscus is very high, which may result in stomachache.