Ramazan, the holy month of fasting, is now in full swing with many people in the area observing ‘Oru琮 For non Muslims the fast may appear to be an unhealthy process with no food or water intake between sunrise and sunset. But, according to a new booklet published by the UK Department of Health, the fast can be both physically and mentally beneficial when done properly.

The colourful booklet is aimed at helping individuals to understand the health issues related to fasting, to help people make more informed choices, minimise complications and maximise the benefit of the fast.

The booklet gives a guide through the physiological changes that occur during fasting, gives examples of beneficial and harmful foods during fasting, discusses potential medical problems and remedies, suggests a diet plan, and responds to the most frequently asked questions about fasting in general and medical issues in particular.

The 30 page booklet is well worth a read and we’re sure you’ll learn something new not only about the fast but also about how our body deals with food. The booklet can be found here (opens as a PDF document. Size 2mb)