Diet, Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW), and Some Tips!
To stay fit, apply the four fundamental rules Rasulullah (SAW) prescribed. Insha’Allah, you will not need any diet chart, physician, nutritionist, or anything else. This prescription from Rasulullah (SAW) dates back 1400 years and aligns with the latest scientific discoveries.
a) Divide your stomach into three parts; eat only one part. Finish your meal while still feeling slightly hungry. In the words of nutritionists, create a calorie deficit!
b) Fast two days a week and three days a month. Autophagy was discovered in 2016, and today’s nutritionists highly recommend it.
c) Adopt Sunnah foods—make dates, honey, and barley the main components of your diet. You will find these three foods in many modern diet charts. If you cannot make them the primary focus, consider dividing your main meal into six smaller portions instead of three. Finish your main meal with low carbs, keep your stomach full, and use these foods to create snacks or smaller meals in between.
d) Stay active. Observe the lifestyle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and notice how active he was—traveling, engaging in wars, preparing for battle, and horse riding. Numerous Hadiths promote sports and exercise, so be active!
Some Tips:
1) I recommend that those living in Dhaka consider joining a gym for exercise. The gym will not only help you stay fit but will also assist in transforming your entire lifestyle. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to form connections with like-minded individuals.
2) If you overeat at an invitation or during a meal, don’t consume anything else for the rest of the day. Instead, eat more at night and try to fast the next day. Always remember that the body is a machine. If you force a 10 maund capacity paddy threshing machine to process 20 maunds of paddy day after day, it will inevitably become useless. Likewise, if your body requires 2000 calories but you give it 4000-5000 calories to process every day, it will suffer. If you overload your system, allow it some time to process the excess. Give your body a chance to recover.
3) If giving up rice completely is challenging, consider doing it gradually. Reduce your intake bit by bit each day until you reach one cup. Fill the gaps left by reducing rice with curry. There is a common misconception about our Bengali food in the market; simply cut down on the oil in both the rice and curry while everything else can remain as is. Every spice used in our curries is infused with medicinal properties. Our ancestors lived healthy lives by consuming this food. The problem is not the food itself but the adulteration of ingredients and a lack of physical labor.
4) Exercise, eat healthy foods, and enjoy your diet. Do not make it overly restrictive; everything will fall into place. Make some light modifications to the regular meals you have at home—keep it simple. If you adhere to a proper diet, you can still occasionally dine out with friends without issue; just give your body the chance to rest afterward.
Diet is not rocket science. Take the time to study it for yourself and make your own modifications. There are countless opinions available; follow the guidance that resonates with you. May Allah grant us the ability to live healthy lives. Ameen.