On Fasting During Ramadan
It is well known among Muslims in the west that western cusine is incompatible to ehalthy lifestyle in a general sense. But, we have learned through Fasting during Ramadan to be especially care to avoid western foods.
An Imam told us several years ago that we would become sick with diaria on the third of fourth day of fasting. That was the first time I had heard such a thing and also, the first time that I had begun Ramadan in that particlar sector of the Muslim Community. At the end of the Fast, we broke the fast with American style food. And just like clockwork, I was as sick as a dog on the thrid day of fasting.
I am still not excatly sure about what caused such a reaction. But, this year, I had the unhappy occasion of not eating the usual Islamic cuisine to break the Fast. But, I supplemented that with typical American. And, like clockwork, I got so sick I almost passed out. So, when I broke Fast again, a brother saw what I was eating and gave me a strong protest: Do not eat that stuff. It is not good for you. It has been cooked in wrong kind of oil. Throw it in the trash where it belongs.
I still do not know excatly what the deal is. But, he did mantion cooking oil. Americans cook in animal fat while we are Muslims limit ourselves to olive oil, or at worse, a very good vegetable oil. Also, Americans may cook fish for example in the same oil that they cook a pork sandwich. That destroys the Permissible condition of eating the fish. Fish cooked in oilk in which pork has been cooked is not Permissible to a Muslim.
But, the sisters have taught me that is about cooking ONLTY in Olive oil that is key to keeping the family healthy and happy. Since my bad experience among the American Muslims, I have always broken fast with the more traditional. There are 1400 years experience in IUslmaic Tradition. So, I trusted tradition. And, traiditon is not just avoiding eating western European and American especially during Ramadan, it emphasizes fruits and vegatable tot he point of a prefeerence to olive oil in everything, never animal fat. From the east, including much of Africa, the food is extremely delicious with a lot of spices. But, I have never known it to make me sick at Ramadan or any other time.
So, I recemmend that if you Fast, stick with tradition as much as possible. Over the centuries, the provblems have been solved and passed down to us. Trust what works and avoid what makes you sick. Consult with the Arabs, the Pakistanis, the Somalis, etc. They know more about Fasting than any American would know. Go back home to Islamic cuisine. And, you will be okay.