Nutrition & Wellness – Biology 50

More on Fasting during Ramadan, Practicing and Potential Dehydration During Football Season

August 30, 2008

An article that came out in today’s Salt Lake Tribune looks at some young athletes who have observed Ramadan even during football season by not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. In the article one young player discusses some of the challenges he experienced when not eating and not drinking water during the day and still practicing football.

I had mentioned Ramadan as an example in the Introduction to Nutrition Lecture this week that people’s religious beliefs can impact their eating habits, or in this case their lack of eating habits.

My biggest concern here is the not drinking. Not drinking water during especially hot athletic practices, could potentially lead to dehydration. You can read more about preventing dehydration in children (or adults) in the two articles that I wrote on this topic, Preventing Dehydration and Heat-Related Problems in Children and Tips for Preventing Your Child from Getting Dehydrated in the Heat.

More about Ramadan

Ramadan, the annual 30-day Islamic holiday during which all believers abstain from food, drink and physical pleasures such as smoking and sex from dawn until sunset.

According to the article not everyone has to fast during Ramadan. Pregnant or menstruating women are exempt but expected to make up the lost fast days during the course of the year. Children begin fasting gradually, first half a day, then several days, until they grow old enough to fast without injuring their health.

The practice is meant to instill discipline, and to encourage gratitude and identification with the poor.

Article: Stack PF. August 30, 2008. Young athletes make sacrifice for Ramadan. The Salt Lake Tribune.

Image Source. Ehab. 2005. Wallpaper: Ramadan Kareem. InfraDrive, Inc.

Entry Filed under: Articles, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition News. Tags: Eating Habits, Nutrition and Ramadan, Ramadan, Ramadan Fast.