Bazaar Romadhon or ‘ bazir ’ Romadhon ? Muslims must truly understand the real meaning of Romadhon as the month of selfreflection , abstinence , humility , giving and saving on food and expenditure
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MAY , 2023 | THE HEALTH
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DIFFERENT STROKES
BY ADI SATRIA
Bazaar Romadhon or ‘ bazir ’ Romadhon ? Muslims must truly understand the real meaning of Romadhon as the month of selfreflection , abstinence , humility , giving and saving on food and expenditure
FASTING during the month of Romadhon ( which , incidentally the correct spelling and Quranic pronunciation instead of Ramadhan ) has given me so much physical and spiritual benefits . At 72 , I find my energy levels have improved , thanks to the discovery and abundance of natural herbs , fruits , and vegetables which research has shown provides all the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy body and mind .
The physical demands of the Romadhon terawih prayers did not take a toll on me and in fact was a spiritual and ritual do that I looked forward to after the breaking of fast which I often do at a few mosques in my neighbourhood .
Breaking of fast or ‘ iftar ’ for me was the traditional ‘ bubur lambuk ’ or broth which provides a soothing effect on my stomach after 12 hours of abstinence from food and drink . Two or three pieces of date fruits provide instant energy , and hot tea and mineral water replenishes the body ’ s blood circulation system .
After prayers , a small dinner is enough for me . For the pre-dawn ‘ sahur ’ a drink of malt or milk and three pieces of dates is sufficient for a day of fasting .
Most people do not understand the importance of breaking fast the proper way . The bazaar Romadhon is really a place where one is tempted to indulge in a feast of the visual and aromatic senses of food and drinks , where spending money for some is of no object .
Alas , at the break of fast , the first thing that usually tends to enter the mouth is a cold drink of sweet juice followed by the traditional cakes before the meal of chicken or briyani rice that in no time simply knocks you off your seat . And then , disaster strikes when that bazaar Romadhon has now turned to ‘ bazir Romadhon ’ ( bazir means wastage ). All that food you planned to consume will then be heading for the bin as one simply has no more need for all of it .
REASONS FOR FOOD WASTAGE
The Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir commented that 252,000 tonnes of waste were collected during Romadhon in 2022 compared to 208,000 tonnes the same month of 2019 . ( Statistics for 2020 and 2021 were not available due to the pandemic lockdowns ).
According to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Corporation ( SWCorp ), excessive food was thrown away by hotels and families during Romadhon . Some reasons for food wastage are lack of appropriate planning during
the purchasing and preparing of food , especially for iftar ( breaking of fast ) and sahur .
It is quite strange that despite the soaring prices of Romadhon buffets in hotels and restaurants , it is always packed with customers . Companies are also the main cause as it is the time they treat their employees and clients with the hope of receiving ‘ pahala berlipat ganda ” ( multiple rewards from God ) during this month .
Don ’ t you agree that spending that kind of money and contributing to wastage will not really please God in any way ? Unless the Muslim public truly understands the real meaning of Romadhon as the month of selfreflection , abstinence , humility , giving and saving on food and expenditure , this problem will not go away .
As tradition of ritualism continues to replace spiritualism in the practice of fasting and the religion itself , celebrating by indulgence will continue as a way of life . Even the burning of fireworks has increased as many Muslim families tend to show off their wealth by burning them off . If only they will stop to think of using that wealth for the benefit of the have nots in society , we would have a better and inclusive community today – the gist of Malaysia MADANI .
EAT AND DRINK WISELY
During the Hari Raya period , one of my classmates had to spend time in hospital as he had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis ( DVT ), a
Barley water .
Ginger drink .
condition when blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body , usually in the legs causing pain and swelling . The symptoms sometimes are not noticeable and if one suffers from certain medical conditions , it may affect how the blood clots .
My friend is a diabetic and has been treated with insulin injections for many years . In fact , he was due to go for dialysis which he is trying to avoid .
One of the key diet practices for diabetic sufferers is proper food and exercise . Foods rich in Vitamin E such as almonds , avocado and spinach can help dissolve blood clots . Vitamin E has anticoagulant properties and can prevent blood clots from forming .
Other fruits that help include oranges , grapefruits and lemons and all types of red berries . Ginger also is effective as a daily cup of ginger tea works as a natural blood thinner .
The presence of salicylate compounds in ginger , garlic , berries and even chillies can help prevent blood clotting . We actually include most of these in our diet . Nowadays , people have started to order ‘ teh tarik halia ‘ ( ginger milk tea ) , but it is better if it is just plain ginger tea ‘ kosong ’ ( no sugar ) at your favourite mamak and avoid the sweet milk .
ADI SATRIA , a media and marketing communications veteran , keeps sharing with 70 series classmates that a change of lifestyle means changing nutritional and physical habits , working extra hard where a positive mental attitude is required to overcome the tendency to just relax and do nothing , as what most people his age do . He is currently as healthy and energetic as he was in his 40s and 50s .
Foods to avoid are refined processed foods like white bread , white rice , crackers , French fries , sugary cereals , pastries , pre-packaged food and the ever-popular fast foods . Also , red meat rendang , especially during this festive period , should be consumed sparingly . Drinks to avoid strictly include carbonated sodas and sugary drinks .
Besides drinking at least two litres of water daily , barley water has also been known to help reduce and control sugar levels . Barley grain is rich in vitamins , minerals , high in fiber which helps in better digestion to reduce hunger and weight loss .
UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT CAUSE
As part of a regular diet , it may offer protection from chronic diseases such as diabetes , heart disease and even certain types of cancer . I remember growing up with my parents always giving us barley grains and barley water to drink when we were down with a fever or cold .
A tip by a renowned doctor recommends taking three spoons full of barley soaked in water overnight before straining the water in the morning to drink it on an empty stomach . It has been found to improve kidney health , especially those with diabetes and chronic kidney disease ( CKD ).
When I shared with my friend the information , he told me that the hospital served white rice and white bread . This put him in a dilemma as he was supposed to just accept whatever diet the hospital served .
Well , my only advice to him was to think for himself and make his own decisions based on information that is now available all over the internet . However , it is very important to consult the doctor so that it complements the recommended medical treatment . This is also to monitor the progress of the treatment .
Besides diet , DVT , diabetic and CKD sufferers tend to lack doing exercise and prefer to stay immobile for long periods such as watching TV , surfing on the mobile phone and social media and so on . It is also because of the pain and the fear of not aggravating their condition .
If they understand the root cause , then a strong positive mental attitude should motivate them to exercise and move to sweat and detox the body . Drugs only help to relieve pain and thin the blood . It cannot be the only solution . It involves a total lifestyle change .
Someone once said that life ’ s biggest tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late . – The Health