THE HOLY month of Ramzan is just a day ahead and preparations are in full swing. Known as Ramadan or Ramzan, this is the holy month of the Islamic calendar that is observed for a period of 30 days and is considered extremely auspicious. The celebrations of this sacred festival of Muslims include strict fasting, reading the holy book of the Quran, reciting prayers, sighting the moon, charity and many more. This year, the Ramadan month is likely to begin on March 22 after the moon sighting in Mecca.

Fasting during Ramzan is quite strict and includes strict fasting from dawn to dusk. People abstain from even consuming water between the period of sunrise and sunset. According to Ramadan fasting rules, only two meals are consumed by Muslims on each day of Ramzan known as Sehri and Iftar. Sehri is the meal consumed before sunrise and Iftar is the meal consumed at sunset. With such strict fasting rules, one must be responsible for their health as well. As the holy month is about to begin, the World Health Organization (WHO) has put forward some tips for people to take care of their health while observing Ramzan.

1. Hydration: As the fasting of Ramzan begins with Suhoor or Sehri and ends with Iftar, one must consume plenty of water at the time of consuming both meals.

2. Fruits: Consume fruits that are enriched with a great amount of water content to stay healthy and full throughout the day.

3. Cool and shaded place: While fasting for around 15-16 hours continuously, it is beneficial if one stays in cool and shaded environments to prevent dehydration.

4. Suhoor: Sehri or Suhor is the meal consumed before sunrise. One should incorporate healthy fruits and vegetables in their Sehri plate, foods are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibres that promote fullness.

5. Fried Food Items: Avoid consuming fried foods as they lead to dizziness, and constipation and make you low on energy throughout the day. Moreover, fried foods can lead to dehydration.

This is an ideal month for Muslims when they practice charity and donations. It is an almsgiving known as zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam along with fasting. According to a Hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is forbidden for menstruating women. People who are not physically able to fast also come under the exemption category. They should donate the amount of a normal person's diet for each day missed if they are financially capable.