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10 Health Tips For Ramadan Fasting

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2024

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is a sacred time for Muslims worldwide. It commences and concludes with the sighting of the crescent moon. Due to the Islamic calendar’s shorter duration compared to the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan shifts earlier by 10–12 days annually, allowing it to traverse all seasons within a 33-year cycle.

Throughout Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting from dawn until sunset, devoting themselves to increased prayers, introspection, and acts of charity.

Taking care of your health during fasting in Ramadan is, however, very important. In this piece, The PUNCH highlights steps to take care of one’s health while fasting

1. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water during non-fasting hours, especially during Suhoor and Iftar, to prevent dehydration.

2. Eat Nutritious Foods: Always eat a balanced diet with foods rich in complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables to provide sustained energy throughout the fasting period.

3. Avoid Overeating: While breaking the fast at Iftar, avoid overeating or consuming large amounts of sugary or fatty foods. Opt for moderate portions and balanced meals.

4. Include Suhoor: Have a nutritious pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) that includes complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to provide energy and keep you feeling full throughout the day.

5. Reduce Intake Of Caffeine and Sugary Drinks: Reduce consumption of caffeinated and sugary beverages as they can lead to dehydration and energy crashes.

6. Take Short Naps: If possible, take short naps during the day to help alleviate fatigue and maintain energy levels.

7. Exercise Moderately: Engage in light to moderate physical activity, such as walking or gentle stretching, during non-fasting hours to maintain fitness and energy levels. Avoid strenuous exercise during fasting hours.

8. Monitor Health: Pay attention to your body and any signs of dehydration, fatigue, or health issues. Seek medical attention if needed.

9. Get Sufficient Sleep: Aim for adequate sleep during the night to ensure your body’s overall well-being and energy levels during fasting hours.

10. Break Fast Gradually: Start Iftar with dates and water, followed by a light meal, and gradually consume more substantial foods to prevent digestive discomfort.

By taking these steps, Muslims can maintain their health and well-being while fasting.

However, if there are any underlying health conditions or concerns, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional.

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NGO Says Starving Gaza Children Too Weak To Cry

Published

4 hours ago

August 27, 2025

Editor

The head of Save the Children described in horrific detail on Wednesday the slow agony of starving children in Gaza, saying they are so weak they do not even cry.

Addressing a Security Council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the president of the international charity, Inger Ashing, said famine — declared by the UN last week to be happening in Gaza — is not just a dry technical term.

“When there is not enough food, children become acutely malnourished, and then they die slowly and painfully. This, in simple terms, is what famine is,” said Ashing.

She went on to describe what happens when children die of hunger over the course of several weeks, as the body first consumes its own fat to survive, and when that is gone, literally consumes itself as it eats muscles and vital organs.

“Yet our clinics are almost silent. Now, children do not have the strength to speak or even cry out in agony. They lie there, emaciated, quite literally wasting away,” said Ashing.

She insisted that aid groups have been warning loudly that famine was coming as Israel prevented food and other essentials from entering Gaza over the course of two years of war triggered by the Hamas attack of October 2023.

“Everyone in this room has a legal and moral responsibility to act to stop this atrocity,” said Ashing.

The United Nations officially declared famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming what it called the systematic obstruction of aid by Israel during more than 22 months of war.

A UN-backed hunger monitor called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative said famine was affecting 500,000 people in the Gaza governorate, which covers about a fifth of the Palestinian territory, including Gaza City.

The IPC projected that the famine would expand by the end of September to cover around two-thirds of Gaza.
AFP

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Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

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US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.