Green Deen: September 2008

`Eid Mubarak from Green Deen
Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Labels: eid

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 11:06 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Getting Rid of E-waste
Saturday, September 27, 2008

Posted by Asma Mana at 10:56 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Green, green and green
Friday, September 26, 2008

(originally posted by Rushda back in June, I think it's worth seeing again)

Green, green and green

I want a holiday with a scene
Of green, green and green

A summer of green trees
A landscape of green grass
A view full of green vegetables

The colour green
Is a beauty that must be seen!
From a moving vehicles screen

And while we hold onto those machines
That deprives us of the colour green
Remember they provide us vaccines
As well as help the air to be clean

So for green, green and green
I will travel continents across and in-between
And also to any place that I have never been
I will make it routine
Just to see green, green and green

Sylvia Chidi

Posted by MetaMuslim at 8:16 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Botanical Pain Killers
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

.
Plants Make Aspirin When Under the Weather
Jessica Marshall, Discovery News

Sept. 19, 2008 -- Plants make aspirin when they need an immune boost, according to new research, sending a form of the compound airborne to signal a health problem to the rest of the tree or to other trees.

The finding may help growers more readily identify plants under stress by monitoring for the airborne distress signal.

Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. made the finding over a walnut tree grove in California. They used sensitive instruments to detect the organic compounds in the air over the grove at different locations, including different heights.

The researchers found levels of an unidentified compound that swamped the levels of the compounds they set out to look for.

"It was kind of a surprise to us because we weren't really looking for this product," said study lead author Thomas Karl. "We weren't sure what we were seeing to begin with."

The compound turned out to be methyl salicylate, a volatile form of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid was originally derived from willow bark and shown to have the pain- and fever-relieving effects known for aspirin. A modified form of salicylic acid, acetosalicylic acid, is now sold as the active ingredient in aspirin.

Salicylic acid is produced by plants when they are under stress like drought or attack by a fungus or insect. It travels through the plant's vascular system and activates the plant's version of an immune response.

Until the new study, nobody had detected the high values of the airborne version of salicylic acid, which the researchers believe is a way to send the stress signal farther and faster. Leaves on the stressed tree or on nearby trees can detect the methyl salicylate signal and convert it into the immune-response-triggering salicylic acid.

"It's faster to send the volatile form to the other leaves, rather than sending through the plant," Karl pointed out. "It might be a more effective way for the same tree to signal that's what's going on."

The researchers observed spikes in methyl salicylate over the walnut grove after nighttime temperatures dipped low, suggesting the plants were reacting to cold stress. The peaks were higher during a dry period, pointing to combined stress of cold nighttime temperatures and mild drought.

The researchers published the work in Biogeosciences.

Although the instruments used by the researchers are rare, the team hopes that simpler methyl salicylate measurements could one day be made, giving farmers a simple way to detect the onset of a plant threat.

"Historically, when we've tried to understand whether plants were happy and healthy or experiencing drought or limited by nutrients or being attacked by insects, we have had to go out and do a lot of hard work," said David Schimel, principal investigator and CEO of the National Ecological Observatory Network in Boulder, Colo., who was not part of the study. "You have to go out and collect leaves, or put out hundreds of insect traps.

"If we could substitute for that an analytical measurement that could measure these critical compounds, it would either replace or very strongly complement these traditional measurements that are somewhat indirect," he added.

The research is also important for understanding atmospheric chemistry. Organic compounds in the atmosphere contribute to ozone and particle formation. The new finding identifies a previously overlooked contribution to the atmospheric total.

"People have realized over the years that we are still missing a fair amount of organic material that's not accounted for," Karl said. "In our research community we have almost a frenzy to find out how much we are off and how much we have accounted for."

Source.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiarap/244563582/

"...He is Well-versed in every kind of creation." [Qur'an 36:79]

Labels: aspirin, botany, plants, stress

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 11:49 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

Greenwashing Detector Website
Monday, September 22, 2008

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mountains of green products and brands hitting the store shelves? It can be hard to determine which products are really good for you and our environment and which are just hopping on the bandwagon... until these researchers decided to develop GoodGuide.com. This website has thousands of products rated by:

Health Performance

Cancer Effects
Reproductive & Developmental Effects
Short-Term Health Effects
Long-Term Health Effects
General Health & Safety

Environmental Performance

Toxic/Hazardous
Climate Change
Energy
Water

Social Performance

Philanthropy
Customer Satisfaction
Employees/Related Workers
Labor & Human Rights

This way, you can sort through all the products and get a thorough break down of what the best products are. I even looked up my arch nemesis, Clorox, because I've always been very skeptical of how "green" their Green Works products really are... and just as I suspected, they scored between 4.4-5.6 (out of 10) on various Green Works merchandise.

You can even filter searches by animal friendliness and health friendliness. Not to mention several Top Product lists, to ensure you're getting the best eco-friendly and healthy products. Also, there's an iPhone application coming out for them soon, for easy access while at the store!

Check them out at www.GoodGuide.com and become a member!

Labels: Good guide, products, website

Posted by Angie at 10:34 AM | Permalink| 3 comments

An early Eid gift...
Saturday, September 20, 2008

With Ramadan in session, I find myself actively working to pump myself with fluids for the few hours that I can. Generally I have a couple of glasses of good old H2O at iftar time and then take a bottle with me to tarawih so that I can take a couple of sips during the break between every four rakats. Alhamdulilah, I am going on my one year anniversary of not using a plastic water bottle. There's just one problem. For the longest, I've been buying glass juice bottles and filling them up with water once I'm done drinking their sugary contents. While it worked for a while, I found that the caps eventually get rusty and leave rust on the mouth of the bottle. Also, the taste of the juice never really goes away...no matter how many times you wash it. With that said, I've decided to take the leap and buy myself a reusable water bottle.

For the most part, I've been going back and forth between a SIGG water bottle and a Klean Kanteen water bottle. SIGG makes these really pretty aluminum water bottles that have intricate designs that I imagine would cause heads to turn, whereas Klean Kanteen takes the simpler approach. But which is safer, aluminum or stainless steel? I did a little research and finally made the decision to go with Klean Kanteen. The reason? I've read a lot of studies linking aluminum to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological illnesses. Also, SIGG water bottles have a special lining on the inside of the bottle. When asked about the contents of the lining by Lloyd Alter of TreeHugger a clear-cut answer was not given. So, I'm sticking with the stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottles - at least they don't have a mysterious inner coat.

Sources:

TreeHugger
SIGG
Klean Kanteen

Labels: aluminum, bottle, eid, stainless steel, Water

Posted by Naadiya Patel at 5:06 PM | Permalink| 3 comments

When Music was Good...
Friday, September 19, 2008

Marvin Gaye wrote this over 30 years ago...

Posted by MetaMuslim at 11:15 PM | Permalink| 3 comments

Beach cleanup near you.
Thursday, September 18, 2008

The 24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is scheduled for this Saturday, September 20,2008 from 9am to Noon.

For more information, or to find a participating location near you visit the California Coastal Commission

Hijab Flutter: Zahra Billoo

Labels: Beach cleanup, California

Posted by Naadiya Patel at 9:43 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

Baby Green Bean -- Brushstrokes for Baby
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Marla Olmstead has taken the world by storm with her abstract genius. What more wonder can a child experience than that with a paint and canvas? Or crayons and paper? Or any type of medium?

Well, while we love and encourage our tots to express their artistic selves, we should remember that we don't want to expose them to anything harmful at the same time.

Up to 36 billion pounds of toxic acrylic polymer solvents, which is found in many traditional art supplies, are produced every year! Many standard art supplies emit asthma-inducing chemicals; so pick those that don't contain ammonia, formaldehyde or turpentine, especially since supplies can, and usually end up in or near kids' mouths.

It's easy to encourage your petit artiste to make masterpieces with food-grade veggie-paints and non-toxic supplies.

Some to try:

Nuno Finger Paint - four colors of food-grade finger paint; for ages three and up ($25).

Stockmar Modeling Beeswax - great alternative to polymer clay, which contains PVC; six colors, for ages four and up ($15).

Paint A Poster Books - veggie-pigment paint-by-numbers series with dinosaurs, fairies, and sprites; for ages six and up ($5).

Prang Soybean Crayons - four-color box of soy (rather than petroleum) wax crayons; for ages four and up ($1).

EcoArt Works - eco art supplies for both kids and adults (prices vary).

-----------------

If you think that organic finger paints are too costly, try making some of your own! Making finger paints can be just as fun as painting with them.

Home-Made Paints
1 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup of water
1/3 cup of grated soap (choose your favorite plain organic bar soap)
1. Melt grated soap flakes into a half cup of boiling water.
2. Add cornstarch.
3. Blend well and put aside. Allow mixture to thicken.
4. Divide into small containers and add coloring.
Natural colorings can be derived from the juice of frozen berries, beet juice, tea, onion skins (boiled) or other natural sources. Mix colors to create new ones and have fun with this part of the mixing process. Now you have a safe paint for your children to play with that is also very budget-friendly! Store this paint in the refrigerator. It should last about a week.

Sources:

http://organic.lovetoknow.com/Organic_Finger_Paints
http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/brushstroke-of-genius/

Posted by Ferdaus at 9:52 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

A Sweet Deceit
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Corn Refiners Association has launched a huge (and costly) ad campaign in an attempt to dim the emerging light over the years beaming about the detrimental affects of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).

Here are the two ads:

Is it realistic for the average American to consume HFCS in moderation when it is found practically everywhere (even bread!) and many times, in extremely high quantities (just read where it lies in order on the ingredients list)? Sure it's possible, but the fact that it is pumped in so many places makes the journey more difficult for the average consumer. And does the word "moderation" ring any bells? Sounds kinda like refined and empty-calorie sugars, mercury-ridden tuna, suffocated and farmed salmon, alcohol, neurotoxic artificial sweeteners, and the like; we're constantly told that these poison-infested-pieces-of-matter set for sale are "fine in moderation."

And does HFCS rightfully gain the exhaustively-flaunted title, "all natural" just because it is made from corn? Ethanol is made from corn too but I don't think anyone would advocate for people to consume it. Furthermore, it is excessively refined and processed to form that clear-sweet-syrup. Besides, aren't tobacco and poison ivy "all-natural" leaves? But that definitely doesn't dismiss the numerous harms they cause. And of course, wine comes from grapes. Does that suddenly make wine a beverage to flaunt (albeit, that has been a lucrative tactic used by the brewery industry for years)?

On another note, the ads serve to belittle those who don't want to consume HFCS. In both ads, the characters come off rude initially and ignorant when they are unable to support their view against HFCS (as if no one can give a response as to why HFCS is terrible for our health.) It makes it seem as though if you don't consume HFCS, then you are the one with the problem. This holier-than-thou tactic can be used to sell practically anything on the market—good or bad. Let us not be fooled. Hopefully these ads will inspire people to research more about HFCS and other terrible additives plaguing us today.

And in-vision, hopefully the day will come when we don't need to constantly plunder into discussions about the nonsense stuffed into food-turned-to-poisons and eat real food, simple.

"Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth." (Qur'an 2:168)

More Information:

Five Reasons Why I avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup - there is tons of additional sources/info/sites towards the bottom.
Soda Warning? High-fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Diabetes, New Study Suggests
Why Congress Should Repeal Sugar Subsidy
Why Is Corn Syrup In So Many Foods?
The Double Danger of High Fructose Corn Syrup
Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity
HFCS Free Food List
Campaign Against GE Corn
Health & Nutrition in Islam - ppt

Labels: advertisement, campaign, health, HFCS, high fructose corn syrup, nutrtion, sugar

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 12:51 AM | Permalink| 4 comments

Eat Your H2O!
Monday, September 15, 2008

Getting dehydrated this Ramadan? Wondering how you can get your H2O requirement? Eat it! Yup, that's right! The foods below contain a lotta water that you can eat to keep you hydrated during suhur or at iftar:

Lettuce is 95% water by weight.
Watermelon - 91% water by weight.
Broccoli, Grapefruit and Carrots are 88-89% water by weight.
Apples and other juicy fruits contain over 80% water. (Eat your fruit with yogurt (85% water) and you’ll have a hydrating meal!)
Roasted chicken (no skin) is 65% water. If you add a salty sauce to it make sure to drink a glass of wter after the meal to stay hydrated.
Soups and broths are obviously full of water, but again, go easy on the salt!

Source: www.EcoSalon.com

Another recommendation? Take a water bottle, reusable preferably, to tarawih prayers and drink up between each rak`ah!

Labels: fruits, Ramadan, Water

Posted by Angie at 1:54 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

Under Water Astonishments
Sunday, September 14, 2008

By David Gallo

Jazaky Allahu khayran To Sumayyah Al Sabri for the inspiration :)

Posted by Sarah Al-Habib at 11:55 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Back to School: Rideshare
Saturday, September 13, 2008

With more and more students seeking a higher education issues of parking is practically inevitable. UNLESS.... we all actively take part in our campus' shuttle, rideshare, and carpool services!!!

Most campus' encourage students, faculty, and staff to carpool. Incentives differ from school to school and can be anything from closer and more convenient parking to partial reimbursements of transportation costs.

Please take a few minutes, go to your campus website, search for "rideshare" or "carpool" and find out what your school has to offer. Also, if you are fortunate to live near campus consider alternate ways of getting to campus (ie. biking, walking, etc.).

Posted by Asma Mana at 11:50 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

A Green Back to School
Friday, September 12, 2008

A wonderful initiative gaining more popularity recently is The Green Schools Initiative.

The Green Schools Initiative was founded in 2004 by parent-environmentalists who were shocked by how un-environmental their kids’ schools were and mobilized to improve the environmental health and ecological sustainability of schools in the U.S. The initiative founders believe it is essential to protect children’s health – at school and in the world beyond school – and they work to catalyze and support “green” actions by kids, teachers, parents, and policymakers to eliminate toxins, use resources sustainably, create green spaces and buildings, serve healthy food, and teach stewardship. They are working to leverage the schools sector to transform the school environment – and the markets that supply schools – to improve health and sustainability.

TGSI is always looking for support through donations and volunteer opportunities in your local community. While many who read this are years away from having school age children, we should still do what we can to get involved now.

Read their report on how they plan on making schools greener and healthier places for kids.

Be sure to check out their website where you will find more great resources and action items.

Posted by MetaMuslim at 5:59 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Baby Green Bean -- Back to School with an Eco-Lunch!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A Brown Bag Lunch is the common name for the all-American PBJ sandwich, an apple, a juice carton, and the wonderful, dependable brown paper lunch bag.

Of course, that wonderful nostalgia brings us to warm, fuzzy places, but let's look at it again. Brown bags, even though biodegradable, are still a product of an industry that emits toxins, (when wood pulp is mixed with chemicals and then heated to make the paper) and cuts down forests, which is a double-whammy because we need double the trees to offset the pollution created by cutting one down. The paper bag, though much better than a plastic bag, is still weighing down on our environment.

So in comes the....REUSABLE lunch bag! (What a concept! Wait, didn't I used to have a tin lunch box with a unicorn on it when I was a little fry? Where did that go?!) These come in all shapes, sizes, and prints. They come in an array of eco-friendly materials, and won't (or shouldn't) end up in our landfills as quickly as conventional bags.

www.reusablebag.com has entire categories of reusable lunch bags. Cloth, organic, string, mesh, hemp, bamboo, neoprene and other friendlier fabrics and plastics.

But what else goes into a lunch bag? Plastic baggies? Disposable utensils? These are the smaller things that add up in a big way inside a landfill. The solution of course: reusable utensils, and cloth baggies! There are these really handy bamboo utensil sets available, with a cool carrying case, of course.

Sandwiches can be wrapped in the reusable "Wrap-N-Mat" wrapper, which is wipeable, carries your sandwich, and unfolds into a placemant! As for "wet" snacks, like slices of fruit, etc, friendlier types of plastics and even aluminum containers will do! Liquids of course, go into reusable containers, such as the popular SIGG bottles.

See! There really is a way to never see a plastic baggie in your lunch ever again!

Kids love characters, and Built NY has come up with some lovable lunch pals:

Posted by Ferdaus at 4:41 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Back to School Week: "Green" Scholarships
Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Get funding for your education while contributing positively to the environment!
Here are a few scholarships from a list compiled by Chris Diehl on FastWeb.

i

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Scholarship: The sponsors of this scholarship are looking for students who have an original idea about cleaning up the environment and who want to be the leader when it's time to take action. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to the author of the top Apprentice Ecologist essay.
Deadline: December 31, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.
Park Espenschade Memorial Scholarship: Park Espenschade was a member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). Upon his death in 1976, this scholarship was created "to honor his enthusiasm, energy, devotion and commitment to the education and training of young people in the environmental sciences," according to the IEST Web site. You must be pursuing a major or minor in science or engineering and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify.
Deadline: January 15, 2009
Learn more about this scholarship.
Windstar Environmental Studies Scholarship: If your country roads can't take you home anymore because they've been torn down to build condos, you might want to consider applying for this scholarship. Windstar, founded in part by John Denver, is sponsoring this scholarship for students who are majoring in environmental studies or environmental engineering at an accredited college or university. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify.
Deadline: June 1, 2009
Learn more about this scholarship.
Environmental Law Institute Research Internship: Aggressively saving the environment doesn't always mean having to chain yourself to a tree. You can save the world by defending the law as well! The Environmental Law Institute Research Internship is open to students who have a strong desire to gain knowledge of the environmental field. Interns will work directly with staff attorneys, scientists and economists and will cover areas such as land use policy, environmental regulation and biodiversity.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more about this scholarship.
Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lbells/542372369/

Recall:

"O my Lord! advance me in knowledge." (Qur'an 20:114)
Seeking Knowledge - The Way to Paradise By Habib Ahmad
Sheikh Yassir Fazaga - Seeking Knowledge- The Obligation on Muslims:

Labels: back to school week, environment, green, internship, scholarship

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 2:29 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

Back to School Week - Eco Pencils?
Monday, September 08, 2008

Since both mechanical pencils and the regular kind contain similar "lead" (a combination of graphite and clay), the primary decision here comes down to whether you'd prefer your kids buy plastic or wood. As far as the Lantern can tell, most low-cost mechanical pencils are made of polystyrene or one of its relatives...

... So, which is better? In an ideal world, where kids could be counted on to bring their school supplies home safely at the end of each day, a mechanical pencil would be the greener choice. After all, the lifespan of a wooden pencil is pretty short, while the mechanical one can be used indefinitely. But the Lantern's own middle-school experience suggests it's unwise to count on a 12-year-old to keep anything for more than a few hours. The realities of school life mean that wooden pencils are probably a better bet for all but the most responsible kids.

To read the full break down of which is more eco-friendly, you can check out the full article here: Slate - Are Mechanical Pencils better for the environment than the regular wooden kind?

Labels: back to school week, pencils, school

Posted by Angie at 11:17 AM | Permalink| 1 comments

Food for Fasting.
Saturday, September 06, 2008

I must admit that for the past couple of days of Ramadan my stomach has started to growl almost 3 or 4 hours after suhoor. I figured there is something wrong with my foods of choice at suhoor time, so I decided to do a bit of research and thought that I might share what I learned with the rest of you so that you might benefit as well.

A normal meal for me at suhoor time consists of a slice of toast, a cup of tea and some fruits or maybe fruit juice and a glass of water. It sounds healthy and seems like a good choice of food, but its probably not the best choice for suhoor, actually it might work better at iftar time. The best items for fasting from that list are the Toast and the water. Tea increases muscle contractions in the bladder and can increase urination thus putting an individual at risk for dehydration and kidney stones. While fruits and juice are good, they are simple carbohydrates and are readily digested leaving you at a deficit of sugar in your system early in the fast. Bread is a complex carb, but perhaps one slice isn't enough. Finally, you can't ever go wrong with water.

So what should you eat and when should you eat it?

I found an article titled Fasting during Ramadan: a Muslim pharmacist's perspective . In this article, he suggests eating a meal high in complex carbohydrates during suhoor. Complex carbohydrates are slowly digested and help keep your body going for longer periods of time, especially while fasting.

Foods high in complex carbohydrates:

Potatoes
Brown rice
Pasta
Barley
Bran
Whole grain breads
Whole grain cereals
Wheat
Lentils
Beans

Eating excessive amounts of food during Iftar time is highly discouraged. While you are fasting, your body's metabolism slows down in order maintain efficient utilization of body fat. Introducing large amounts of fatty foods at iftar time will not only shock your body but will likely result in that post-Ramadan gut. Besides, excessive eating goes against the sunnah - remember: 1/3 food, 1/3 water, 1/3 air.

Refined carbohydrates and/or simple carbohydrates are recommended to be eaten at iftar time because they are readily digested and can help restore blood sugar levels after a long day of fasting. Foods high in refined carbohydrates are your baked goods, that is anything containing sugar and flour.

Foods that contain simple carbohydrates:

Your baked goods (my favorite are chocolate chip cookies)
Juices (these are also good to restore hydration, along with water)
Apples
Strawberries
Other really sweet fruits
Dates

Dates not only are a good source of sugar, but they also provide other nutrients as well such as fiber (to aid in digestion), potassium, magnesium and provide many essential vitamins. Its no wonder dates are highly recommended for breaking one's fast.

Foods high in spice and high in sugar are not recommended as they may cause indigestion and heart burn. Low impact exercise is recommended during Ramadan in order to keep the mind and body healthy (see: Ramadan & Exercising).

For more information:
Fasting during Ramadan: a Muslim pharmacist's perspective
Nutrition Data

Labels: carbohydrates, dates, Fasting, food, health, Ramadan

Posted by Naadiya Patel at 8:49 AM | Permalink| 1 comments

Huddle Up!
Friday, September 05, 2008

I pray you are taking advantage of your Ramadan. We are almost done with the first week!
May Allah increase the barakah in our time, especially during this special month.

I recently came across a really useful online community.
Be sure to check out Huddler's Green Home!

What is Huddler?

We can all use the help of our peers in making buying decisions or learning how to better use what we already own, but it's important to connect with the right people. Huddler's Green Home is the place for passionate, eco-friendly consumers to come together, learn from one another, and share their knowledge with the world. Do you:

Know how to maximize the fuel efficiency of your Prius?
Maintain a killer compost and have some secrets to share?
Have a PV array installed and understand the ins/outs?
Want to share what you know and talk to other people with similar passions?

Huddler is for you.

Posted by MetaMuslim at 6:36 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

Baby Green Bean -- Dates for Baby
Wednesday, September 03, 2008

We've heard of Tahneek (the action of rubbing a softened date into a newborn's palate). And we've done it, too. But what for? Why are we giving a freshly born infant a bit of mushy fruit?

SubhanAllah, dates are such an amazing food, and it's a sunnah to eat! They contain essential vitamins and minerals, and are the ideal food for a fasting body. But did anyone know the wisdom behind Tahneek?

A study published in the British Medical Journal (No. 6993, 1995) proves the benefit of giving a newborn baby sugar in order to minimize pain, as caused from heel-pricking or circumcision.

A group of babies were given different concentrations of sugar water (and a test group received doses of sterile water) before pinpricking their heels. Test results showed that the babies given a sugar syrup had decreased amounts of crying. Thus concluding that sugar can be a safe form of analgesia for babies.

Tahneek with dates introduces a significant amount of glucose and fructose, which can decrease stress levels in infants, as well as sustain the newborn's organs before a baby receives milk from its mother. Also, helps promote nursing as it exercises jaw muscles and promotes blood flow in the mouth area.

Sources: http://www.themuslimwoman.com/offspring/tahneek.htm
http://ummreem.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/got-any-dates/#more-31

Posted by Ferdaus at 11:01 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

Ramadan & Exercising

Exercising During Ramadan

By Mohd Shazly Khan

Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib, is due. They eat before the sun comes up at a certain time and after a certain time during the night.

Its very obvious that the coming month will create a buzz for those who would like to continue working out. The common misconception is to cut back totally on our workout and resume only after Hari Raya (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally “Fasting Day of Celebration”, the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr).
However I would like to think of it differently. Please note that these steps that I’m going to suggest works well for me, so it may not necessarily work as well for you. My best advice is to listen to your body.

For me, its not really a question of “Should I train?” or not but rather what kind of workout and at what time I should do it. It is as straightforward as that. Some would doubt if cardio workouts are advisable since the body lacks water (fasting can make us dehydrated, symptoms are like fatigue, dizziness & headache). I would think of it differently, since the absence of glycogen due to fasting, then the opportunity to burn some fat should not go to waste. The only thing that we should make sure is not to over strain and stop immediately if we feel light headed. If we time our workouts properly, i.e few hours prior to breaking fast, we will be able to refuel shortly thereafter. We should avoid high impact sports during the day as we are not in the condition to endure performance sports.

The other good time to workout is after breaking fast. However this is not applicable if you have just eaten a cow or something equivalent to it. Get the point? Be sure to consume small portions and stick to foods that are easily digested . Let me remind myself and all of you out there, that Mutton or Lamb are definitely not easy to digest. However, feel good to understand that digestion alone can consume up to 40% of our calorie output.

As for weight training, I would only do them after breaking fast. To draw rapid energy from what is already lacking will result in our body drawing energy from other muscle and if I were to do weights, I will make sure that I drown myself with a protein shake right after the workout. We should lose fat, not muscle instead. Some would disagree, but more protein can help to generate more muscle, and more muscle means more calories being used to maintain them, thus driving fat-loss into overdrive.

However if some of you decide not to train at all, you will definitely lose some size and strength just like the professional athletes who lose their stamina during an off season. The good thing is that we will regain it quickly if we work hard enough.

The key lesson here is simply to be smart. Listen to your body. If it tells you that it needs to rest, then do what is right and do it smart.

Shazly Khan is a Certified Personal Trainer, Triathlon Competitor, Marathon Competitor and most of all, someone with a Passion for the sport. He is currently attached to a local Fitness Centre with an established chain of health clubs in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Read his blog at http://shazlykhan.blogspot.com

DM Summary:

1. Decide on the type of exercise you’re going to perform - avoid high impact sports during the day
2. Exercise either few hours prior to breaking fast or after breaking your fast
3. Eat small portions, something light & easily digested if you plan to workout after breaking your fast
4. If you wish to weight train, it is better to do it after you break fast - don’t forget that post-workout protein shake!
5. Completely avoiding training during the fasting month will cause you to lose size, strength, and stamina
6. Learn to listen to your body at all times - don’t exercise if your body is telling you not to!

Article Source: http://www.dailymuscle.com/2007/09/12/exercising-during-ramadan/
Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/macuache/2174014991/

For more information:

Labels: exercise, fitness, health, Ramadan, workout

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 8:50 AM | Permalink| 2 comments

Ramadan Mubarak from Green Deen
Monday, September 01, 2008

Labels: Ramadan

Posted by Angie at 2:22 PM | Permalink| 3 comments

Green Deen

MISSION STATEMENT

CONTRIBUTORS

LINKS

SEARCH FOR SPECIFICS

ISLAMIC INSPIRATIONS

RECENT COMMENTS

ARCHIVES

CONTACT US

LINK TO US

CREDITS