Doing sports during Ramadan, between the benefits and harms of bad practices

Every Ramadan the question arises of the choice that the faster takes to practice sports just before breaking the fast and the problem of the effect this ritual may have on the practice of sports.

Certainly, physical activity during this holy month has several benefits, but it can pose risks due to certain bad attitudes, including dehydration and acute drop in blood sugar, which exposes vital parts of the body, such as the heart and kidneys, to significant damage.

It is for this reason that specialists and sports experts insist on respecting certain rules of healthy sports practice, while taking into account the nature of the discipline practiced and the level of the athlete.

It is also necessary to take into account the decline in physical fitness and thus adapt the programs by providing an average effort and two to three sessions per week.

In this regard, Zakaria Benomar Farès, president of the Moroccan Academy of Mental and Sports Coaching, confirms that sports during Ramadan help preserve physical condition and muscle mass and help manage stress and psychological balance.

In a statement to MAP, Mr. Farès indicated that the inappropriate practice of sports during fasting can have harmful effects on health, including a drop in energy, which can affect the body.

Therefore, intense sports activity during fasting puts the body under enormous pressure, especially since it is deprived of water and food for long hours, he noted.

For this reason, the specialist recommends exercising at least an hour before breaking the fast or after the Al-Ishaâ prayer, when the body is nourished and hydrated, while choosing moderate physical activity adapted to the abilities and everyone’s energy.

Thus, physical activity can be beneficial during the month of Ramadan, provided there is a balance between fasting and sports, he concluded.