Make Healthy Food Choices with the help of Quran and Hadith
The health of our body plays an integral part in our well-being. According to many types of research, body sickness arises due to the intake of excess amount of substances in the body. This involves continuing an unhealthy lifestyle, overeating and poor choices in selecting the food. This consistent chain of events are regarded as the main source of gloomy matter and it is believed that when there is a lot for the stomach to digest, disease occurs. Today these facts are backed up by many scientific bodies whereas this information was present in Quran which came into existence 1400 years ago.
Teachings of Quran and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ applied and suggested different types of remedies that were both natural and divine for various illness and conditions. According to a Sahih hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
It is also mentioned in the Quran:
Essential foods whether they are grain, fruits, vegetables or animals that come in the form of meat and dairy products they all contain the ingredients that vitalize our body. Processed food such as jams, fruits that are conserved, juices that come in tetra pack, they are all preserved and have no calorie in them hence lacking essential nutrients. Fresh fruits are better substitutes as they are suitable for the people who are trying to lose weight.
Fruits
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ جَنَّتٍۢ مَّعْرُوشَتٍۢ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَتٍۢ وَٱلنَّخْلَ وَٱلزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا أُكُلُهُۥ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَبِهٍۢ ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُوا۟ حَقَّهُۥ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and gives its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.
Fruits mentioned in the Quran include pomegranate, dates, grapes, olives, fig, and bananas. These fruits are not only tastefully rich in flavor but also packed with vitamins and minerals. Including these fruits in your daily diet boosts immunity against diseases, increase metabolism and maintain energy levels throughout the day.
Wheat and Grain
Besides being the base ingredient of food pyramid made by nutritionists, Wheat, barley, corn, and grains are the basic source of carbohydrates and energy. Allah ﷻ filled them with essential nutrients, B vitamins, fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc. In a hadith derived from Tirimdhi, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said;
“It fortifies the heart of a sad person and relieves the heart of diseases, just like washing the dirt off from your face with water” –Tirmdhi
By looking into the food pyramid and start analyzing the different foods that help us gaining health benefits that have already been confirmed through various hadith and Quran verses. On the base level of the pyramid, we have bread and cereals that have been advised by doctors and many nutrition experts to consume on daily basis for the body to grow properly. The use of bread and cereals by civilization goes back to thousands of years with proper adequate diet
Honey
With the mentioned verse, the Quran reveals that honey has significant importance in making our body healthier. One of the miracles of honey is that it quickly diffuses into the blood hence giving a quick source of energy.
A healthy life is a happy life
Islam is complete guidance for mankind. It establishes a line describing what is good and what is bad for our body and soul. One who ponders his mind upon Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will come into the realization that Allah has provided mankind the solution of everything in the world. The Last Book of Allah and the teachings of His Last Prophet ﷺ has shown people guidance in making life easy in this world and the hereafter. A believer who understands Quran and Hadith will never make unhealthy food choices due to his deep knowledge of Islam. May Allah help us all to follow the Quran and Hadith with its true meanings, Ameen.