Tuesday 25 Aug 2015 - 12:46 Makkah mean time-10-11-1436
(File image)
Jeddah, (IINA) - Modern medical practice has come back to the conclusion that diet is the key to good health and investment in good dietary advice will lead to a reduction in treatment costs.
Emphasis on diet is a principle universal to almost all forms of traditional medicine.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) set out the dietary principles that led to great advances in Arab and Islamic medicine, OnIslam reported.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The stomach is the well of the body and the veins drink from it. If it is healthy, the veins pass on good health, if it is sick the veins pass on poison."
The term himya is used to mean both diet and precaution. Harith, 'the doctor of the Arabs', said: "Himya is the source of every cure and the stomach is the home of every illness."
Developing from these 'simple' examples came the system of medicine, which went on to set the foundations for modern medical practice. Al-Tibb al-Nabawi influenced surgeons and physicians like Ibn Sina and Al-Hazem.
It appears that in the rapid advancement of science many forgot these basic truths. Now we find ourselves again returning to the idea of a balanced diet. Diet is normally described in terms of the three macronutrients, namely proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The structural parts of all body cells are made of proteins. It is these which stop them from collapsing. They are also vital in the functioning of the cells. Every protein consists of a string of building blocks called amino acids.
The human body needs about 22 amino acids to make its necessary proteins. Fourteen of these can be manufactured by the body. The remainder have to be obtained through our food. The US National Academy of Sciences recommends 0.8 gms of protein per kilogram of body weight.
The concept of balance is very important. It has until recently been commonly accepted that red meat is an ideal source of high-quality protein.
A recent British report has been interpreted as suggesting that a vegetarian diet actually optimizes health. The reason for this is that taking in large amounts of 'first grade' protein from meat inevitably leads to an increased intake of harmful animal fat.
This was clearly understood by the Companions of the Prophet. He told them; "The lord of all foods for the people of this world and the next is meat." (narrated by Ibn Majah).
The second of the macronutrients are fats. They are composed of fatty acids, long molecules of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They produce more than twice the amount of energy of proteins or carbohydrates and also carry vitamins A, D, E and K.
Saturated fats produce high levels of blood cholesterol. Cholesterol is a complex waxy substance that is essential to the walls of body cells, the production of vitamin D, hormones, bile acids and nerve tissues. The liver produces cholesterol naturally and doesn't need any from the diet.
Therefore, any added will be excess and lead to imbalance. High cholesterol levels have been associated with high risk of heart attack. A simple way to reduce cholesterol levels would be to moderate the use of eggs and organ meats such as liver.
A pillar in al-Tibb al-Nabawi is that illness can be related to diet and digestion. The Prophet (PBUH) laid special importance on position while eating as well as going to the toilet. He emphasized the importance of oral hygiene and exercise.
The 'stomach' mentioned in the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) quoted earlier is generally understood to refer to the whole digestive system. We are being told to keep our whole body in order. Looking carefully after our diet and digestion means looking after our whole body and ultimately our minds and inner selves.
Optimum digestion means optimum health. Digestion begins with the mouth and the teeth. Food is broken down by chewing and is moistened with saliva, which stimulates the rest of the digestive process. It is then swallowed as holus. This should take a few minutes.
Problems associated with this process include the interaction of bacteria and sugar or other carbohydrates. This breaks down the protective enamel and causes tooth decay. We are told to use siwak, a simple tooth stick, when we make ritual ablution. It is said to be purifying for the mouth, pleasing to the Lord and it makes the devil angry.
In Al-Tibb Al-Nabawi, oral hygiene is not only for good health, it is a part of worship. The Messenger, said, "Prayer with siwak is better than 70 prayers without it."
The stomach was described by the Messenger as "the well of the body." It is very important that the well is kept clean. Dieticians are now beginning to fully realize the damage that is done to the stomach through smoking, alcohol and irritant foods.
Fasting to 'give the stomach a rest' is now a common treatment. The role of fasting in Islam is well known. The obligation to fast for one month a year benefits the Muslim's body, mind and soul. The commended regular fasting throughout the year is either three days in the middle of the month, or on Mondays and Thursdays.
There are two intestines in the digestive system. The first, called the duodenum or small intestine, is a tube that receives strong alkaline juices from the pancreas and gallbladder which break down fats and neutralize stomach acid. The most common illness related to the small intestine is duodenal ulcers.
These are commonly caused by alcohol, smoking and stress. The passage of food takes four hours in the stomach, about four and a half in the small intestine and finally about twelve hours in the large intestine. The large intestine is a tube in which food and fluid are absorbed. Food residue is formed into faeces.
The final stage of digestion, the removal of waste, is just as important as the first. The Prophet (PBUH) was very particular about keeping the private areas clean and therefore free of infection, the use of water and performing ablution afterwards. This isn't detached from worship.
SM/IINA
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.
No comments:
Post a Comment