March 2017 research by the American Heart Association suggests that, “regular aerobic exercise [in middle age] may … lessen the severity of strokes later in life.”
A March 2017 study concludes that, “as little as 10 minutes a day of high-intensity physical activity could help some children reduce their risk of developing heart problems and metabolic diseases such as diabetes”.
"The results suggest that substituting modest amounts of vigorous physical activity for longer-duration light exercise may have cardiometabolic benefits above and beyond those conveyed by moderate activity and the avoidance of sedentary behavior," said Dr Justin B. Moore of Wake Forest School of Medicine.
A March 2017 study by Ohio Colleges of Medicine GRC concludes that, "How often you are eating family meals may not be the most important thing. It could be that what you are doing during these meals matters more…This highlights the importance of thinking critically about what is going on during those meals, and whether there might be opportunities to turn the TV off or do more of your own food preparation,"
The study found that, “adults who reported never watching TV or videos during family meals had significantly lower odds of obesity compared with peers who always watched something during mealtimes. Those whose family meals were all home-cooked also had lower odds of obesity than other adults who ate some or no home-cooked meals.”
Some of the key findings of a March 2017 study by Sydney University are
“People who ate 3-4 daily serves of vegetables had a 12 per cent lower risk of stress than those who ate 0-1 serves daily.
People who ate 5-7 daily serves of fruit and vegetables had a 14 per cent lower risk of stress than those who ate 0-4 serves daily.
Women who ate 3-4 daily serves of vegetables had an 18 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
Women who ate 2 daily serves of fruit had a 16 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
Women who ate 5-7 daily serves of fruit and vegetables had a 23 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
At the start of the study, characteristics associated with higher stress included: being female, younger, having lower education and income, being overweight/obese, a current smoker and being physically inactive.
Fruit consumption alone had no significant association with a lower incidence of stress.
There was no significant association between higher levels of fruit and vegetable intake (greater than 7 daily serves) and a lower incidence of stress.”
A March 2017 study suggests that, “Men with impaired glucose metabolism should avoid high-carbohydrate foods in the evening” according to one source.
The German Institute of Human Nutrition suggests that for “men with prediabetes, abundant consumption of foods containing starch and sugar in the evening had a negative effect on their blood glucose regulation.” By comparison, “…in healthy study participants the timing of carbohydrate intake did not play a significant role in blood glucose regulation.”
A March 2017 study concludes that “Low intake of healthy foods such as nuts, vegetables, whole grains and fruits combined with higher intake of unhealthy dietary components, such as salt and trans-fat, is a major contributor to deaths from cardiovascular disease”
A March 2017 study by Exeter University has found that, “concentrated blueberry juice improves brain function in older people”.
According to Michael Greger, “as a general rule, greens are the healthiest vegetables and berries are the healthiest fruits. The colours in these foods are the antioxidants. Which fruits have most?
- Indian goose berries (1200 units of antioxidants) available online as amla powder
- blackberries (650)
- blueberries (380)
- raspberries (350)
- cranberries (330)
- strawberries (310)
- mango (110)
- apples (60)
- bananas (40)”
NHS Choices state, "Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual. It's not known exactly why this happens, but research suggests it's caused by a problem with the immune system."
30 November 2016 - note
A 2016 study indicates that one of the immune system messengers, interleukin IL-12, neutralised by ustekinumab, the antibody currently used to treat psoriasis, may actually be helpful in battling the disease.
23 December 2016 - note
A 2016 study indicates that, “weight loss has a significant and prolonged positive impact on psoriasis symptoms and quality of life.”
A report in February 2017 on fasting:
Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD tm) reduces risk factors for aging and multiple age-related disease
A study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Imperial College London published in February 2017 shows that nearly 8m deaths worldwide could be prevented each year if people ate more fruits and vegetables.
Recent Studies and Advice
A 2016 study suggests that drinking more water can reduce intake of calories, sugar, salt, saturated fat and cholesterol. Another 2016 study suggests that water instead of diet beverages may help weight loss for diabetics.
A 2015 study concluded that a range of sports, to avoid fatal drops in low blood sodium and hyponatremia (low blood sodium) one should drink when thirsty. NHS Choices advise that as a guide, "... passing pale or clear-coloured urine (wee) is a good sign that you're well hydrated."
The NHS Eatwell Guide says, "drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower fat milk and sugar-free drinks including tea and coffee all count." whereas the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine advises women to have around 2.7 litres daily from all beverages and foods and for men 3.7 litres. One GP, writing in the British Medical Journal in 2011, asserted that there is no evidence to support the NHS advice.
People on medication need to check whether dehydration is one of the side-effects and one should consult a GP to seek advice.
The Advice of the Scholars
As-Suyuti in "Medicine of the Prophet" said, "...the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The best drink, in this world and the next, is water.'"
Al-Jawziyya in "Medicine of the Prophet" advised that cold water is the most beneficial and to avoid drinking water to break a fast or after sex or a bath or eating fruits or after waking up. He also advised against drinking water just after eating except when necessary and to sip a small amount slowly.
As-Suyuti advises against drinking on a full or empty stomach except when necessary.
Chishti in "The Traditional Healers Handbook" recommends not drinking whilst eating or even a little after, as this disturbs the digestive process, and to have some tea (preferably one that aids digestion, like peppermint) and oranges only after about 30 minutes.
Shaykh Othman Nazih Al Maghribi of the Prophetic Medicine Institute, Canada, reminds us of the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he used to drink a glass of water with honey stirred in slowly, anti-clockwise, after Fajr Prayers.
Types of Sickness
Ibn Qayyim in "Medicine of the Prophet" advises that there are two types of sickness:
- sickness of the heart
- sickness of the body
The two Sicknesses of the heart
- uncertainty and doubt
- desire and temptation
The three Rules of bodily medicine
- preservation of health - for example, you can break the fast when ill or travelling
- expulsion of harmful substances - for example, you can shave the head whilst in a state of Ihram when sick or having an ailment of the head*
- protection from harm - you can wash with earth instead of water when sick
Ten things which if blocked or restrained cause harm
*Ibn Qayyim says, "[Allah] drew attention to the least significant - the vapour congested in the head - to indicate the importance of evacuating what is more serious. Such is the method of the Qur'an: to give instruction about the greater, through mentioning the lesser." These are:
- blood when it is agitated
- semen when it is moving
- urine
- wind
- vomiting
- sneezing
- sleep
- hunger
- thirst
Two recent 2016 studies on sleep, showing
- the loss of 1-2 hours sleep increases the crash risk and
- a link between loss of REM sleep and increased desire for sugary and fatty foods.
Again, of concern for those on night-shifts, varying shifts and emergency on-call workers.
A January 2017 study concludes that chronic sleep deprivation suppresses the immune system.
Our Scholars
It can be noted that, on the other hand, as regards excessive sleep, Ibn Sina is quoted as saying, in Avicenna’s Medicine that it "...causes dullness of psychological faculty, heaviness of brain, and cold diseases..."
The advice of Hakim Chishti in "The Traditional Healers Handbook" when he talks about the timing of meals: eat a substantial breakfast of “whole grain cereals and breads, fruits, eggs, cheese and [then] tea.”
Shaykh Othman Nazih Al Maghribi of the Prophetic Medicine Institute reminds us of the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he used to drink a glass of water with honey stirred in slowly, anti-clockwise, after Fajr Prayers and to eat 7 dates after sunrise.
A new 2016 Study suggests that low carbohydrate diets such as the Paleo Diet, South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet are safe for up to six months and that those that took part in the study lost between two and nine pounds more than those on low fat diets.
Those publishing the study still encourage people to “…eat real food and avoid highly processed foods, especially processed meats…”
From the Scholars
We invite people to explore the benefits of moving themselves slightly up and down the Garmi-Sardi (Warming/Cooling) scale of foods to find their optimum personal balance and avoiding the “one-size-fits-all” thinking of some of the newer diets.
A report published today announces the discovery of a new field, reclassifying the mesentery, originally considered to be part of the digestive system, as an organ.
Image
Mesentery: Four figures of the lacteals, the aorta & mesenterica inferior, the urinary bladder and a demonstration of vision. Line engraving by Campbell, 1816/1821.
https://wellcome.ac.uk/press-release/thousands-years-visual-culture-made-free-through-wellcome-images
“Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scientist discovers the effect of Islamic words & symbols on water molecules. On Egyptian TV, an Egyptian scientist explains how a Japanese scientist, seated beside him, discovered the effect of the Quran, Islamic words & symbols, and the Call to Prayer (Azan) on water molecules (when observed under electronic microscopes) producing different shapes of amazing crystals, depending on the Islamic word or symbol used. Since water constitutes 70% of our body, this discovery helps explain the soothing & pleasant feeling effect on people when they hear Islamic words and they are in Islamic places of worship.”
http://www.discoveringislam.org/islamic_miracles_today.htm
Emoto believed that
water was a "blueprint for our reality" and that emotional "energies" and "vibrations" could change the physical structure of water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Emoto
The memory of zamzam water
“Emoto brought few drops of Zamzam’s water and recited the “Basmaleh” [In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, Most Merciful] in Arabic and noticed that the arrangement of the water particles became prettier! In fact, these drops of water formed unique shapes as if they were drawn by a fantastically skilled artist.”
http://kaheel7.com/eng/index.php/secrets-of-quran-a-sunnah/287-the-memory-of-zamzams-water
Apples
Eating apples strengthens the heart (Al-Suyuti).
Forgetfulness can be brought on by, amongst other things, eating sour apples (the others include cupping on the nape of the neck and excessive eating of coriander) (Al-Jawziyya).
Impatient hunger can be dealt with by apple juice and pomegranate juice (Chishti).
Apple Cider Vinegar
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was reported to have once remarked that vinegar was the seasoning of all the prophets who came before him. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) liked vinegar. Jabir narrated, "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, took me one day with him to his house. He was served some bread. He asked: 'Is there any dip?' They replied 'No, only some vinegar.' He said, 'Vinegar is a good dip.' Jabir used to say, "I have loved vinegar since I heard it from Allah’s Prophet". Naf'a said, "I have loved vinegar since I heard it from Jabir." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i].
Apple cider vinegar is produced from unprocessed apple juice and vinegar. It keeps the apple's colour and flavour. There is now a wealth of evidence as to the wide range of benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar regularly.
Oxymel
Chishti advises that oxymel is 1 part vinegar 5 parts honey.
Unani medicine says oxymel was a great tonic for purifying the body of excessive, morbid or aggravated black bile or intermittent fevers.
Oxymel is the base on which one builds all kinds of herbal treatments. For example, pomegranate oxymel to strengthen the stomach. As a side note, an informative Tibb website gives some valuable information about making vinegar and declares pomegranate vinegar the king of vinegars.
Basic oxymel is simple and easy to prepare. The sharp aroma of the vinegar leads one to think the taste is going to be little unpleasant, but it is not.
Al-Suyuti "Medicine of the Prophet" - Islamic Society
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya "Medicine of the Prophet" - Islamic Texts Society
Chishti "The Traditional Healers Handbook" Simon & Schuster
Recent Research
The daily target of 10,000 steps is popular, but a 2016 study suggests that there are health benefits from a lower number particularly where the steps are more intense and that limiting the amount of time sitting or being inactive is also beneficial. Another 2016 study suggests that "interrupting sitting time improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes".
A 2016 study suggests that short-term sleep deprivation can affect heart function and this has implications for those doing shift work and those who struggle to get good quality sleep.
Some advice from the scholars
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in Medicine of the Prophet the subject of exercise from the view of helping the body get rid of the waste products of digestion and helping it remove obstructions. He advises that movement helps digestion and evacuation by warming the body. He recommends a moderate amount of exercise, at the proper time along with other correct lifestyle habits.
The proper time for exercise is after food has digested.
Moderate exercise is when the skin is red and body is moist. Ibn Qayyim advises that when sweat pours down the body that is excessive.
Ibn Qayyim advises that for every limb and faculty (including the soul and the brain) there is an exercise.
Ibn Qayyim notes that the standing in prayer by night is one of the most beneficial things to preserve health and prevent illness.
As-Suyuti in Medicine of the Prophet advises that exercise should stop when the sweating starts.
Ibn Sina is quoted as saying in “Avicenna’s Medicine” that exercises should be varied and also suitable for one's age, strength and medical condition. He outlines massage, warm-up and warm-down rules and suggests that in certain types of individual exercise may cause disease.
Image: By Mike H from Seattle, USA - Tai chi, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4679243