Since my recovery, I have been learning so much about what real health actually looks like. What I thought was healthy before turned out to be harming me in ways I did not understand. Between the changes in my diet, the 24-hour fasts, the portion sizes recommended in verified Hadith, and the constant work on purifying my heart, my whole life has shifted. I want to share these lessons because they are changing everything for me.
Pure Food, Home Cooking, and Set Meal Times
These days, I am only eating pure healthy foods, I do all my own cooking, and I eat at specific times.
I have my last meal just before or after ASR time, and I also now do 24-hour fasts twice a week. I have found 24 hour fasting is such a powerful way to detox our gut health.
Cooking my own food gives me full control over what enters my body. Eating early in the day and stopping around Asr keeps digestion clean, and the 24-hour fasts give the gut real time to reset.
Filling the Stomach by One Third
I am also very conscious about the amount I eat; it is even advised by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in verified Hadiths that at meal times we should only be filling our stomachs by 1/3 with food.
When we eat excessive amounts of food and fill our stomach too much, the excess amount is actually toxic for our body and puts stress on our digestive system, even if what we are eating is healthy.
This teaching from the Sunnah changed how I look at every meal. Even the best food, eaten in excess, becomes a burden on the body, so keeping the portions moderate is part of respecting what Allah has given us.
A Simple, Balanced Plate
Our diet should also be relatively simple. I only have 3 things on my plate (usually chicken or fish, veg, and sweet potato as my carbs), and the portion sizes are around the same size as my palm.
A simple plate is easier to digest and easier to stay consistent with. The palm-sized portion keeps the meal grounded in what the body actually needs rather than what the appetite wants.
Purifying the Heart Is the Most Important Thing
However, apart from all of the new dietary habits I have adopted, the most important thing I learnt is how important it is to be constantly working on purifying our heart.
The biggest lesson for me over the last year is that you could be doing all the right things with your diet and exercise; however, if your heart gets blocked and your connection is affected, your body will eventually get disregulated no matter how healthy you try to be physically.
This is the truth that most of the wellness world is missing. Without a purified heart and a real connection to Allah, the body cannot sustain health long term, no matter how perfect the diet or workout plan is.
The Nervous System Follows the Heart
When our heart is blocked, and we are not sufficiently connected to Allah, our body will be in fight/flight most of the time.
Fight or flight was never meant to be a permanent setting. When the heart is at peace with Allah, the nervous system settles, and the body finally gets the chance to repair itself the way it was designed to.
Islam Is the Absolute Truth
I used to think Islam was just a cultural thing, and so I was really surprised when I discovered that Islam is the absolute truth and the Quran is the complete literal word of God.
Now I understand that if our life or character is not aligned with the attributes of God / Allah / Islam, our heart starts to get blocked due to all the sins we are ignorantly committing.
What I once dismissed as culture is actually direct guidance from the Creator. Once I opened the Quran with a sincere heart, I could not deny that this is the truth for all of humanity.
Major Sins I Had Been Unaware Of
There are major sins in Islam that I was completely unaware of previously, such as shirk. For example, shirk is literally one of the biggest sins. When you understand it, it is so liberating. There are some things I knew about, but I didn’t know how serious it was.
Learning about these sins actually gives you freedom, not fear. Once you understand what Islam is calling you away from, you realise it is protecting you, not restricting you.
Islam Is the Source of Real Solutions
Learning about Islam is the most powerful source of solutions to all of our problems; the guidance is for our best interests and protection.
I am so grateful I discovered Islam.
Every question I had about health, character, business, and life has an answer inside this religion. The guidance in the Quran and the Sunnah is not restriction; it is protection sent directly from the One who created us and knows us best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Your Main Dietary Habits Since Your Recovery?
I only eat pure healthy foods, I do all my own cooking, and I eat at specific times. My last meal is just before or after Asr, and I do 24-hour fasts twice a week. I have found 24-hour fasting to be a powerful way to detox gut health.
How Much Food Should We Actually Be Eating?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised in a verified Hadith that at meal times we should only be filling our stomach by one third with food. When we eat excessively, the extra amount becomes toxic for the body and puts stress on the digestive system, even if what we are eating is healthy.
What Does A Simple Plate Look Like For You?
I have three things on my plate, usually chicken or fish, vegetables, and sweet potato as my carbs. The portion sizes are around the same size as my palm. Keeping the plate simple makes digestion easier and consistency much more sustainable.
Why Is Purifying The Heart More Important Than Diet Alone?
Because you could be doing all the right things with your diet and exercise, but if your heart gets blocked and your connection to Allah is affected, your body will eventually get disregulated, no matter how healthy you try to be physically. The heart is the foundation of health.
How Does Islam Connect To Real Health And Life Solutions?
Learning about Islam is the most powerful source of solutions to all of our problems. The guidance is for our best interests and protection, and when we align our life and character with what Allah has taught us, the heart opens, the nervous system settles, and the body finally has what it needs to be well.