Former player of the national team and current basketball player of Al-Nasr Club Saleh Sultan reveals numerous advantages that sports can provide in general, and basketball in particular, that can be experienced by engaging in light sports activities for 45 minutes before the start of Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan. One of the key benefits is assistance in burning fat and maintaining mental concentration.
Sultan stated for "Emirates Today": "Athletes should, as usual, engage in light training with clubs and teams, doing light exercises lasting from 30 to 45 minutes before the start of Iftar during the holy month, which contributes to improving mental concentration, burning fat, and enhancing physical activity consistently, which strengthens muscle flexibility."
He explained: "Cycling and light jogging over short distances are types of activities that athletes, in general, and basketball players, in particular, refer to before the start of Iftar, in order to avoid stress on the body during fasting, which is ultimately related to the refusal of fatty food and large portions of food during meals."
"Encouraging family members to participate in such light sports activities strengthens family ties during the holy month, along with increasing the competitiveness of the athlete to follow a healthy lifestyle through training, stimulating him to return to physical activity after a long day of fasting, especially on working days and during work commitments."
Sultan emphasized the importance of a varied diet and subsequent meal times during Iftar, stating: "Limit yourself to consuming dates and milk, with small portions of food and fruits at the start of Iftar, after which you can resume consuming different types of food after the night prayer, which allows maintaining a higher level of physical activity, avoiding sluggishness during evening training in the club."
He further emphasized: "Focusing on large amounts of water and fluids is extremely important, especially after gentle evening training, and I prefer to consume light snacks rich in carbohydrates found in dairy products and fruits instead of snacks based on grains, chips, pasta, and pizza, which contributes to gaining the necessary energy for muscle mass."
In conclusion, he said: "The holy month of Ramadan provides an additional opportunity for athletes to enhance their physical activities and stimulate new beginnings while avoiding harmful habits and physical sluggishness that have become a common trait due to the absence of a sports culture, technology, and video games, as well as social networks, especially considering that prolonged inactivity leads not only to increased fat gain but also its negative consequences for mental and psychological concentration, as well as the distancing from sports activities that help strengthen family ties."
