A new project is studying the month of Ramadan on women’s diet and health, with researchers looking into the impact of intermittent fasting on eating habits, mental health, sleep quality, energy levels, social life, reproductive health, gut health, or respiratory health.
Isala is looking for participants for a new daughter project, Rufaida, named after Rufaida al Aslamia, the pioneering woman who founded the first Islamic health centre in Medina, Saudi Arabia. In the Rufaida study, the effects of fasting on the dietary patterns and health of Muslim women will be studied, in a world first.
Who can participate in the study?
- A woman aged 18+
- Live in Flanders, Belgium
- Speak or understand the Dutch language
- Plan on fasting the whole month of Ramadan
- Curious about how fasting affects your health
Read more about the study (in Dutch)
Register for the study
Important: Questionnaires for this study are only available in Dutch.
The health impacts of Ramadan
Ramadan is much more than just fasting between sunrise and sunset; it’s a very spiritual month where people from the Muslim community congregate and share together.
With over a quarter of the world’s population Muslim, many many people observe Ramadan every year. Women, specifically Muslim women, are the focus of this study, with the vaginal microbiome and overall health being of interest specifically to the researchers.
What the study entails
Three questionnaires are sent before Ramadan starts, four during Ramadan, and three after. The questions are broad – lifestyle, mental health, environmental factors, stress, ‘me time’, nutrition, diet, and variations in these factors during Ramadan.
Do people eat healthier food? Do they find more peace? Does it remain after Ramadan?
Then, physical samples will be taken on the microbiome and metabolites.
Already over 250 women have signed up to participate in the research, but the researchers are looking for more people to join. The more participants, the better the research.
Would you also like to participate in the project? You can register on isala.be
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