Modern Muslims often turn to books and magazines to find out what foods will make them healthy. However, the Qur’an and Hadith have provided many ideas of foods that we can include in our ideal diets.

The Qur’an mentions many fruits and vegetables as well as meat, milk and many spices among the foods Muslims can enjoy and thrive on. Among some of the fruits and vegetables mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith are melons, grapes, citrus, squash, figs and dates.

The Qur’an (Surat Ar-Rahman 55:68) says that “fruits, palm trees and pomegranates” were provided for our nourishment. Bukhari states that Melon was among Prophet Muhammed’s most favorite fruits.

In fact, melon is one of the best recommendations for health the Prophet (SAWS) has given us. Melon is one of the few fruits and vegetables rich in both vitamin C and Beta-Carotene. In addition, half a melon contains 825 milligrams of potassium (24% of the USRDA).

The body uses potassium to help eliminate excess sodium, which in large amounts can cause blood pressure to rise, says Dr. George Webb, an associate professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

Factually, a study on over 10,000 people found that those with the highest potassium levels had the lowest blood pressures. In addition, potassium helps keep the body’s LDL (dangerous cholesterol) from sticking to the artery walls.

Melons also provide a very rare nutrient called folate. It’s a B vitamin which is essential in combating birth defects and heart disease.

Prevention’s New Foods for Healing Guide mentions a study of almost 4,000 mothers that revealed that those who got enough folate were 60% less likely to have children with brain and spinal cord defects.

Additionally, men can benefit from folate too. Folate controls the levels of a chemical called “homocysteine” in the body. When allowed to exist in excess, it can contribute to artery clogging and thus heart disease.

Colorful Health Boosters

Citrus is also a favored fruit of the Qur’an and Hadith.

The Prophet (pbuh) has said, “The parable of a believer who reads the Qur’an regularly is like that of a citrus it has a good taste and a good fragrance“.

Similarly, just as the Qur’an will provide a healthy spiritual life, the citrus fruits can provide a healthy physical life for the believer.

In reality, all citrus contain many valuable nutrients. Most famous of these is vitamin C. Vitamin C is famed for its powerful antioxidant properties (meaning that it disarms powerful oxygen molecules in the body that contribute to cancer and heart disease).

The body also uses vitamin C to manufacture collagen; the substance that glues cells together and is essential for healing. A large lemon contains about 75 percent of the USRDA of vitamin C.

In addition, substances dubbed limonene and limonese can block some of the cellular changes that can lead to cancer.

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