Running head: Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition 1

Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition

Name of student

Institutional affiliation
Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition 2

Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition

a) Identify ten traditional Arabic and Islamic beliefs, practices, therapies related to

nutrition.

1. The first Islamic belief related to Nutrition is that dates were one of Prophet

Muhammad’s favorite dishes. As such, dates are seen as a symbol of the Islam faith

worldwide.

2. The second belief related to Nutrition entails the Hummus dish. It is believed the Israel

once tried to steal this dish from Lebanon and attempted to make it their national dish.

This historical belief makes the Hummus dish to be very special to the Arabic populace.

3. Thirdly, the Kabsa dish is believed to be the best representation of the traditional Arabic

cuisine and for this reason, it is the national dish of Saudi Arabia. It is also a very

common dish in the Middle East.

4. Thyme, also known as Za’atar, is believed to be part of ancient traditional Middle Eastern

recipe. The traditional belief about it is that it is a healing agent for colds and other chest

infections.

5. Sage is believed to be holy by Muslims and that it can be used for purification of the

mind, body and spirit. It is thus mostly taken before prayers and other holy ceremonies. It

is taken in the form of tea.

6. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad instructed them to eat olive oil and massage it

on their bodies since it is holy. As such, it is very popular in the Arab world and is

utilized in everything from cooking to beauty.

7. Water is believed to be essence of life as provided in the Holy Book, the Quran,

instructed by Allah. It is believed that every living thing was made from water.
Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition 3

8. Honey is also mentioned in the Holy Quran and described as a source of healing. As

such, Muslims take honey a lot and apply it differently in their lives. It is considered to be

better than sugar and believed to heal burns.

9. As can be assessed from some of the favorite Arabic dishes, most of them are considered

special because they are either mentioned in the Quran or were part of Prophet

Muhammad’s diet. One other dish tied to the Islam faith is a dish of pomegranates.

Muslims believe them to be paradise fruits as provided in the Quran. Imams teach

Muslims to eat pomegranates and assert that they empower man and refine blood.

10. Finally, it is also important to note one belief that bars Muslim from eating certain foods.

Islam forbids eating animals that feed on meat or skin. More specifically, pigs are

considered to be unholy and therefore eating pork is prohibited.

b) Describe each on how it is being used in nutrition

1. Dates are rich in fiber and nutrients, and they are also known to have benefits such as

promoting brain health and promoting natural labor for women. On the downside, dates

have high sugar content and calories and as such need to be consumed in moderation.

2. Hummus is a dish made of chickpeas, olive oil and spices. It is a great source of fiber and

protein, good for the heart, good for weight loss and lower cholesterol. Currently,

Hummus is a popular dish with vegetarian groups in Arabic countries.

3. Kabsa dish is said to be very tasty, full of protein, fiber and carbohydrates. It also has

high amounts of fat and oil and is thus known to be a fattening dish.
Arabic and Islamic Beliefs Related to Nutrition 4

4. In terms of nutrition, thyme is a good source of vitamin C, copper, fiber, iron, and

magnesium. The downside of thyme is that it is known to cause high blood pressure when

taken in large amounts.

5. Sage is known to be full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Skin, oral

and brain health are also listed as benefits. When taken in large amounts, it could cause

vomiting, dizziness, and seizures.

6. Nutritional benefits of olive oil include reducing high blood pressure, improving blood

cholesterol levels and works as an anti-inflammatory.

7. It goes without saying that water is an important component of nutrition and has many

health and nutrition benefits from the trace amounts of minerals such as calcium,

magnesium, sodium, zinc and copper.

8. Honey has antioxidant properties and its nutritional composition includes vitamins such

as ascorbic acid, pantothenic acid, niacin and riboflavin and minerals such as calcium,

copper, iron, phosphorous and zinc.

9. Pomegranates have the nutritious value of being antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-tumor.

They are a good source of vitamin A, C and E, and folic acid. On the downside,

pomegranates are said to be unsafe to be taken by mouth in large amounts since their

root, stem and peel contain poisons.

10. Pork is a good source of vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, zinc, vitamin B12,

vitamin B6, phosphorous and iron.