I am super excited to announce our Guest Blogger, Chelsea Lynn from Muslimah Healthy. I had the pleasure of meeting her through the power of social media but I hope to meet her in person one day! 

Chelsea is a blogger, certified personal trainer and nutritionist specializing in Healthy Eating for Weight Loss. She is passionate about healthy, natural living and loves intertwining faith and wellness. She wishes to inspire other women to live more natural and productive lives for the sake of Allah (swt). You can find more of her work on her blog at muslimahhealthy.com.

Without a further ado, here is Chelsea’s top 5 healthy Sunnah foods to add to your diet:

The best lifestyle a Muslim can adopt is that of the Sunnah of Rasulullah (pbuh). It is filled with many blessings and wisdoms, particularly when it comes to your health.

The Prophet (pbuh) lived a very moderate and healthy lifestyle. The foods he ate and recommended have come to be known in modern science today as some of the healthiest foods there are.

Here are 5 healthy foods from the sunnah that you should consider adding to your diet!

1. Cucumbers

Abdullah bin Ja’far said: 

“The Prophet (saw) used to eat Qith’tha (wild cucumbers) with ripe dates.” [At-Tirmidhi].

Cucumbers are made up of about 95% water. This makes them great to eat on hot summer days to help keep hydrated. But, there are many other reasons to eat cucumbers as well. They are a good source of vitamin A, C, B vitamins, potassium, iron and magnesium. 

Cucumbers are also high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds that can help protect the brain, fight against certain cancers and may have anti-inflammatory properties. The best benefit, they give off fresh breath!

2. Barley

Aisha (ra) said: “When a member of the family of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would fall sick, he would order that barley soup is made and then the ill person would be commanded to have some of it. He used to say, ‘It strengthens the heart of the sad person and relieves the heart of the ill person, just as one of you would wash the dirt off her face with water’.” [Ibn Majah]

Barley is extremely healthy and nutrient dense. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals, is a rich source of antioxidants and has a high fiber content. Though it has loads of health benefits, it is most well known for lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

3. Olive Oil

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Eat the Zait (olive oil) and use it as an ointment, because it is produced by a blessed tree.” [At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

Olive oil is well-known for its truly amazing benefits. The Mediterranean diet, which is known for its liberal use of extra virgin olive oil, is associated with low cholesterol, few instances of heart disease and very low obesity rates. It is filled with essential fatty acids that not only protect your heart but your brain as well.

What’s more, you don’t have to ingest olive oil to reap its benefits. Rubbing olive oil on the skin and hair is great for moisturizing, softening and nourishing.

4. Dates

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “If somebody takes some Ajwa dates every morning, he will not be affected by poison or magic on that day till night.” [Al-Bukhari]

Dates are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber and make for a great alternative to sugar as they are naturally very sweet. They are also packed with massive benefits such as relief from constipation, intestinal disorders and diarrhea. They may even protect against certain cancers!

5. Watermelon

It is narrated in Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi that the Prophet (saw) used to eat watermelon with ripe dates, saying:

“The hotness of this substance (dates) neutralizes the coolness of that (watermelon).”

Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits, and although I don’t need an excuse to eat them, their benefits are amazing! 

As with cucumbers, watermelons are mostly water (about 92%) but they also carry many nutrients. They have significant levels of vitamin A, B6 and C and are a rich source of antioxidants and healthy plant compounds such as lycopene. In fact, watermelon has the highest levels of lycopene out of any other fresh fruit!

Lycopene has been linked to heart health, bone health and even cancer prevention. It also acts as a potent antioxidant which helps protect against inflammation and oxidative stress. 

What foods do you enjoy eating that are a part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)?

If you want to keep up to date with what Chelsea is doing over at Muslimah Healthy, you can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest. She is also giving away a FREE Meal Planning Kit, which can be claimed here!