In een bericht met de datum 15-10-2004 17:13:45 West-Europa (zomertijd), schrijft Foksfam@xxxxxxx: > I have a new 17 yr old male client who is a Muslim and will be observing > Ramadan (no food or drink is taken during daylight hours for a month). I am > concerned about the demands of NFB on a hungry and dehydrated brain Hello Melissa and group, This is my first time participating with this forum, although I read almost all of the posts. Your concern about the 17 year old observing Ramadan made me think about how many people come for training after a days worth of coffee or cola or bad eating habits. The diets people use nowadays stresses metabolism, obstructs blood flow and probably slows brain activity. Don't worry if the young man doesn't eat or drink for eight hours. His brian is not dehydrated and if the brain requires substrate, it shall receive it if he is breathing. It is, however, important that he puts good stuff into his body in the morning and after sunset. A liter of water at least, fresh fruits and vegies, etc. No alcohol after the fast, but then if he practices Ramadan he probably would not be guzzling a six pack in the evening. And I'm afraid to say that drinking is so common in our society, that not drinking is rare! (Alcohol is a poison for the brain, yet it is even commonly given to children. It has an affinity for the cerebellum and I'm certain we all know how the cerebellum is involed with learning.) Fasting will mobilize the fatty acids and maintian a level glucose in the blood. It should actually be one of the most metabolic equilibrated moments. We fast every day for hours as we sleep. It is not a stess for our brains. So, I say go for the fast, it won't hurt while the modern western diet and drinking definately will, and we work quite well even with that. Jef