Health Science Monitor (Apr 2024)
Identifying the determinants of healthy eating in Islamic teachings: a qualitative study
Abstract
Background & Aims: Islam, as one of the world's major religions, places great importance on human health and well-being and provides rich concepts related to nutrition and health. The main objective of this article was to examine the relationship between health and well-being and nutrition in Islamic teachings and to elucidate the role of Islam in promoting healthy eating. Materials & Methods: This study was applied in terms of its purpose, descriptive in terms of data collection method, and qualitative in terms of data nature. Based on this, first, religious teachings related to health, well-being, and their relationship with nutrition were identified and extracted through qualitative content analysis. Then, the extracted religious teachings were analyzed through grounded theory until a contextual pattern was found and theoretical saturation was reached. This analysis was carried out through three coding processes: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Results: A total of 456 open codes were extracted, excluding overlaps. In the next step, 117 common codes were obtained based on overlaps and similarities, and ultimately, 26 themes were identified. Conclusion: In general, it can be said that nutrition in Islam is a comprehensive and multidimensional concept that, in accordance with the teachings of the Quran and traditions, can contribute to the promotion of human health and well-being. This study can be a useful and credible source for researchers, officials, educators, and the general public.
