ABU DHABI // Instead of eating unhealthy food during Ramadan, people should take it as a time to work towards setting health goals, a Dubai-based expert said.
Sakina Mustansir, a dietician at Prime Hospital in Dubai, has lived in the UAE for six years and said eating too much fried and sugary food after fasting was responsible for making people ill.
“The biggest mistake people make is that they don’t use Ramadan as an opportunity,” she said. “Fasting improves immunity, cell repair, weight loss, detoxification, positive hormonal balance and improves insulin resistance.”
Cases of people overeating and being rushed to hospital are common in Ramadan.
Dr Khalid Elamin Elsayed, a consultant in gastroenterology at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said digestive disorders were caused by “a variety of reasons such as overeating during iftar, not drinking enough fluids, sleeping immediately after suhoor, eating oily, fried or spicy foods and drinking too many caffeinated beverages”.
“[During iftar] eating very fast can cause gas to build up in the stomach, causing cramps,” said Dr Elsayed, who suggested that people eat figs or drink lemonade with mint or peppermint tea, because these help to keep digestion smooth.
When eating and sleeping patterns are out of sync, it is important to get proper sleep, eat suhoor and drink a good amount of water, Ms Mustansir said.
People should avoid sugar at suhoor because it increases thirst. Instead, she recommended meals with barley, oats, beans, vegetables and healthy fats, such as avocados and nuts, because those kept the stomach full for a longer.
The best time to eat fruit during Ramadan was at iftar, she said, with one portion at suhoor. Bananas, watermelon and muskmelon were good options for suhoor, because they hydrate.
“You have very little time to get the required amount of water,” she said. “Have tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumber to meet your water requirements.”
When ending the fast, start with a few dates, or a cup of soup or lemon water, she said, wait 30 minutes then eat a healthy dinner – including things such as salads, healthy fats and a few carbohydrates, eg, brown pasta, multigrain bread or a vegetable stir-fry.
Dr Dinesh Kumar Dhanwal, a consultant endocrinologist at NMC Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said people should avoid walking outdoors during the daytime and he said diabetics should not indulge in one very heavy meal as it will make it difficult for them to fast. Their blood-sugar level will rise if they eat too much, he explained.
“People who are on insulin injections have to reduce insulin doses, otherwise their blood-sugar will fall,” he said.
arizvi2@thenational.ae
