Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Feast after fast risk to health

1027266
1027266
minus
plus

A health advice has warned against overeating immediately after fasting or having carbonated drinks. Overeating after fasting can jeopardise your life, said the Head of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) at the Ministry of Health (MoH). “Drinking fizzy and artificially coloured drinks is an easy ticket to kidney diseases along with a lot of other health issues,” says Dr Sulaiman al Mahrezi, Director of NCD.


“Overeating during iftar is a major reason behind the increasing number of people visiting hospitals after Ramadhan,” he said.


Some private hospitals said they receive patients with various complaints caused by eating too quickly after fasting. These include gastroenteritis, vomiting, acute stomach ache and inflammation of the stomach, and diarrhoea.


“Problem arises when people break their fast with a feast,” said Dr Lamia, a specialist at the MoH.


“When the internal organs that are dry for nearly 15 hours receive foods and liquids in abundance, they fail to react and that causes all the problems,” she said.


“Stomach ache is one of the most frequent medical conditions that is a symptom of many other sicknesses during the holy month,” says Dr Renjith, who is practising in a private hospital.


He said many require medication to ease stomach cramps and intravenous fluids to rehydrate them after vomiting or diarrhoea.


“Fast should be broken gradually with dates and water, followed by some fruits,” says Jishy Seby, clinical dietician, KIMS Oman.


“If one eats deep fried or spicy food at iftar, it can aggravate the stomach. Instead, fresh fruits, salads and whole wheat products should be consumed. Keep off oily foods and those that contain caffeine,” she said.


Experts advise moderate servings of fish or chicken and less meat with more fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water after fasting. Soups are also a good option since they are light and contain more water.


Whole wheat or oats porridge with an egg for Suhour to avoid dropping of sugar levels is a better option during iftar.


— By Kabeer Yousuf


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon