Consume complex carbs during this fasting month
KUALA LUMPUR: Those fasting are advised to consume foods containing complex carbohydrates, especially during the current El Nino phenomenon, to avoid heat stroke.
Community Health Department senior medical lecturer Dr Suhainizam Muhamad Saliluddin said such foods, like dates, would be slowly digested after being consumed, resulting in longer satiety compared to consuming products with white sugar.
“Food containing white sugar is good for maintaining energy, but one to two hours after ‘sahur’ (pre-dawn meal), the energy decreases due to rapid digestion,” he said on Bernama TV’s ‘Ruang Bicara’ programme yesterday.
According to him, heat stroke is a health issue caused by extreme heat, preceded by heat cramps followed by heat exhaustion, which includes symptoms such as increased body temperature, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or headache, and extreme fatigue.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) had previously announced that the El Nino phenomenon, which began in the middle of last year, could continue until the middle of this year.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the viral post on social media on eating dates with butter, Dr Suhainizam said it should not be made a dietary practice.
“Dates are good because they have complex sugars but when combined with butter that contains high fat, it can cause other problems.
“The same goes for the viral post on drinking water with Celtic salt, the danger is that if the amount added in the drink is not appropriate, it will cause other problems,” he said. — Bernama