Avoid feasting soon after a month of fasting
DOCTORS ADVISE PEOPLE TO ALLOW BODY TO ADJUST TO CHANGE IN PATTERN BY EATING SMALLER PORTIONS AND HEALTHY FOODS
During Eid, hospitals report emergency cases dealing with acute gastritis, diarrhoea, vomiting which are related to overeating.” Dr Zain Yousuf Al Shaikh | Internal medicine specialist
After a month spent in frugal eating and long fasting hours, it is important not to reverse the benefits of Ramadan by letting go and indulging in feasting during Eid Al Fitr, doctors have said.
Dr Zaib Yousuf Shaikh, medical director and internal medicine specialist at Mobile Doctors 24-7, UAE’s first medical call centre, told Gulf News: “During Eid, hospitals report emergency cases dealing with acute gastritis, diarrhoea, vomiting which are related to overeating.
“These digestive disorders are triggered during Eid festivities because the human body needs to be gently eased into eating and drinking water at regular hours, sleeping at regular bed time to reestablish the circadian rhythm of your body.”
Dr Zia Ul Hassan, specialist endocrinologist at NorthWest Clinic, explained the hormonal changes that our body undergoes during the month of Ramadan. “One of the hormones that our pituitary gland produces is the Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) that controls excess loss of water through our kidneys when we are dehydrated and regulates our blood pressure. This is particularly significant during Ramadan.
“The other is aldosterone, the hormone produced by our adrenalin gland that regulates the electrolyte and fluid balance of our body. When we fast, the body adapts to low water content and low electrolyte balance and the kidneys retain fluid. Once out of the fast, it is very crucial to restore this delicate electrolyte balance gradually by slowly increasing fluid intake.”
The average need for an adult is to have at least 2.5 to three litres of water for a day.
Both doctors advise that people must avoid fizzy and sweetened drinks which further upset electrolyte balance and try and have plain water or coconut water and space it out during the day during Eid to rehydrate the body.
“It is the peak of summer and the heat and humidity can cause a loss of minerals through sweating as well, so one must reintroduce water slowly and regularly into the routine after the monthlong fast. This will not only flush out the kidneys and stop any water retention in the body, it will also regulate blood pressure and revive people who may be feeling dehydrated,” said Dr Hassan
Advising on food intake, Dr Shaikh said people celebrating Eid must remember not to overload their system with excessive sugar, oil and spices as the monthlong fast has not only restricted their food intake but made them incapable of digesting so much food at regular intervals. Giving an illustrative chart of what to eat when, he said: “Instead of three large meals during Eid, it is advised an individual should have five meals with restricted portion size but balanced with protein, carbohydrates and fats.”