RIYADH: With the arrival of Ramadan, the Ministry of Health is advising parents not to ignore their nonfasting children and is recommending patients who suffer from chronic diseases take medical advice before fasting.

“Parents tend to keep awake throughout the night and sleep the whole day after their suhoor meal, and they often ignore their children,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Qahtani, general supervisor of the Health Education Department at the Ministry of Health.

 

Al-Qahtani said that children who wake up in the morning find themselves alone, as their parents are asleep. “Maids also get used to sleeping long hours following a hard night’s work,” he said, adding that children are left unattended without being properly washed and fed.

 

Al-Qahtani said patients who suffer from acute diabetes and hypertension should take medical advice to regulate their intake of medicine, adding that Islam is flexible and exempts the sick from fasting.

 

“Most health problems are likely to arise from an inappropriate diet, overeating and insufficient sleep,” said Al-Qahtani, adding that there is no need to overeat. “During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ too much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should allow us to maintain our normal weight,” he said, adding that if someone is overweight, then Ramadan is the ideal opportunity to lose some extra pounds.

 

Al-Qahtani said that in view of long fasting hours, people should consume slow digesting foods, such as those that contain fibers, rather than fast digesting foods. He added that slow digesting foods last up to eight hours, while fast digesting foods last for only three to four.

 

Slow digesting foods are those that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour and unpolished rice (called complex carbohydrates). Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar and white flour (called refined carbohydrates). Fiber foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, fruit with skin, vegetables such as green beans, peas, marrow, spinach, herbs and the leaves of beetroot, and dried fruit, especially dried apricots, figs and prunes.

 

Al-Qahtani said that the diet eaten should be well balanced and include fruits, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish, bread, cereals and dairy products. “Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heartburn and weight problems. Reduce consumption of soft drinks, including carbonated liquids,” he said.

He added that it was advisable to avoid fried and fatty foods, and foods that contain too much sugar.

 “Ramadan is a good opportunity for smokers to limit how much they smoke. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually,” he said.

 

Dates are excellent sources of sugar, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium. Almonds are rich in protein and fiber with less fat. Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates, he said.

“Drink water or fresh fruit juices as much as possible between iftar and bedtime so that one’s body may adjust to fluid levels,” he added.

 

Source: Suadi Arabian News.