Oman- Avoid overeating, fried items stay hydrated, healthy during Ramadan

Eating heavy meals during iftar, as well as eating fried items could cause health complications, cautioned Dr Shashi Raj, medical superintendent and consultant - Internal Medicine, KIMS Oman Hospital.

'Avoid overeating and fried items. Too many sweets too should be avoided during iftar. Those who fast especially during summer should ensure that they hydrate themselves at night by drinking lots of water,' Dr Raj told Muscat Daily .

Dr Raj said, diabetes patients should consult the doctor.

'Also, sleeping cycle tends to change and those fasting should try to get enough sleep. Try taking an afternoon nap to make up for the lost sleep during the night,' he said.

Dr Raj also had a word of caution for those who exercise while fasting.

'During the day in Ramadan, the body becomes dehydrated and exercising while fasting is not advisable at all. Exercises in such cases should be done only after iftar,' he said. Dr Syed Shaukat Ali, general practitioner at Al Hayat International Hospital, said people should avoid spicy and non-vegetarian food at suhoor time.

'Spicy and non-vegetarian food items make you feel more thirsty and you feel fatigued. Also, there is a need to drink a lot of water after iftar till suhoor. At iftar time, eat healthy stuff but less. Also, people need to avoid working under the sun to avoid dehydration,' he said.

Dr Kausar Nadaf, general practitioner at Badr al Samaa Hospital in Ruwi, pointed to the advantage of drinking room temperature water during the nights in Ramadan.

'Cold water only increases thirst. Also, eating dates and bananas gives energy, so one should add them to main course. Laban too should be included,' he said.

On what to avoid, Dr Nadaf said, 'Avoid soft drinks and drink fresh juices instead. Also, avoid direct exposure to sun when coming out of an air-conditioned space. It is also important to avoid showering too much,' he said.

During Ramadan, many change their sleeping hours to accommodate meal times. However, if this is done without thinking about how important a good night's sleep is to our bodies, it can make fasting more difficult.

Managing diabetes when fasting can prove challenging for patients and their caregivers. 'Living with diabetes requires constant monitoring, care and lifestyle changes, which need to be factored in when fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, as it could pose health risks which need to be managed,' said Dr Mohamed Hassanein, chairman of Diabetes & Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance, Consultant in Endocrinology, Dubai Hospital.

Likewise, oral hygiene is particularly important during Ramadan as fasting can cause bacteria to build up.

Dr Khalid Alameri, consultant orthodontist and head of the Dental Clinic at Healthpoint, explains that fasting and therefore abstaining from liquids can lead to developing of oral bacteria, a prime culprit to cause bad breath, cavities and gum diseases.

'People need to adapt their oral hygiene routine during Ramadan, making sure to brush their teeth after both iftar and suhoor to prevent bacteria from forming. Mostly mouth odour originates from the tongue, so using a tongue scraper twice a day will also help. If care is taken not to swallow any liquid, then the use of mouthwash or rinsing with water will not break the fast. However, some people are uncomfortable with this, so they can use miswak sticks, a natural tooth-cleaning twig, to stimulate salivary flow,' he said.