Abu Dhabi: As the fasting month draws to a close, doctors and health professionals in the capital are advising residents to ease into their post-Ramadan routines without overindulging further.
Residents who may not have been able to maintain proper health routines during the month are also being urged to re-adopt healthier eating habits.
Dr Nabeel Debouni, medical director at Lifeline Hospital, told Gulf News that people usually need a few days to adapt to eating three meals a day after Ramadan.
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"Overeating at this point means that many patients suffer from diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and even nausea, and medical facilities across the country see more patients presenting these symptoms. Therefore, residents need to be careful not to eat too much, or to mix too many kinds of foods," he explained.
Fluid intake
The doctor added that people should opt for healthier meals with fruits and vegetables, while avoiding too much fat and protein.
"During Eid, tradition dictates that family and friends must be offered food when they visit, and many people will therefore eat everything that is offered to them. My advice is to resist this however, and to only take a small bite during these numerous visits," Dr Debouni said.
He also said the Eid break, when one is not overburdened with work commitments, was the ideal time for people to adopt a healthy eating routine that included plenty of fluids.
"People should also be careful not to eat in unclean places to avoid the risk of food poisoning. This is very important in the case of children. Even if most parents allow them to indulge during the break, they must always ensure that children do not eat in unclean places," Dr Debouni added. Miriniza Balabat, clinical dietician at Al Noor Hospital, also encouraged children to get back to their exercise routines.
"Many children, and even adults, have said they were unable to work out during Ramadan because it was summertime. They should now look at resuming these activities," she said.
Balabat added that most of her patients, especially females, reported gaining weight during the month.
"People who have gained weight need to get back to their balanced diets, containing enough fruits, vegetables and fibre, as soon as possible. While they can indulge once in a while, it is vital that they cut down on sugary foods and limit their portion sizes," she said.
She also advised residents to hydrate themselves properly.
"I have encountered patients who have remained dehydrated throughout Ramadan because they did not drink the required 2 to 2.5 litres of water and fluids on a daily basis, and got by because they were consuming tea and coffee. This is unhealthy in the long run," Balabat warned.
