Al-Amn Magazine

T he holy month of Ramadan is an opportunity to modify bad eating habits, eliminate unhealthy eating patterns, and give the digestive system a break to control weight and regulate blood lipids and sugar levels. It also promotes spirituality by drawing closer to God and self-control. Fasting for an entire month eliminates accumulated toxins and viruses and protects the body from abnormal cells that weaken the immune system. It also helps regenerate blood cells, which are important for growth and development, and activates immune cells. For some people, there may be a potential loss of muscle mass during fasting due to not consuming enough protein and calories during the iftar meal. For others, muscle mass may not be affected by excessive sugar intake, as the body has become accustomed to fasting and not eating for long periods. However, excessive consumption of sweets, soft drinks, fried foods, and other foods during Eid and after the holy month of Ramadan may negatively impact digestive health. After the holy month of Ramadan ends, some people make a big mistake by returning to their normal diet immediately during the first days of Eid. This leads to the loss of many of their health gains and causes intestinal problems that expose them to stress. This leads to extreme fatigue, which they resort to treating by eating more foods. The body needs a certain period of time to gradually readjust to its normal digestive and metabolic processes. Failure to do so will result in the random storage of fat in the abdomen, thighs, and other areas. This is because the body cannot absorb the large quantities it receives. Consequently, it is forced to store them as fat, leading to additional kilograms gained in a very short period of time. This also increases the risk of stomach aches and pains, such as cramps, MEDICAL By Dr. Zahra Khalifa Time to e l imi nate bad eat i ng hab i t s Take t ime to ret urn to norma l d i et af ter Ramadan