Some people believe that the body needs to ingest large amounts of sugar in Ramadan to meet its energetic needs; but this contrary to the opinion of nutrition experts, who recommend eating only a few dates to get the amount of sugar needed.
But how can we enjoy all the special Ramadan foods without feeling guilty, and without gaining those unsightly extra kilos?
According to a report published by al-arabiya.net, the unwanted increase in weight during Ramadan is caused by several factors, the most important of which is the excessive intake of high-fat, high-sugar foods between breaking the fast at Ifar and the last meal of the day at Suhur.
Eating non-stop between Iftar and Suhur leads to sluggishness; besides, eating sweet and rich Ramadan desserts such as Konafa or Katayef can quickly add up in terms of calories.
Nutritionists advise not to over-eat during breakfast and to walk for at least half an hour a day.
Eating fried food with high calories like Sambosak, Kobaiba, among others, can lead to undesirable increase in weight by the end of Ramadan. Lack of exercise and the tendency for rest after breaking the fast, or sleeping immediately after iftar are not advisable.
The best means to break fast after long hours of fasting that reach up to 12 hours is to drink an unsweetened glass of juice or a few dates with a glass of water and then wait between 10 to 20 minutes before eating the main meal.
Finally, it is preferable to replace Ramadan desserts with fresh fruit, to avoid gaining unwanted weight.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
