A Saudi dietitian and nutritionist says that many traditional Iftar dishes are unhealthy because of the high levels of carbohydrates and fat. In addition, people are damaging their health by eating large amounts on an empty stomach. People should be aware of how they should break their fast. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has taught us what is right and what is wrong, said Najla Jambi, a dietitian and nutrition specialist. “Everything about bad eating habits is repeated every year by specialists, but when looking at Maghreb dining tables, we don't see any effect on people's eating habits in Ramadan. Many families are breaking their fast with many unhealthy dishes that are usually eaten at once, and not gradually. It is very harmful to dump food into the digestive system, which has been relaxing for almost 14 hours, by eating large amounts of food at Iftar. Islam has taught us the right way to start our breakfast in Ramadan by eating three dates in the beginning and filling our stomach gradually with food after prayer.” She said that the practice of fasting in Ramadan is supposed to help people reduce their weight and become healthy, but what happens instead is that people eat in an unhealthy manner. Jambi said that much of the local food eaten during Ramadan is not helping people. She stressed that people are not following a balanced diet. She warned about eating fried food mixed with fatty dishes like Sambosa and (Tamees) Afghani bread. “Unfortunately, fried Sambosa which is high in carbohydrates, is a must at every family's dining table in Ramadan. People also eat lots of Afghani bread which contains lots of butter. This can cause an undesired increase in cholesterol levels.” She also noticed the absence of vegetables during Ramadan. “Not eating enough vegetables, while filling the stomach with lots of meat and fried food, can cause constipation,” said Jambi. She recommended people have more fresh drinks and warned against drinking artificially colored beverages every day in Ramadan. “We are drinking these syrups continuously for 30 days, which can cause serious damage to our bodies,” she said. She stressed the importance of physical exercise every day. Exercise can help burn excess fat gained from poor eating habits during Ramadan.
