Consumption of excessive food, spicy dishes on Eid days may be dangerous for health

Rawalpindi:Health experts advise people to not to have excessive food, heavy meals and haphazard intake of sweet and spicy dishes on the festive occasion of Eidul Fitr as it may cause mild to moderate and in some cases serious stomach disorders particularly among chronic patients.

Stomach and other body systems of the majority of the people including those who have observed a month-long fasting in the holy month of Ramazan may not easily digest heavy and spicy meals especially when these are taken in a single day after very small intervals. It is important that a greater quantity of sweet dishes repeatedly taken on Eid days may cause problems for those who are suffering from diabetes while spicy meals may be hazardous for the patients suffering from hepatitis C or its complications.

Experts say that the consumption of excessive amounts of food on Eid days is a dangerous practice. They believe that it is far better to have modest meals preferably in the morning and evening as per routine on Eid days instead of spending time at hospital.

While fasting for a month in Ramazan, the dietary habits and the sleep pattern have to undergo changes and according to health experts, the organs along with various functions of the body may not be in an ideal condition of accepting excessive food, heavy and spicy meals along with repeated intakes of soft drinks after a month-long fasting. Too much burden on the digestive system after a month-long fasting may cause stomach related problems.

It is worth mentioning here that the majority of our population is habitual of eating sweet and spicy food repeatedly on Eid days. It is a common practice to visit friends and relatives on Eid days who as a gesture of hospitality offer sweet and spicy dishes along with tea or cold drinks. Experts say that one should not make it mandatory to have huge quantities of sweet and spicy dishes at every friend’s or relative’s house instead one should take the dishes just to taste if necessary.

Every year on Eid days, it is observed that the emergency departments of almost all healthcare facilities in the region receive a heavy influx of patients mostly with the complaints of problems related to the digestive system. Also a good number of chronic patients including those suffering from stomach ulcers, diabetes, heart diseases and hepatitis have to visit the hospitals after developing complications due to following bad dietary habits on Eid days.

Experts say that a moderate breakfast on Eid day is sufficient for the body functions while dinner on Eid days should not be delayed until the very end of the night instead one should finish eating at least two hours before going to bed. One should eat a limited amount of sweet food on the festive occasion of Eid to avoid health threats. The excessive intake of spices, tea, coffee, cola or other beverages and ‘sharbats’ may disturb the stomach.

If one feels abdominal pain and discomfort due to the gastric problem on Eid days, he or she should start taking less irritating food. Cutting down on spicy, acidic, fried or fatty foods helps reduce gastric symptoms and allows your stomach to heal. It is important that smoking increases the production of stomach acid and slows down healing. Experts say that to avoid food poisoning and other stomach related problems, it is better to have meal twice at least during the three days of Eid instead of having complete meals three times a day.