Excessive food, repeated intakes may spoil Eid causing stomach disorders

Rawalpindi

Excessive food, heavy meals and repeated intake of spicy dishes on the festive occasion of Eidul Fitr should be avoided as it may spoil the day causing stomach disorders.

Health experts advise people to not to have heavy meals on Eidul Fitr because the stomach, intestines and colon remain on rest during the fasting month of Ramazan and after a month-long fasting; the organs are not in a condition of accepting excessive food, heavy and spicy meals along with repeated intakes of soft drinks.

Too much burden on digestive system after a month-long fasting may cause stomach related problems, said Medical Specialist Dr. Muhammad Sohail Tariq while talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday.

He suggested that those who have been fasting for a month should limit the amount of sweet food as well on the festive occasion of Eid to avoid any of the health threats. “Consumption of excessive amounts of food on Eid days is a dangerous practice.”

He opines that it is far better to have modest meals preferably in morning and evening on Eid days than to spend time at a hospital.

It is important that majority of our population is habitual of taking 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.

Medically it is not advisable to have huge quantity of sweet and spicy dishes repeatedly in a day and one should not eat much at every friend’s or relative’s house while visiting instead one should take the dishes just to taste if necessary, said Dr. Sohail.

He said that for people who have fasted for a month, it is better to have a moderate breakfast on Eid day as it would be sufficient for the body functions. 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, he said.

It is worth mentioning here that every year during the Eid days, almost all public sector hospitals in the region receive significant number of patients with the complaints of problems related to digestive system.

Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Wasim Khawaja is of the view that those who have fasted for a month should strictly avoid repeated intake of sweet and spicy dishes and heavy intake of sugary drinks or tea on Eid days. He said that the excessive intake of spices, tea, coffee, cola or other beverages and ‘sharbats’ may cause health threats not only for those suffering from some chronic disease but also for healthy persons.

Chronic patients, however, should take extra care while taking meals on Eid particularly those who are suffering from diabetes. He said 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 thrice daily.