Repeated intake of heavy spicy meals may cause problems

Islamabad
Repeated and haphazard intake of heavy and spicy meals on Eid days may cause stomach-related problems particularly for those who have observed a month-long fasting as their stomach and intestines are not ready to accept heavy and spicy dishes in bulk.
Health experts say that those who have been under fast in the holy month of Ramazan should have meal twice daily at least for the three days of Eidul Fitr instead of having meal thrice. After a month-long fasting, the stomach, intestines and throat are not in a condition of accepting heavy meals along with huge quantity of cold drinks.
All across the country, it is a tradition to visit friends and relatives on Eidul Fitr and as a gesture of hospitality; the guests are offered sweet and spicy dishes along with tea or cold drinks. It is commonly observed that people not only eat much on festivals like Eid but also have frequent intakes of fluids including tea or cold drinks.
Majority of our population is habitual of taking heavy and spicy meals apart from taking greater quantity of sweet dishes and cold drinks on the festive day of Eid and as a result the public sector hospitals have to deal with greater number of patients with stomach-related problems on Eid.
According to health experts, stomach and other body systems of people who have observed fasting cannot easily digest heavy and spicy meals especially when these are taken in a single day after very small intervals. It is important that greater quantity of sweet dishes on Eid may cause problems particularly for those who are suffering from diabetes.
Putting too much burden on stomach immediately after a month-long fasting may cause disorders, said Medical Specialist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khwaja while talking to ‘The News’.
He said it is witnessed every year that during Eid holidays, public sector hospitals in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi receive significant influx of patients mostly with the problems related to digestive system at their emergency departments.
Haphazard and repeated intakes of sweet and spicy dishes along with heavy intake of sugary drinks and tea are harmful even in routine and on Eid, their use may cause serious problems, he said.
He advised diabetics and patients suffering from blood pressure and hypertension to follow advice of their physicians on diet and not to put their health at stake by showing carelessness on Eid days.
He explained that eating or drinking too much at a single sitting leads to unpleasant fullness, reflux, and bloating. Smaller, more frequent meals eaten more slowly may be easier to digest. One should drink fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated, but resist gulping them down, he said.