Mediterranean Bean Salad (Photo courtesy: theviewfromgreatisland.com)
The fasting person has an opportunity to adopt a healthy lifestyle that contributes to maintaining the ideal body weight and controlling the blood sugar level, says Dr Essam Qabeel, Director of Al-Shamal Health Center.
He points out two ways humans feel full:
In the first way, the food presses on the stomach wall delivering the sense of fullness to the satiety center in the brain.
The second way is to raise the level of sugar in the blood and thus sending same signals to the brain.
Dr Qabeel adds that the fasting person can avoid the obesity by not filling the stomach with food, especially at Iftar, and keeping the diversity of food which include nutrients and reduce the calories--carbohydrates, sugars and fats--within the limits.
Here are some tips he offer for iftar:
Hasten Iftar, start with soup, dates or yogurt.
Divide meals into small portions full of nutritional value and low calorie.
Focus on eating fiber-rich foods such as vegetables and fruits.
Drink more water and low-sugar liquids. Avoid over-drinking coffee or tea.
Have iftar with the family and others. Social factors have impact on mental health. This also helps the family members adopt a a healthy diet.
Suhoor tips
Include vegetables such as lettuce and cucumber because it helps the body to maintain fluids for long and thus reduces the feeling of thirst.
Eat beans with olive oil, cheese and eggs because body needs about 7-9 hours to digest these types of foods.
