Medcare Hospital holds Ramadan tent during holy season

Alongside the traditional offering of Khawa (Arabic Coffee and Dates from the time of breaking the fast) at the Ramadan tent in the hospital's foyer, a handy booklet "Ramadan Health Guide" and the "Ramadan Prayer Timings Card" will be dispensed, detailing healthcare guidance for the Holy Month.

Mr. Ala Atari, CEO at Medcare, said:

"It's my pleasure to wish everyone Ramadan Mubarak and all the best for the season. The Holy month of Ramadan is a reflection of faith, fasting and charity worldwide. During this special sacred month, Medcare Hospital would like to go that extra mile and highlight the medical issues associated with fasting so that families may enjoy a healthy way to fast and still take care of their well being. With its dedicated team of specialized nutrition experts are always innovative in creating and advising the right balanced diets to consume during Ramadan."

Ramadan, a holy month is traditionally associated with fasting, reflection, and an increased focus on charitable giving. Know that there is charity for everything, and the charity that you pay for your health is the fast. The feelings of hunger can serve as a salutary reminder of what those who are less fortunate have to experience each and every day. There is something one must give up, donate, and expend for everything in life that's good and agreeable. And, the charity that you pay for your health is the fast. In the physical sense, fasting allows you to gain health. Fasting helps you to promote health. Fasting produces a spiritual state that, in turn, generates the mental state, the proper conduct, the guidance and understanding that leads one to think, to eat and to act correctly.

Dr. Mohammed El Sayed El Falahgi, Nutritionist and Dietician, Medcare Hospital, said, "In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours."

He further explained that slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds such as barley, wheat, oats, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, and unpolished rice. These are called complex carbohydrates. Fast-burning foods are foods that contain ingredients such as sugar and white flour. They are called refined carbohydrates.

Other Medcare rules of thumb include drinking more water and other fluids while gradually reducing the amount of food you eat at each meal. Avoid eating meals, particularly heavy meals, at night. Consume more fruits, vegetables, and other high-energy foods and supplements, and less meats and starches which require more energy to digest. Eat Whole wheat, grains, seeds, vegetables (like green beans, peas, and spinach), fruit with skin, dried fruit (such as dried apricots, figs, prunes, and almonds) are all of high fibre-containing foods.

Meals in Ramadan should be well-balanced, and they should contain foods from each food group, such as fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, read/cereals and dairy products. Avoid fried foods that some of us are addicted to. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.