Heavy meals & sugary desserts undo the benefits of fasting, warn doctors

While residents across the UAE experience headaches and fatigue during fasting hours in the first week of Ramadan, healthcare experts said that the bigger health risk may actually begin after sunset, when heavy meals and sugary desserts undo the benefits of a full day of fasting.

- SM Ayaz Zakir [e-mail]

Faithful end their fast at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai during Ramadan.

(SHIHAB/ KHALEELJ TIMES)

Doctors said that during Ramadan, the body undergoes significant metabolic adjustments as eating and sleeping patterns change. After long hours without food or water, blood sugar levels remain sensitive, making food choices at iftar especially important.

"In the first few days, the body is still adapting to prolonged fasting," said Dr Archana Purushothaman, specialist in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Fakeeh University Hospital Dubai.

"Blood sugar levels decline during the day, and hormones regulating energy adjust to a new rhythm. Sudden spikes caused by overeating or excessive sugar intake can place additional stress on the body," she said.

Health experts caution that many common Ramadan eating habits, particularly large evening meals, may lead to unintended health problems.