Health tips on breaking your fast
Eating certain foods too quickly may cause you to experience health problems like stomachaches, nausea, or diarrhea. It is therefore important to introduce regular foods slowly and strategically in order to break your fast safely, without disrupting your digestive system. According to Mrs Sarah Abagai, Head Dietetics Department, National Hospital Abuja, when you fast , […]
Eating certain foods too quickly may cause you to experience health problems like stomachaches, nausea, or diarrhea. It is therefore important to introduce regular foods slowly and strategically in order to break your fast safely, without disrupting your digestive system.
According to Mrs Sarah Abagai, Head Dietetics Department, National Hospital Abuja, when you fast , your stomach is empty for a while and there is dehydration because you lose fluid in the course of the day .
She said it is not ideal to start by eating solid food after a fast because that will place undue stress on the digestive system.
She advises: “Break with something liquid, that is warm liquid. And it could be tea, pepper soup, water but not cold or chilled water. Ideally something warm to avoid stomach cramps. Pepper soup for instance helps you regain appetite, prepares the digestive system and conditions it to receive normal food. Some people loose appetite during the course of fasting and pepper soup can help improve their appetite.
“There after, you can take fresh fruits, juice or kunun tsamyia or kunun zaki among other types , or a little pap to mention a few. It is after this that you should eat real food or solid food. It is recommended you first get enough fluid to hydrate your body before your eat your solid meals,” she said.
Experts say the amount of time your body needs to adjust to food also depends on how long your fast lasted. If you eat solid food after a long fast, the first thing that will occur is constipation. Your digestive system will not move that solid food until it starts functioning again. So always keep yourself hydrated with warm liquids and then water, fruits, other juices and later your regular meals.