Unhealthy iftar causes many diseases [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Unhealthy iftar causes many diseases

Local May 25, 2019

The habit of consuming unhealthy iftar items during Ramadan is increasing the risk of a wide range of diseases.
The fatty, deep-fried, processed, spicy and salty foods, which are common on iftar plates in Bangladesh, increase the risks of peptic ulcer, cardiovascular complications, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity and hypertension, doctors said.
The intake of roadside iftar items also increases the risks of catching other ailments like different forms of hepatitis, jaundice, typhoid, diarrhoea and acidity, they said.
BIRDEM head of nutrition department Shamsun Naher Mohua has told New Age that there are a number of health hazards caused by iftar items that are popular among Bangladeshis.
‘The oil which is used to fry iftar items is a trans-fat, a toxic form of oil,’ she said.
Trans-fat is a harmful chemical found in partially hydrogenated oils, marketed as dalda and vegetable oil, which may be used in baked, fried and packaged foods.
Iftar items which we generally eat may primarily cause acidity, abdominal pain, ulcer, diarrhoea, said Dr Mohua.
Such foods increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and hypertension, she added.
World Health Organisation’s Bangladesh office advised people to reduce the intake of fatty, deep-fried, processed, spicy and salty food items during Ramadan as they increase thirst during the fasting period.
‘Break your fast at iftar with dates to prevent headache and to get the energy your body needs,’ it said.
The WHO recommends drinking plenty of water and eating hydrating foods and fruits instead of fruit juice.
‘An unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular ailments, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity,’ the WHO said.
WHO’s specific recommendations for a healthy diet include: eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and grains; cutting down on salt, sugar and fats. The world health body also advises choosing unsaturated fats instead of saturated ones and moving towards the elimination of trans-fatty acids.
A newly released WHO report confirms that 8,000 of Bangladeshis die each year due to unnecessary overexposure to toxic chemical trans-fat.
The report was released at the ongoing World Health Assembly in Geneva.
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute’s head of epidemiology and research Sohel Reza Choudhury has said that the WHO report underscores the need for immediate action to eliminate industrially produced trans-fat from our food supply.
He said 8,000 deaths caused in the country by trans-fat was not a big figure, but the more important thing was that these deaths were preventable.
Iftar items during Ramadan, he added, were filled with trans-fat as they were deeply fried and same oil was repeatedly used to prepare iftar items, which should be avoided.