When it comes to relying on a healthy diet during Ramadan, the key is to choose foods full of vitamins and minerals that help the body recover what it lost during the long hours of fasting.
Despite the multiplicity of foods on the Ramadan tables, many fasting people are ignorant of the importance of these foods being of a variety of colours, given the nutritional importance of these colors for human health.
Nutritionist and fitness trainer Batool Lou said, in an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, that research and studies have confirmed that each food color symbolizes a certain benefit, as these pigments provide a person with vitamins and vital nutrients necessary for his health. Pointing out that, from this standpoint, the emphasis comes on the need for the foods on the iftar table in Ramadan to be of a variety of colors.
Benefits of green and red foods
According to Luo, green foods such as spinach, cabbage, and broccoli contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are plant carotenoid pigments that have antioxidant properties and help maintain a strong retina. In addition, the aforementioned foods reduce the risk of some types of cancer and enhance bone strength. And teeth, while the antioxidants in it enhance memory power.
She pointed out that the red and pink color of vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, melons and papayas, indicates that they contain lycopene, which contributes to reducing the incidence of heart disease, prostate cancer and urinary tract infections, and helps to improve memory and protect the brain from diseases.
Orange and purple foods are good for the heart and brain
Lu adds that the orange and yellow pigments in food come from the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is essential for human health, and is found in foods such as carrots, pumpkins, melons and apricots, and it protects the heart and enhances the immune system, while purple foods such as eggplant and sweet potatoes contain flavonoids. Promotes brain health, while white or brown vegetables from the onion family contain the phytochemical allicin, which has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and increases the body’s ability to fight infections.
Promote the health of the fasting person
The nutritionist believes that colorful foods and vegetables on the breakfast table are an essential element in the month of Ramadan. The more colorful the breakfast table, the greater its health benefits, which give the fasting person vitamins, minerals and fiber necessary for the safety of his body, stressing the role played by mint, lettuce, beetroot, parsley and cabbage. Red in promoting the health of the fasting person.
Do not eat at random
For his part, nutrition expert Amjad Asakreh says, in an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, that diversifying food in terms of colors and food allows the fasting person to obtain all vitamins and minerals, but on the condition that he does not eat food randomly, which may cause indigestion, stressing The fasting person must adhere to eating healthy food prepared at home, while avoiding foods that contain high calories and added sugar.
Colors in processed juices
His soldiers believe that the fasting person should stay away from fried foods, such as potatoes, chicken, fast food and soft drinks, pointing out that while choosing foods that acquire their colors naturally helps to give the fasting person many benefits, resorting to processed juices that come in multiple colors is an issue. Harmful being full of sugar.
Askareh stressed the need to drink water, at the rate of a cup, a quarter of an hour after eating each meal, as water in general helps speed up the digestion process.
