RIYADH, 4 October 2006 — A senior pediatrician from the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh has advised parents not to ignore their nonfasting children during the holy month.
“Parents tend to keep awake throughout the night and sleep the whole day after suhoor meals ignoring their children,” Dr. Mohamed Shahid, who has been in the Kingdom for the past 25 years, told Arab News. He added that the infants and children who wake up in the morning as usual find they are left alone without love and care from their parents.
“The domestic aides also get used to sleeping long hours following a hard night’s work,” he said, pointing out that this is a serious situation where these children are left unattended without their morning ablutions and food. “Fasting is not obligatory on breastfeeding mothers and they should continue to feed their infants since babies should not be left without their regular food,” he stressed.
He said parents should encourage healthy children to fast. It is not obligatory for children under 12-years-of-age to fast, however, he said those who are able to fast should be encouraged. “During the holy month of Ramadan, their diet should not differ very much from normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that they maintain their normal weight, neither losing nor gaining.”
Moreover, he said if one is overweight, Ramadan is an ideal month to normalize one’s weight. In view of the long hours of fasting, children should consume slow digesting foods including fiber-containing foods rather than fast-digesting foods.
Slow-digesting foods last up to eight hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only three to four hours. Slow-digesting foods are those that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour and unpolished rice (called complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates). Fiber-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes and almonds.
“They should not overeat and avoid fried and sugary foods.” Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heartburns, and weight problems, he noted.
Dates are excellent source of sugar, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium. Almonds are rich in protein and fiber with less fat. Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates. The doctor added that people should drink more water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that one’s body may adjust fluid levels in time
He pointed out that common problems faced by fasting children include constipation, headache and dehydration and hyperglycemia. “Such problems could be overcome by drinking more water and juice during the non-fasting period and not allowing them to play too much on the grounds while they are fasting. He said children who have diabetes, chronic heart diseases and kidney problems can keep away from fasting according to medical advice.
While encouraging their children to fast, parents should set an example to their kids by refraining from smoking, he said, pointing out that this month is a good opportunity for smokers to reduce the number of cigarettes. “If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually,” he advised.