Drinking Fruit Juices Early Morning Can Conserve Energy, Say Dietitians (Ramadhan)

Drinking fruit juice during the sahur meal will ensure that Muslims are energized and remain healthy throughout the day during the fasting month of Ramadan, according to dietitians.

Head of Department of Dietetics and Catering Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), Ridzoni Sulaiman, said drinking fresh fruit juice could prevent the body from becoming dehydrated when fasting.

Fruit juice contains a variety of nutrients such as vitamins, potassium and glucose, and serves as a significant source of energy for the body, he told Bernama recently.

"Actually, the feeling of exhaustion, tiredness and sleepiness is due to lack of water in the body rather than lack of food. When dehydration occurs, our body loses water and minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate and so on, thus water plays an important role in our body," he added.

Considering that this time Ramadan has fallen during the Southwest Monsoon season with hot and dry spells, along with the haze and the forecast that El Nino will occur in the middle of the year, it is necessary to ensure the supply of water in the body is constantly maintained.

Ridzoni said people should also avoid drinking coffee or tea during the fasting month because the drinks have a deuretic effect.

Meanwhile, School of Health Sciences Campus Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Dietetics Officer, Mohd Hairil Nizam Abdul Hamid, agreed that adequate water intake was very important during the hot spell when fasting.

Seventy per cent of the body's composition is made up of water, it is a major constituent of our bodies and vital organs and lack of water can cause health problems.

"The body needs at least eight glasses of water a day to keep the body's cells functioning properly. Lack of water can cause kidney problems, fainting and dizzy spells," he said.

He also advised people to eat a balanced diet.