Khaberni - On the Ramadan breakfast table, this drink takes the top spot unquestionably. It is served cold, refreshing, and easy to swallow after long hours of thirst.
Many consider it the quickest option to replenish fluids and energy, but the shocking truth is that this drink may be the most dangerous for the fasting body, not just because it lacks benefits, but because it silently depletes the body.
It is the sugared juice and sugary drinks that start the fast-breaking with a sugar rush and end with lethargy, thirst, and early hunger.
Consultant gastroenterologist at the Egyptian Ministry of Health Dr. Ahmed El-Gamal says that there are 5 reasons why you should eliminate these drinks from your choices, which are:
Firstly: Increases glucose levels
Sugary drinks raise blood glucose levels rapidly, causing the body to respond by secreting a large amount of insulin, and the result is a sharp drop in blood sugar after a short period, characterized by sudden lethargy, drowsiness, headache, and an increased desire to consume more sweets.
Secondly: Thirst instead of hydration
Despite their refreshing taste, the high sugar makes the body demand more water to handle the sugar load, causing the fasting individual to feel thirstier faster than if they drank plain water. What happens is that you drink to quench your thirst, and it only increases.
Thirdly: A shock to the digestive system
The stomach, after fasting, is at rest, and introducing a concentrated sugary liquid suddenly disrupts digestion, causing bloating and acidity, possibly leading to severe lethargy episodes after breakfast.
Fourthly: Calories "not satiating"
Sugary drinks may contain calories equivalent to a full meal, but they do not satiate, prompting you to consume larger amounts of food later without feeling it.
Sweetened drinks are the most dangerous for the fasting body
What about "natural" juices?
Even juices labeled "100% natural," Dr. El-Gamal says they are "not entirely innocent, as they often lack fiber, the sugar is concentrated and rapidly absorbed, and their effect on blood sugar is similar to that of sweetened beverages, the only difference being the misleading healthy impression."
Dr. El-Gamal recommends a smarter alternative at the Ramadan breakfast table, which is water as the simplest option, or water and dates, which are beneficial in providing a better sugar balance, or whole fruit instead of juice or light, unsweetened beverages.
