Khaberni - With the launch of the Iftar cannon, Ramadan tables in Egypt turn into a venue for fried foods drenched in oil, from samboosak and qatayef to chicken and potatoes.
But behind this delicious crunchiness, a looming danger hides that fills emergency departments in hospitals just a few hours after Iftar with cases of severe vomiting, reflux, heart palpitations, and stomach pain.
Doctors and specialists in Egypt reveal the dietary trap threatening fasters and the disaster of reused oils.
Dr. Mervat El-Sayed, emergency medicine consultant and director of the African Center for Women's Health, warns of a digestive shock that occurs to the body after a long fast.
She explains that introducing saturated fats all at once leads to temporary paralysis of the stomach and severe slowing in food evacuation, along with increased secretion of burning acids, and causes the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, leading to suffocating acidity, as well as straining the pancreas and liver in processing heavy oils.
Dr. Mervat also reveals surprising information about repeatedly used oils, asserting that exposing oil to high heat multiple times produces harmful compounds such as "acrylamide" and oxidizing materials, which not only cause acute gastritis but may, in the long run, become causative of cardiovascular diseases, debunking the myth that fried foods provide quick energy, as it is phantom energy followed by lethargy and physical collapse.
Dr. Radwa Ahmed Shaheen, Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Ain Shams University, explains the disastrous impact of trans fats and high sugars, which lead to an increase in harmful cholesterol and a decrease in beneficial cholesterol, paving the way for arteriosclerosis and heart attacks. She notes that excessive sugars in qatayef disrupt the bacterial balance in the intestines, causing gas, bloating, and weakened absorption of essential nutrients.
Not starting with fried foods
To avoid visiting emergency rooms, Dr. Radwa advises not to start Iftar with fried foods and to replace them with warm liquids or dates, and to stick to consuming fried items once or twice a week at most.
She emphasized the need to use oil only once and to stop using it if its color changes, and recommends switching to the oven or air fryer to reduce the amount of fat. She also advises walking for 30 minutes after Iftar to support digestion, and strongly recommends that patients with ulcers, heart, and liver diseases completely avoid these foods.
