REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Fasting can lower our metabolic rate, so it needs effective way to prevent weight gain that is often occured during fasting month of Ramadan.
"With slow metabolism, we gain weight easily. One way to prevent weight gain during fasting is by keeping the body active," Chairman of Gema Foundation for Nutrition awareness, Tirta Prawita Sari said on Wednesday.
Basically, the body has adequate food from pre-dawn meal (sahur in Islam) to produce energy during the day. But keeping yourself active will keep your metabolism at high rate.
If you have pre-dawn meal and then spend most of the fasting time for sleep, the food will be stored as fat in your body and not burnt into energy. Sari added, the impacts of fasting might vary to each person, but the success in maintaining body's weigh while fasting can be measured by weight and abdominal circumference.
"Someone might look fat, but he has small stomach circumference. It is successful and looks healthier than a skinny person with big belly and it tends to bulge," Sari said.
Therefore, during fasting month you must consume high fiber food with enough protein and fat, and slightly salt. You must also avoid overcooked food and increases you water intake. It can help maintain the balance of energy and body weight during fasting month.
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