JUNK food and fried snacks like pakoras and samosas, are so popular during the month of Ramazan that they can be seen on every dining table or dastarkhwan at every home during Iftar time. People of all ages consume these high-fat, low-fibre, deep-fried foods while ignoring the risk and potential hazards to their own health. A large number of people every day flock to bakeries and food carts in the evening to purchase these items for Iftar.

Moreover, these snacks, cooked under unhygienic conditions, not only contain an abundant quantity of salts, but also saturated fats and trans fats, which can cause bloating and constipation among those fasting.

Unfortunately, we always consider these snacks as traditional food items adorning our dastarkhwans at Iftar while ignoring the fact that the daily and continuous consumption of these food items can frequently lead to serious health hazards that are associated with metabolism, blood sugar level, hypertension, weight-gain, cardiac ailments and so on.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, in 2020 alone, there were 26.7 per cent adults in Pakistan who were affected by diabetes, bringing the total number of cases to approximately 33 million.

Moreover, according to another report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 240,720 people died of coronary heart disease in Pakistan in 2020, accounting for 16.49pc of all fatalities, whereas Pakistan is ranked 30th in the world, with a death rate of 193.56 per 100,000 people.

In the light of these reports, it is quite evident that Pakistan is facing serious health-related problems. There is a dire need to change our thinking and attitude towards our food choices.

In short, changing our eating habits, such as replacing junk food with healthy alternatives based on minerals and rich in vitamins, like dry fruits, whole grains, beans and fruits for Iftar can help us take better control of our health.

We are what we eat. Let us always remember that, especially at Iftar time.

Zuhaib Hussain
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2024