First live 'Twitter clinic' focuses on exercise during Ramadan

Exercise is safe during Ramadan was the message delivered during the first live ‘Twitter clinic' by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). During the inaugural live Twitter Q&A forum (@DHA_Dubai) that took place on Thursday evening, residents posted several questions on healthy fasting. The majority of the queries were on exercise and fitness during Ramadan. Dr Wafa Ayesh, Director of Clinical Nutrition at the DHA, and one of the experts on the live Twitter forum, told Gulf News that residents were reassured that exercise is safe and in fact, light to moderate exercise is recommended. On the forum, the queries were about the best time to exercise and diet advice for those who exercise. Dr Ayesh said that exercising about 30-60 minutes before iftar helps burn fat as excess fat is converted into energy during this fasting phase. "About 20 minutes of exercise is good,” she said. However, residents were reminded that exercise is safe only when the suhoor and iftar meals are balanced and the person is adequately hydrated. "The person should also have enough energy to exercise,” she said. On fluid consumption, Dr Ayesh said 35ml per kilograms of body weight is ideal. "For example, for a person weighing 60 kilos, multiply 60 into 35. The result of 2,100 is to be read with a decimal point before the last three digits. Hence the person should drink 2.1 litres of water per day,” she said. Speaking about the right foods for those who exercise regularly, Dr Ayesh said that meals should be balanced with adequate fibre, protein and carbohydrates. "Consume slow-energy releasing foods such as grains, barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour and unpolished rice. As well as fibre-rich foods such as bran, green beans, peas, spinach, dried apricots, prunes and almonds,” she said. "Delay suhour as much as possible to prevent fatigue and headaches,” she added. Ganem Lootah, Acting-Director of Institutional Marketing and Communications at the DHA said that the live clinic gives residents an opportunity to get immediate responses to their health queries during Ramadan. The next live Twitter session on ‘diabetes and fasting' will take place on July 18 from 9.30pm to 11.00pm. Source: Gulf News