Eid leaves a bad taste in the stomach [Archives:2006/994/Health]

Nawal Zaid
With the end of Ramadan comes the beginning of celebrations. Eid Al-Fitr is the holiday for the breaking of the fast – a time for feast, family gatherings and joyous celebrations. However such festivals do not pass without health problems, particularly for those who stuff themselves with the various sweets and delicacies of Eid.

Sometimes the Ministry of Health and doctors in Yemen warn of health problems caused by irregularity or overeating during the first days of Eid. Many digestive problems become common during these days such as stomach disorders, diarrhea and constipation.

Doctors explain that the local traditions of overeating during Eid are a direct reason for such problems. Because traditionally, on since early morning on Eid day Yemenis start their social visitation to their relatives and friends. Especially men keep hopping from one house to the other visiting their close relatives such as married sisters, aunts and uncles and so forth. During the visits they are offered sweets, mixed nuts, cookies, cakes and cold or hot drinks such as tea, coffee, juices, and naturally they have to accept the offer otherwise it might be taken as an offence to the host family. At lunchtime, Yemenis have large meals mostly consisting of meat. In the afternoon many Yemenis tend to eat nuts, drink coffee and tea before chewing qat. And at night they either have fast food in restaurants or cooking their meals at home.

In addition to the irregular snacking all the time on Eid cookies which were prepared by the females in the family in advance on the last days of Ramdan.

“After a long day of eating candies