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When fasting, our bodies undergo several changes, including in the way enzymes work. The enzymes normally produced by the digestive system will gradually decrease in number depending on how long we fast. Therefore, you are advised to choose foods that are easy to digest iftar, and one example is fruit.
This is a good fruit for breaking the fast
Unfortunately, most Indonesians only know dates as a fruit commonly consumed to break their fast. In fact, apart from dates, there are many other fruits that are just as rich in benefits. What fruit?
1. Watermelon
This fruit is famous for its water content. However, watermelon is also rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Because of its water content, this fruit is suitable for use as an appetizer when breaking the fast, because during fasting our bodies tend to experience dehydration due to reduced water intake during activities.
Watermelon has a water and electrolyte content of as much as 92%, so it can help the body regain the fluids and electrolytes lost during fasting. Watermelon is also a type of fruit that is easy to digest.
Apart from being a source of water and electrolytes, watermelon can also help prevent several diseases. The red color in watermelon indicates that watermelon contains lots of lycopene, a compound that can play a role in preventing heart disease and prostate cancer.
The choline content in watermelon can help prevent inflammation that can occur in the body by maintaining the structure of your cell membranes. And don't forget, the content of antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin C in watermelon can help regenerate cells on the skin and nourish hair.
2. Apples
Apples are one of the fruits that are known to have many benefits. When breaking the fast, one apple can help your digestive system slowly prepare its organs to accept more complex foods.
Although the water content in apples is not as much as watermelon, apples have a high enough fiber content which also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body during fasting.
When you fast, the tendency to overeat becomes higher, especially when breaking your fast. You haven't eaten in nearly 12 hours, so it is okay to eat a lot when breaking the fast.
This is certainly not good because it can increase the risk of obesity. By eating apples before a big meal, you can reduce your desire to overeat when breaking the fast.
Apart from helping the body's digestive system work, the fiber in apples can give you a full effect, thereby preventing you from taking in more food than you need.
Besides that, the health benefits of apples cannot be doubted. Starting from reducing the risk of diabetes, lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, maintaining heart health, preventing cataracts, to protecting the body from the bad effects of free radicals that can cause cancer.
3. Wine
This small fruit can be your alternative to breaking your fast. Its fresh and sweet taste can help replace fluids and sugar lost during fasting.
Grapes are also a type of fruit that is easy to digest because they are high in water and contain fiber, so they are good to eat before you start your main meal when breaking your fast. This prepares your digestive system before processing more complex types of food.
Apart from that, grapes also have many other health benefits. With its water and fiber content, grapes can help with constipation. The potassium in grapes plays a role in preventing the worsening of high blood pressure.
A cohort study conducted in 2013 suggested that consumption of wine may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adults. Grapes can also help reduce the severity of allergies such as runny nose, red eyes and sneezing.
The antioxidants in grapes known as polyphenols can also reduce or even prevent the risk of developing lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
Well, those are three fruits besides dates that are good to eat when breaking the fast. Enjoy!
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