Why does the iftar menu always have to be sweet?

Iftar is the most eagerly awaited moment to get rid of hunger and thirst. Sweet food is often a mandatory dish on every table. However, does the breaking of the fast always have to be all sweet?

Why should the iftar menu always be sweet?

From the last time you ate, which was at dawn, your blood sugar deposits would continue to decrease throughout the day because you didn't get any other food intake. Blood sugar is the body's main source of energy. That's why it is easy for you to feel weak and sleepy during activities during fasting. To replace this lost energy, you need a proper iftar menu.

Sugar can quickly increase blood sugar levels that drop after fasting. However, most sugary foods, namely sweetened tea or fried bananas, do not have enough nutrients to replace the other nutrients and vitamins that are also lost during a day of activities. This sweet food can actually lower blood sugar very drastically after eating. As a result, you feel weak and sleepy after breaking the fast.

Then, is it okay to eat sweet foods that contain sugar?

Ideally, the iftar menu should be sweet to restore energy. However, according to the British Nutrition Foundation, you should not eat a lot of sweet foods or drinks with added sugar. Besides being able to make blood sugar drop dramatically, too much calorie and sugar intake can make you even gain weight even though you are fasting.

Choose naturally sweet foods that also contain fiber and are high in nutrients, such as:

Fruit juices or smoothies
Dates
Fruit ice without added sweeteners
Fresh fruit, dried fruit, or frozen fruit, such as chocolate coated frozen bananas.

Pay attention to the sugar content in your fast-breaking drinks and foods

One medium date, for example, contains about 23 calories, 6.2 grams of carbohydrates with 5.3 grams of sugar and 0.7 grams of fiber. When compared to a glass of warm sweet tea, the sugar content can be even higher, depending on how many measures you use. One tablespoon of granulated sugar (13 grams) contains 50 calories, 13.65 grams of carbohydrates, and 13.65 grams of sugar.

Eating 3 dates provides about 69 calories in one time breaking the fast. However, dates also contain fiber, protein, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron and vitamin B6 which are essential for the body. Reported on the Healhtline page, fruit fiber helps control blood sugar so it doesn't jump high.

On the other hand, a glass of warm sweet tea contains very little or no nutrition. Moreover, if the sugar consumed is in the form of a sweet liquid, it will be easier to digest and will be absorbed quickly. So that, blood sugar will also increase even more drastically. Plus, sugary drinks don't usually have a filling effect, so you can overconsume them.

To replace sugar in your iftar menu, use honey which has quite beneficial nutritional value or vanilla extract.