Eid Al-Fitr or Lebaran is a day that is highly awaited by Muslims, not only in Indonesia, but also all around the world. Eid is identical with a family gathering and also the tradition of eating together with family. Many types of food and drinks are served during Eid. In Indonesia, the usual menus are lontong opor ayam, rendang, meatball soup, Eid cakes, snacks, and sweet drinks.

Some people make Eid or Lebaran as a time of revenge to eat as much as they want, after having fast for about 30 days in the month of Ramadan, within 13-14 hours every day. However, this phenomenon cannot be justified. Why? Because it can cause an unfavorable impact for the body, for example: increasing weight drastically, and also increasing blood sugar and cholesterol levels in our bodies. read more

The food pattern during fasting is certainly changing. The changes occur when food consumption is limited so that the frequency of eating and the amount of food consumed are more limited. In general, people consume a portion of food three times a day but during fasting it changes to two times a day. Although eating patterns change during fasting, people must maintain optimal and balanced nutritional intake so that their body condition remains healthy and can undergo fasting properly. Therefore, the foods fulfillment with carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, fats, and proteins must be considered accordingly. read more

Certainly it is not an easy thing to hold thirst for more than 12 hours per day. Under normal circumstances, adult body requires ± 2 liters of fluid every day. Lack of fluids can cause disturbances in brain function such as difficulty thinking, headaches, fatigue, and impaired muscle function. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss tips that can be done to keep the body hydrated during fasting.

• Drink enough water

During fasting, our bodies can experience mild dehydration which is characterized by headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. To prevent excessive thirst, we can divide the time to drink water with the following pattern: 1 glass when breaking the fast, 1 glass after dinner, 1 glass after Isha’ time, 1 glass after Tarawih time, 1 cup before bed, 1 cup after wake up, 1 glass at dawn, and 1 glass before Fajr. The volume of water that is drunk at one time should not be excessive (only about 250 – 300 mL / glass) because the body will not be able to absorb large amounts of water at once. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt are also high in water content so they are good for supplementing daily fluid needs. read more

Because of the negative effects, intermittent fasting is not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers, children and adolescents under the age of 18, those at risk of hypoglycemia, diabetes, or people with certain chronic diseases. If you have side effects like headaches, nausea, or other symptoms after practicing intermittent fasting, you should consult a doctor. There are several methods that can be used by those who want to start intermittent fasting, including:

1. The 5:2 Diet

This method is used twice a week and involves eating only one portion of food (about 500-600 calories). To keep calories low when fasting, it is highly recommended to eat foods high in fiber and protein. On the other five days of week, you are free to eat normally. If you choose to eat normally every day of the week except Sunday and Monday, for example. read more

Intermittent fasting is an eating plan that involves restricting calorie intake or not eating either for a set period of time on a regular schedule. Intermittent fasting focuses on when you eat and when you don’t eat, instead of what foods you should eat less or more of. Intermittent fasting is practiced in a similar way as Ramadan fasting, which involves fasting for approximately 12 hours. Intermittent fasting gives an advantage, including increasing the immune system, lowering cholesterol, reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and lowering blood pressure.  read more

Stunting is one of the chronic nutritional problems in Indonesia. The prevalence of stunting in Indonesia is quite high, ranked number 2 in Southeast Asia (1). Based on Riskesdas 2018, the prevalence is 30.8% and it is estimated to decrease to 26.92% in 2020 (2, 3). However, this figure is still within the upper threshold for stunting prevalence which is 20% set by WHO. This is an important problem that needs to be addressed together either by the government or by the community.

Stunting or short toddlers is a condition of failure to thrive that occurs in children under five due to chronic malnutrition, especially in the period of the First 1,000 Days of Life (HPK) (4). Stunting conditions are generally caused by low nutritional intake and health status for a long time, lack of access to sanitation and clean water resulting in repeated infections, and inadequate parenting (4). read more