Ramadhan: Why young, sick, elderly need frequent meals

PIC: Women attend prayers in a mosque. (Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

RELIGION | FASTING

Fasting in Ramadhan is required of every adult Muslim of sound mind and good health. Those exempted from fasting include the elderly, young (below 15 years), mentally ill, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Sheikh Abdu Mpindi, the imam of Kisaasi Mosque, re-emphasizes that women experiencing menstrual periods, travellers and sick are also exempted from fasting.

The sick are exempted because of the risks fasting poses to their health. Fasting could complicate underlying health conditions such as diabetes.

Sheikh Mpindi says the sick need food, drinks and medicines throughout the day to regain their health and strength. "They are also prone to vomiting, an act that makes fasting void in Islam."

Dr. Suzan Nabirye in Gulu explains that the sick, the elderly and breastfeeding mothers also need to have regular small meals throughout the day to keep up their strength and boost their immunity.

More so, sick people on medication need to feed well and have timely meals for the medication to be effective. Unless advised by a doctor, medicine should not be taken on an empty stomach.

"The sick need several types of foods to boost their immunity and gain strength," says Dr. Nabirye.

The young are also exempted from fasting because they are not yet physically and mentally developed and need nutritious food to grow well, says Ali Sebuliba, a nutritionist.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nabirye explains that young people below 15 years need a variety of nutrients to help in the development and strengthening of their body, brain and bones. The nutrients include proteins, vitamins and calcium.

They also need to have adequate carbohydrates because they are usually very active and use up a lot of energy.

Nabirye says the elderly are free from fasting because their bodies are weak and they have low immunity. Women and girls in menstrual periods are also part of the group because when 'that time of the month' is on,  they are considered impure.

During this time, they need to feed well, especially on foods rich in iron to prevent anaemia.         

​