Deepfried & likely deadly

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ISLAMABAD: Health is life and good health is blessing of Almighty Allah. And, the blessings are abundantly showered on the faithful who bow down to the will of God by keeping fast.

Unfortunately, majority of people ruin their healthy taking spicy food items like pakoras, samosas and kachories excessively during the month of holy Ramadan.

As the saying goes "Too much of everything is bad" same holds true in this regard, as too much taking of spicy food items are toxic for human health harming ones stomach and liver.

Every Pakistani wants spicy items for iftar especially pakoras, samosas and kachories besides different varieties of such origin. In holy month of Ramadan, we can see this business on its peak almost in all the small and big markets of the country even stalls in streets and on roadside.

We can watch a life in long queues in front of big shops selling pakoras and other spicy items. Some times, a person wonders after seeing long queues and rush in front of shops that something is being distributed at the shop free of cost.

Basically, there is nothing free of cost at these shops only multiple diseases are being distributed among purchasers free of cost with unhygienic, and substandard but costly so called tasty pakoras and samosas. These pakoras and smosas are fried in reused cooking oil which is considered poisonous for human health.

Almost, the shops selling such items of spicy or so called tasty iftar are enough to open eyes of people about purchasing and eating after completing holy responsibility covering more than 15 hours long time from sehar to iftar.

In Pakistan, we can say that there is no concept of iftar without pakoras, samosas and kachories as these items are considered essential part of iftar.

People are basically playing with their health causing substandard material especially unbranded cooking oil which is being used for making these items by using hundreds of tones only in the month of Ramazan.

A citizen Usman Waheed who was standing in front of a shop at Abpara Market of Islamabad opined that without pakoras and samosas, the dining table is not appealing. These items enhance the taste of iftari.

When the salesman of the said shop (selling pakoras and samosas etc.) Saleem Abbasi was asked about the sale of these items, he said "Our sale of pakoras and samosas along with other items of iftar accedes even one lac daily and it is only in the month of Ramadan otherwise even not more than ten thousand daily".

Talking about the usage of pakoras, samosas and kachories, Dr. Danish Ali Qazi said these food items are health hazards. In case of stomach the large consumption of spicy food items may add to further complications of digestive system. In case of liver, a chain of complexities unfolds starting from Hepatitis A to C which may lead to liver diseases even cirrhosis, he elaborated.

Dr. Muhammad Tufail, a religious scholar from International Islamic University Islamabad in this regard said the concept of Ramadan is to realize the situation of poor and to extend sympathies to them.

The spirit of fasting is to adopt simplicity in eating style as a mark of respect for poor and in doing it makes one aware of the financial problems of this less fortunate segment of the society.

But these days this concept seems completely changing.

Unfortunately, the true spirit of fasting is dwindling with the people treating sehri and iftari as the last meal of their lives and engulfing every edible that comes in their way.

According to traditional and historical view, a Muslim was supposed to have iftar with dates and salt as per "Sunnah" as Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did in the early days of Islam. And, we should follow the same.

A well known nutritionist Dr. Zarina Fahim said, a good securing of fruits in the form of "fruit chat" is beneficial for health as it is full of mineral and vitamins.

Moreover, she said, a glass of "shikanjbin" is also full of carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. The salt component of shikanjbin maintains the blood pressure of the human body.

Finally, the medical experts are of the view that spicy food items during Ramazan be avoided "to keep at a bay the killer disease- hepatitis. (APP)