Rector Advisor, Vice Dean, and Faculty Member - Istanbul Kent University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Departmant of Pharmocology
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal
"Eating correctly during Ramadan is very important for staying energetic and healthy throughout the day."
Have you never heard of this effect! Drinking mineral water while fasting…
Eating correctly during Ramadan is very important for staying energetic and healthy throughout the day. Every year, new information is learned about how to nourish oneself while fasting. It is necessary to have sufficient nutrition and drink plenty of water from iftar to sahur. In this process, drinking mineral water helps alleviate the fatigue experienced while fasting.
Mineral waters are especially used to reduce bloating that occurs after meals. In Ramadan, the sudden and rapid eating to satisfy a hunger that develops throughout the day increases the occurrence of this bloating. Although mineral water is popularly known as a beverage that reduces stomach discomfort, it has many benefits. Among these benefits is its fatigue-reducing effect for those who are fasting during Ramadan. The bicarbonate and magnesium found in mineral waters play an important role in meeting the body’s energy needs.
REGULAR MINERAL WATER CONSUMPTION IS A MUST
One of the main reasons for the fatigue frequently encountered by those fasting in Ramadan is the drop in blood sugar due to prolonged hunger. The hormone insulin, which plays the most important role in regulating blood glucose levels, normally binds to its receptors to transport glucose into muscle cells; in the liver, it triggers glycogen formation and lipid synthesis in adipose tissue. However, when insulin resistance develops, even though insulin production increases, it cannot bind to its receptors, preventing glucose from being absorbed into the cells and resulting in an increase in blood sugar. At this point, two important minerals that play a critical role in maintaining the body's glucose balance, namely bicarbonate and magnesium, come into play. Additionally, regular and frequent consumption of mineral water can help alleviate the fatigue experienced by those fasting during Ramadan.
REDUCES FATIGUE BY INCREASING GLUCOSE UPTAKE INTO THE CELL.
Magnesium plays a direct role in the functioning of the insulin receptor and is indispensable in the uptake of glucose into cells—a process that is critically important for meeting the body's energy needs. Magnesium binds to the intracellular domain of the insulin receptor and regulates the intracellular events that occur after insulin binds to its receptor. This, in turn, increases insulin sensitivity. Some studies have shown that oral magnesium supplementation increases the number of glucose transporters on the cell membranes of muscle cells. Therefore, glucose is absorbed into the cells more quickly and effectively, ensuring that the necessary glucose for energy production is taken up, ultimately reducing fatigue.
MINERAL WATER CONTAINS MANY MINERALS ESSENTIAL FOR THE BODY
Especially during Ramadan, it is very important to consume the daily required amounts of magnesium and bicarbonate to meet the body’s energy needs and to maintain the critical balance of glucose metabolism. Therefore, by regularly consuming mineral water, not only are these minerals replenished, but other minerals with functional importance in the body—such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and chloride—are also easily replaced through natural means.
