Jakarta (ANTARA) - Internal Medicine Specialist at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital (RSCM) dr. Muhammad Firhat Idrus stated that fasting helps reduce the incidence and severity of diseases related to stomach acid, such as GERD and gastric pains.

"Fasting can reduce the incidence or reduce the severity of GERD," Idrus stated in a discussion about fasting for sufferers of gastric disease that was attended online here on Tuesday.

Idrus explained that this occurs because fasting forces or regulates the human body to eat at the same time every day, at dawn, and while breaking the fast.

He stated that this condition helps to normalize the body condition of someone with stomach disease, which usually occurs, as the person does not follow a good diet.

Meanwhile, he explained that the recurrence of gastric disease that a person experiences while fasting is caused by the type of food and poor eating habits, whether they eat at dawn or while breaking the fast.

“The first one is high-fat foods. Next are fried foods and foods with coconut milk, as well as foods, such as lard and offal,” he remarked.

Idrus explained that fatty foods can trigger the production of stomach acid and make the esophagus more distended, which can cause the stomach acid to rise into the esophagus.

Apart from fatty foods, he said that foods with a high spice quotient and acidic beverages, such as those made of oranges and grapes, as well as fizzy beverages can also trigger stomach ailments.

"Next is coffee. Coffee is a drink that can increase the stomach acid and increase the risk of stomach acid rising into the esophagus," he stated.

Idrus also pointed out that excessive eating behavior at the same time, either at dawn or while breaking the fast, can also cause diseases related to stomach acid.

Hence, he appealed to those suffering from stomach acid-related diseases to fast while still paying attention to the type of food and good eating habits, so that stomach diseases do not interfere with their fasting.

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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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