Drinking Coffee during Sahur, Beware of the Risk of Dehydration and Decreased Concentration

JAKARTA - Not a few people choose to drink coffee during sahur in the hope of staying awake and not sleepy throughout the day. In fact, this habit can actually have a negative impact on the body during fasting, especially if consumed without being balanced by fluid intake and adequate rest time.

Doctor and public nutritionist, Tan Shot Yen, reminded that coffee should not be the main mainstay to fight drowsiness during fasting, especially for those who have to drive or be active since morning.

According to him, coffee has a diuretic effect that makes a person urinate more often. This condition can accelerate the loss of body fluids, while during fasting there is no intake of drinking until breaking the fast.

When the body is deficient in fluids, various complaints can arise, ranging from feeling tired, headaches, to difficulty concentrating. Therefore, relying on caffeine alone without paying attention to fluid needs and sleep quality is not a wise move.

He explained that drowsiness during fasting is generally not merely because you don't drink coffee, but because of the reduced sleep time. Changes in meal and worship schedules at night often make rest time shorter.

Adults, he said, still need about six to seven hours of sleep per day so that body functions and concentration remain optimal. This need can be met by going to bed early or taking advantage of additional rest time after sahur.

A short nap can also be a solution to restore energy. Rest for about 15-30 minutes is enough to help the body feel fresher and increase alertness.

Overall, maintaining sleep patterns, limiting coffee consumption during sahur, and ensuring that fluid intake is sufficient from breaking the fast to sahur are simple steps to stay focused and fit during fasting and activities in the morning.