Doctor's Tips for Maintaining Kidney Health During Fasting
During Ramadan fasting, water intake is generally reduced, raising concerns about its potential impact on kidney health. Dr Dina Nilasari, an internal medicine specialist and kidney-hypertension consultant from Hasanuddin University, has shared guidance for maintaining kidney health during fasting.
“To maintain kidney health during Ramadan, it is essential to drink sufficient water, especially during sahur and iftar,” said Dina.
Dina emphasised that consistently drinking at least 2 litres of water daily, equivalent to 8 glasses, is necessary to prevent dehydration during fasting. Fluid intake can also be obtained through consuming whole fruits such as bananas or fibre-rich fruit juices during iftar. She noted that drinking juice with pulp helps slow the absorption of sugar into the body.
“Juices should preferably include the pulp, not just the liquid. Juice with only water is essentially sugar, the same as drinking pure sugar,” she stated.
Dina recommended that people prepare fresh fruit juice at home to ensure proper nutrition and hygiene, without adding sugar. Natural sweeteners like Stevia are acceptable, but artificial sweeteners such as saccharin should be avoided due to potential health risks. She also cautioned against commercially packaged juices claiming to be sugar-free, as these do not qualify as healthy beverages.
During sahur, she advised against consuming coffee or tea due to their caffeine content. Caffeine triggers diuresis—increased urine production and frequency—leading to greater fluid loss and heightened dehydration risk during the fasting period.
Beyond hydration, Dina stressed the importance of consuming nutritious foods including vegetables and fruits rich in minerals and fibre. Sweet foods such as cakes, starchy foods, and fried items should be avoided.
She also noted that patients with advanced-stage cancer in poor general condition, cachexia, or severe malnutrition are advised not to fast, and that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those with comorbidities should avoid strenuous exercise during Ramadan.