Ramadan: The Right Moment to Reduce Sugar, Salt and Fat

Jakarta — The holy month of Ramadan is regarded as the best moment for Muslims to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, urged the public to use Ramadan to reduce the intake of sugar, salt and fat.

‘Ramadan, I feel, is the right time for us to start reducing the levels of sugar and salt. Because changing habits is not easy, and perhaps on ordinary days it would feel difficult,’ Nadia said during a media discussion commemorating World Diabetes Day in Jakarta on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

Nadia said that a large portion of the public remains heavily dependent on sugar. Even when consuming drinks labelled ‘less sugar’, many people still add more sugar to suit their taste. In the long run, this habit can lead to weight gain and obesity.

‘Most people don’t realise that the sugar they consume is already very high. If this isn’t changed, it could trigger obesity,’ Nadia said.

The same goes for salt and fat consumption. According to Nadia, many people often add extra salt when eating at restaurants because they feel the food is not savoury enough. In fact, the habit of adding salt at the dining table is not good for health.

‘When we eat at a restaurant or eatery, many people like to add even more salt because it isn’t savoury enough. After all, the chef has already measured so it’s not too high; this over time is not good for health,’ Nadia said.

Nadia believes Ramadan is an appropriate time to begin gradually reducing the intake of sugar, salt and fat. For example, if you normally drink one teaspoon of sugar in tea, during Ramadan you could reduce it to a quarter teaspoon.

After a month, the palate will adjust to lighter flavours and may even feel it’s too sweet to return to the original measure. ‘Fasting isn’t only about hunger and thirst; it’s also about training ourselves. While it’s Ramadan, we should seize this opportunity to reduce sugar, salt and fat that are harmful like fried foods, right?’ she said.