Heatwave a chance to lose weight — nutrition experts

AMMAN — Hot and summery weather is an opportunity to lose weight due to lack of appetite and high consumption of liquids, experts said.

As the Kingdom witnesses a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many parts of the country, nutritionist Argelia Towqan said that people tend to lose weight as they lose their appetite and drink much more water than usual.

Dietician Reem Mubarak agreed with Towqan, saying that eating more water-dense fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, strawberry, kiwi, grapes, tomato and cucumber, enhances weight loss, while combined with a need to stay away from junk food.

“Fast food in this weather is not only unhealthy, but it also increases the risk of food poisoning, as most of it contains mayonnaise [a thick, creamy dressing mainly made from uncooked eggs and garlic] because the growth of bacteria increases as temperatures rise,” Mubarak told The Jordan Times. 

Towqan suggested exercise such as swimming, which is considered an effective way to burn calories and helps the body stay cool. 

Mohammad Atyeh, a dietician, stressed the importance of drinking two to three and a half litres of water per day, depending on the physical activity, to avoid dehydration and thirst.

“The body loses water and important minerals through sweating,” Atyeh said, noting that it is best to stay away from pre-packaged juices and sodas as they are high in sugar and lead to weight gain. 

Towqan also advised people to decrease their intake of caffeinated drinks as they lead to loss of water and minerals such as potassium, instead recommending drinking more juices with vitamin C, which keeps the body “fresh and active”. 

Both Atyeh and Towqan advised eating probiotic yogurt as it provides the body with necessary minerals that the body loses during hot summer days.