The Iron Sword War has already closed its third week since it began after that Black Saturday on October 7, and many regular and reserve fighters have long been on war alert. In such a situation, it is impossible not to accumulate fatigue.
Most of us usually deal with this fatigue by consuming coffee, caffeinated and sometimes sugary drinks, and foods like chocolate. In normal times, to cope with this fatigue, many of us often consume as many as four cups of coffee a day or more. As we know, the immediate effect of caffeine is followed by side effects, but in the office or at home we are not required to be alert and alert all the time. This is different on the battlefield, where the soldier has to be constantly on high alert.
Coffee with a heart, photo: Getty Images
"Consuming coffee or caffeinated drinks is really something you shouldn't do when you're on alert for the battlefield," says Dr. Abel, explaining the dangers: "The body becomes addicted to coffee and its effect on us, but on the battlefield there is no caffeine available, so the warrior can experience symptoms of needing coffee that he didn't have. He may suffer, for example, from headaches, he will have a bad feeling and he may also suffer from fatigue."
What can soldiers do to stay alert?
"The right way to stay alert is by drinking water. People do not know, but drinking water or soda produces alertness in the person and it is recommended to drink two or three liters a day. It refreshes the body and creates good alertness, which is not damaged even during the fighting."
Drink plenty of water, photo: Eyal Margolin - Ginny
Dr. Abel also breaks the myth about chocolate consumption as a way to stay alert. According to her, here, too, the body develops dependence on stimulants found in chocolate or a high amount of sugar - something that will not be available on the battlefield and will cause the warrior to have withdrawal effects.
"In general, the principle that applies to drinks containing caffeine also applies to chocolates. Chocolates also have stimulants. These substances may be available in large quantities before combat, but this is not the case on a battlefield, where you have to be very alert for a long time," she says, adding about the consequences that "the lack of these substances disturbs the body. You should avoid them and for the same reasons you should avoid other sugary substances as well. These are very comforting substances, but they are not good when we need to maintain high alertness over time," she concludes.
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