Physicians advise to eat meat in moderate quantity

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]




ISLAMABAD: Physicians have advised people to eat meat in moderate quantity as balanced diet promises healthy life while imbalanced diet causes diseases.

According to the physicians overeating of meat can be dangerous for people with liver disorders as well as patients of hepatitis and jaundice.

"Extra intake of meat can increase blood circulation in stomach among cardiac patients, resulting in ischemic heart diseases", said Dr. Usman, who runs a private clinic.

He said that diabetic patients should not consume much meat because its fats contain nine caloric/grams and the sugar level can shoot up.

Health expert Dr. Asim said that one should be careful while defrosting frozen meat. It should be kept lukewarm for at least six hours and later keep it in a microwave oven for 45 minutes to kill germs.

Excessive use of salt and chilies increases acidity in stomach and is dangerous for those having problems of regurgitation, ulcers in stomach and small intestines, he said adding the use of cola drinks with spicy food could be more harmful for individuals, particularly having certain disease.

He said that certain parts of the meat are rich in cholesterol like the brain masala, and Sire Paye, which should be avoided by those having high cholesterol level.

The doctors also cautioned against immediate cooking and improper preservation of the meat of sacrificial animals to avoid infectious and fatal diseases among the people especially patients with diabetic, liver, renal, kidney, cardiac and hepatitis complications.

They advised that the people, particularly suffering from heart and hepatitis diseases, should carefully use the meat (mutton and beef), which could otherwise prove harmful for their health.

The excessive burning of meat during barbecue can also produce some chemicals, which are dangerous for the health and contain potential carcinogens.

Sacrificial meat of animals, including goat, cow, sheep and camel, which is known as red meat, is eaten in greater quantity on the Eid than routine, and it is not good for health.

If taken according to the principles of health and hygiene, red meat is rich in high biological value (HBV) protein.

Patients of chronic liver disease (Hepatitis C) should avoid too much red meat because it precipitates Hepatic Encephalopathy (unconsciousness/coma) among them.

Meat is a complete medium for micro-organisms, hence a precious diet for human consumption. After sacrifice, meat should be kept at a cool place before freezing, because it undergoes mortis phenomenon after slaughtering.

The phenomenon does not complete at freezing temperature and meat becomes rigid, repeated freezing and thawing for cooking should be avoided.