ISLAMABAD: Gastroenterologist of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Dr Hyder Abbasi has advised people to be careful while consuming meat on Eidul Azha as it may create trouble for them.

“Meat is a very good source of protein, vitamins and minerals but excessive use of it invites many troubles. Every year on Eid’s first day evening or next day we observe a sudden rise in number of patients reporting to emergency departments,” he said.

“Patients having abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea are admitted in the hospital and sometimes they visit with aggravation of their existing diseases. To enjoy Eid people should avoid over consumption of meat. Try to limit meat intake or not more than 100grams per day,” he suggested.

Dr Aabbasi said that it has become a routine of majority of citizens that they eat much more meat as compared to body requirement and don’t care having balanced diet.

“During Eidul Fitr holiday we get fewer patients but on the occasion of Eidul Azha we get a large number of patients because they get lots of meat to eat,” he said.

“Even those, who do not eat red meat because of blood pressure or other reasons, start eating red meat on Eid because they get it for free. People also have problem of cholesterol because of eating meat of aged animals,” he said.

Dr Abbasi said that a person should not eat more than 100 grams of meat in a day because it created different problems such as blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.

“Unfortunately on the occasion of Eidul Azha, people start eating meat without use of salad and vegetables. People even stop eating bread. They go for barbecues due to which they have constipation and other stomach issues,” he said.

Giving suggestions he said that people should use lots of yogurt and fruits along with meat.

“Some people use animal fat as oil which is unhygienic. Vegetable oil should be used for cooking. People should avoid eating all the dishes made of meat. Excess of everything is injurious to health,” he said.

He said that citizens should ensure that meat at barbecues should be fully cooked as half cooked took much more time to digest as compared to cooked food.

Dr Abbasi suggested to people to avoid fizzy drinks. “It is a misconception that fizzy drinks help digest meat. Rather, they add more calories and increase acidity in your stomach and also uric acid levels. Patients with heart, kidney, and liver diseases need to be even more careful,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2023