Eat sensibly during Eid holidays

A sensible diet is one that contains a wide variety of foods which include protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats. Plan your meals properly in the Eid holidays. Delicious meat dishes are supposedly essential food items during Qurbani Eid. But it is good to control to a minimum quantity expressly for those who are over 35. Of course, this minimum daily intake also depends on body size, rate of growth and the presence of any diseases. The body's requirement of protein increases during infancy, pregnancy and breast-feeding and during recovery from weight loss or in the healing of injuries. Generally, some people in our sub-continent consume noticeably more meat than they actually need. Amongst them, those who are cautious about their weight choose portions of meats that are lower in fat. After the Eid try to avoid red meat for couple of days and choose meats such as chicken instead of high-fat meats like mutton and beef. Always choose the lean cut of meat available and trim off any excess fat you can see. But remember -- after all there is more or less some hidden fat in meat; so eat less meat and more potatoes, 'dal' and vegetables. Try to avoid over fried foods for you and your children. Also try to control too many sweets with high sugar content.

Regularity in eating time is of vital importance. Be aware of over-eating and then try your best to take very little/nothing more until the next meal. Food should not be eaten very hot or very cold. It is better to avoid drinks along with the meals. But don't forget to drink plenty of water afterwards. Plain water is vital for your body to function properly. Do not eat food containing lot of salt and avoid eating foods with excess spice and oil.

Meat products like all other foods must be digested. These are then absorbed by the small bowel and transported to the liver where they are used to restructure new proteins. Interestingly, little attention has been given to the effects of cooking and processing upon the amino acids in meat products. Meals should be eaten slowly and thoroughly masticated. Salivary glands and other mucous glands in the oral cavity secret saliva and there begins the process of digesting foodstuff. This is important that saliva should be properly mixed with the food and the digestive acids be called into action. In some cases , due to lot of beef and other animal protein consumption, the kidney produces a relatively acidic urine, and too much calcium, eventually which may lead to a condition that thins the bones -- known as 'osteoporosis', making bones susceptible to fracture..

Meat is an 'essential amino acid' which cannot be produced in the body but this is required for normal health. 'Non-essential amino acids' can be synthesised in the body but may also be acquired from the foodstuff. Amino acids are usually important construction tools during age of growth. Meat requirement varies throughout life. All meats come under protein banner and it is usually divided into 1st class and 2nd class. First-class proteins are animal meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. On the other hand, second class proteins include vegetable proteins that do not contain all of the essential amino acids.

Special situations in which meat restriction is very important --

* Individuals with rare amino acid metabolism disorder.

* People with severe liver diseases as well as liver failure.

* Some kidney problems and kidney failure.

* In some severe and difficult heart disease.

Holiday quotation:

Medicine is my lawful wife but literature is my mistress. When I'm bored with one, I spend the night with the other. (Anton Chekhov in a letter to Suvorin, 1888)

Eid Mubarak