Meat, alcohol and missed medication: Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi’s advice for a healthy Dashain

KATHMANDU: Various dishes of goat meat are commonly eaten during Dashain. Consumption of alcohol and sugary beverages may also increase during gatherings and celebrations with relatives. Daily routines change alongside dietary habits during festival times. The habit of staying up late at night, eating heavily, and walking less can negatively affect health, especially for heart patients.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to problems ranging from making the heartbeat irregular to increasing the risk of a heart attack. Individuals with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol must exercise even greater caution. Here is an edited excerpt of a conversation conducted by Shristi Baral with Senior Cardiologist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi on how much meat to eat during Dashain, which dishes to avoid, how alcohol affects the heart, and what to do to prevent health problems:

There is a custom of eating plenty of goat meat and fatty dishes during Dashain. How does this affect the heart?

The heart does not like too much fat and red meat. Foods like fish and chicken, which have lower fat content, are comparatively better for the heart. We have a custom of eating goat meat during Dashain. Along with meat, alcohol, beer, or sweet beverages like Coke and Fanta are also consumed. There is a custom of sitting with the family during holidays to eat, drink, and make merry.

Senior Cardiologist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi

This is also when the emergency department of hospitals becomes busy. Since outpatient services in some hospitals remain closed during Dashain, patients arrive at the emergency department. There are also those who arrive with heart and stomach problems caused by ruined diets and lifestyles. Eating a little goat meat does not necessarily cause problems. If eaten in moderation, with appropriate walking and exercise, problems generally do not occur. However, consuming excessive meat, fatty substances, and alcohol increases risks.

It is said that consuming a lot of meat and alcohol disrupts the heartbeat. What kind of problem is that?

Consuming excessive alcohol can cause the heartbeat to become irregular. This is called “holiday heart syndrome.” In this condition, a problem known as “atrial fibrillation” can appear. Symptoms such as the heart beating very fast, difficulty breathing, discomfort in the chest, dizziness, or fainting can be seen in this condition.

This problem does not only occur in individuals who already have heart disease. After consuming a lot of alcohol, heart rhythms can be disrupted in other people as well. If conditions such as severe chest pain, extreme difficulty breathing, or fainting occur, the person must be rushed to the hospital immediately.

Does the risk of heart attacks also increase during Dashain?

It can increase. The risk is especially higher in individuals who already have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or narrowed heart blood vessels. During festivals, habits of eating heavily, drinking alcohol, not exercising, and playing cards all night may occur. This can further worsen pre-existing problems. We keep seeing problems like irregular heart rhythms, heart attacks, and weakened heart functioning capacity. Therefore, during festivals, alongside diet, attention must also be paid to sleeping, waking, and walking habits.

Which individuals should exercise greater caution when consuming red meat?

Individuals with heart disease, high cholesterol, problems with rising uric acid, and kidney patients must pay special attention. Red meat can contain higher fat. Regularly eating meat with high fat can affect individuals with cholesterol and heart-related problems.

Red meat can cause even more problems for those with high uric acid and gout. When gout occurs, joints, especially the big toe of the foot, swell and hurt significantly. Therefore, individuals with such problems must pay special attention to the consumption of red meat and alcohol.

Interviewer Shristi Baral (right) in conversation with Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi (left)

Individuals with reduced kidney functioning capacity must also be cautious about protein amounts. How much meat to eat should be adjusted according to the disease condition and treatment. This does not mean everyone must completely give up meat. Portions should be managed according to one’s health condition.

If one is going to eat meat, how much should be eaten? What other things should it be paired with?

What we say is, eat a little, eat healthily. It is not said that meat must not be eaten at all during Dashain. But it should not be eaten to the point of ruining health. The habit of eating only meat in large quantities is not good. Plenty of salad must be eaten with meat. Salad can be made by mixing cucumber, carrot, radish, cabbage, and tomato. A habit of eating more salad and greens than meat should be cultivated.

Fruits and legumes should also be eaten. Meals can even be started with salad. If meat is eaten, walking must also be done. One should not just sit inside a room all day eating, drinking, and playing cards just because it is a holiday. One can go outside with family for walks. In the past, there was a custom of playing on swings in villages. Physical activities should be increased as much as possible even now.

What do you say about dishes like meat skin, liver, lungs, kidneys, and brains?

There is more fat beneath the skin of meat. Therefore, it is good, especially for heart patients, to remove the skin and visible fat before eating meat. Dishes of liver, brain, and other internal organs can contain higher cholesterol or purines. Individuals with high cholesterol, uric acid, and gout problems are better off avoiding such dishes as much as possible. Heart and kidney patients must also exercise caution. There is a custom of eating high-fat meat and internal organ dishes for taste. But health should be prioritized over taste.

Salty pickles are also eaten in large quantities alongside meat. How does salt affect the heart?

We talk a lot about red meat and cholesterol. But equal attention must be paid to the amount of salt. Eating too much salt can increase blood pressure. High blood pressure affects the heart and kidneys. In individuals with weakened heart functioning capacity, excess salt can also increase problems of water retention in the body and difficulty breathing.

During Dashain, more salt is added when cooking meat. On top of that, salty pickles such as cucumber pickles are eaten. Salt is also reaching the body from dal, vegetables, and other dishes. The World Health Organization has recommended adults consume less than 5 grams of salt daily. This includes the salt reaching the body from all dishes. Therefore, less salt should be added to meat. The habit of consuming extra salt and many salty pickles should also be reduced.

What is the effect of consuming meat and alcohol together?

The combination of alcohol and meat is not good for health. Alcohol consumption is harmful in itself. It can disrupt heart rhythms. Blood pressure can increase. Eating fatty meat alongside alcohol also increases calorie amounts in the body. This can further affect those with uric acid and gout problems. Stomach-related problems can also appear.

Another serious problem related to excessive alcohol consumption is acute pancreatitis. This is sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Such a problem can also occur when there are gallstones in the gallbladder. In some cases, this can become a life-threatening serious problem. Festivals are occasions for enjoyment. However, carelessness in diet and lifestyle can turn that enjoyment into a tragic situation. Therefore, my advice is that it is best not to consume alcohol at all. Meat should also be eaten in controlled portions.

Sweet beverages like Coke and Fanta are also drunk in large quantities alongside alcohol. How harmful are they?

We talk a lot about alcohol, but we forget sweet beverages. Various discounts and special sales schemes for such beverages arrive in the market during Dashain. There is also a custom of buying them in large quantities at home. Sugar and calories can be high in these. Consuming them in excess carries the risk of weight gain, difficulty controlling blood sugar levels, and increasing heart-related problems.

Instead of these, alternatives like plain water, unsugared lime water, or buttermilk can be chosen. Lassi can also be made from curd and drunk, but too much sugar must not be added to it. Eating fruit itself is also better than drinking fruit juice. One must know how to both eat and drink. One should not eat and drink indiscriminately just because it is Dashain.

What is the best time and method for cooking and eating meat?

When eating meat, attention must be paid to both portion and cooking method. As much as possible, the habit of eating meat at lunch and choosing light meals for dinner is good. Especially, one should not eat a lot of meat at night and go to sleep. Less oil should be added when cooking meat. Rather than deep-frying submerged in lots of oil, cooking in a normal manner is better. It is not necessary to eat only goat meat. Low-fat chicken or fish can also be eaten. Various dishes of fish and chicken can also be made. Greens, salad, and fruit must not be omitted alongside meat.

There is a custom in Dashain of cooking a large amount of meat all at once and eating it for five to seven days. What effect does this have?

This is also a matter that requires attention. Earlier, the weather used to be cold during Dashain. Now, it is hot in many places even during the festival season. In such conditions, keeping cooked meat for a long time carries the risk of it spoiling. Some people bring meat even before Phulpati and keep it to eat throughout Dashain. They repeatedly take cooked meat out of the fridge, heat it, eat it, and put it back in the fridge. Keeping meat without maintaining proper temperature in this manner can cause health problems.

Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi

Therefore, my suggestion is to cook today and eat today as much as possible. If it must be kept for a long time, it should be kept safely in a fridge or freezer. Attention must be paid to the hygiene and storage of food. Health risks should not be taken by eating spoiled meat.

What effect do habits of playing cards all night, staying up late, and not exercising during festivals have?

This can have many effects, especially for those who already have health problems. During Dashain, customs of staying up all night, eating, drinking, and waking up late in the morning occur. This ruins regular lifestyles. Youth must also take care of their health. However, individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease must exercise even greater caution.

One should sleep on time and wake up on time. If there is a habit of regular exercise, it should be continued during festivals as well. One should not remain inactive all day just because it is a holiday. One can step outside with family and walk around.

What should heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes patients pay attention to regarding medication and health checkups?

This is a very important matter. In the enjoyment of festivals, some people even forget to take their regular medication. If a lot of meat has been eaten, alcohol has been consumed, there is no exercise, sleep is lacking, and on top of that, medication is also missed, serious health problems can arise.

Some medications are extremely necessary to save lives. In some cases, even missing a single dose can have an impact. Therefore, individuals taking medications for heart rhythms, blood pressure, or other chronic diseases must consume medications on time. They should not reduce, increase, or stop medications on their own.

Another matter is health checkups. It is good to get a health checkup done once before festivals begin. Especially those with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol problems must know their health status. If tested four or five months ago, the condition of blood pressure, sugar, or cholesterol may not be known now. Even if testing could not be done before festivals, health must be cared for. Checkups can be done after festivals as needed.

Finally, what suggestions do you give to make Dashain healthy and safe?

Dashain is a festival of sitting with family, enjoying, and sharing happiness. This occasion should not be allowed to turn into a tragic situation due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles. First of all, attention must be paid to food portions. The habit of eating more than what the body needs just for taste is not good. Meat should be eaten in moderation. Fat and salt should be reduced. Salad, greens, fruit, and legumes must be eaten alongside meat. Staying away from alcohol and sweet beverages is good.

Second, regular walking and exercise must be done. Third, one should sleep on time. Fourth, individuals consuming medications must not miss their medications. Elderly people, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure patients must pay even greater attention. Festivals should be made occasions of happiness, not of ruining health.