But doctors say that excessive meat consumption raises cholesterol level that poses serious risks to vital human organs such kidney leaver, heart, eye and brain.
"Animal products contain high amount of cholesterol and eating excessive means risking your own life," said Dr Prakash Raj Regmi, Chairperson of Nepal Heart Foundation (NHF). [break]
People consume maximum amount of sugar, salt, and meat items during the festive season and stopped physical works, which he said is dangerous for health.
Cholesterol aids vital bodily functions such as building new cells and producing hormones, but too much cholesterol is hazardous to health.
He said that liver makes cholesterol the body normally needs, and when we eat animal products, we have additional stock of cholesterol.
“It disturbs the circulatory systems. Like the sticky substance that develops on the wall of kitchen over the years, cholesterol develops in the cardiovascular system and narrow the arteries, which leads to strokes and heart attacks" he added.
A latest study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on non-communicable disease also shows that 20 percent of Nepalis above the age of 18 have high cholesterol.
Dr Regmi said that the revelation of the study is alarming. He said that a high level of cholesterol in the blood does not show obvious symptoms and people mostly know only after it causes stroke, kidney failure, eye problems, and heart attack.
Doctors called it a silent killer.
Doctors suggest obese people, who have high chance of high cholesterol to conduct regular cholesterol checkup. “It would be too late to start precautionary measures," said Dr Hemraj Koirala, a lifestyle consultant at the foundation, adding that everybody above the age of 30 should checkup cholesterol level at least once a year. Several factors contribute to high cholesterol. Each year the level of cholesterol increase by two percent in every person. And, it rises by four percent in the people with stress, six percent rise in the people who consume alcohol and smoke.
Dr Koirala said that the lever of the people having high stress level stops functioning properly, and it speeds up deposition of cholesterol.
He added that cholesterol level raise with age also.
He, however, does not suggest people to avoid meat products but urges them to be aware of the impact.
He suggests people to eat double amount of food containing high doses of fibers such as salads and vegetables, while eating meat. Such food helps reduce the deposition of cholesterol.
Physical activities lessen in the festive seasons, and people put on more weight. “Double physical exercise during festivals, avoid stale meat and conduct cholesterol checkup after the festivals," he recommended.
He said that people having diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension and kidney problems are at great risk.
He said that people having family history of cholesterol have a high chance of cholesterol-related problems.
Dr Regmi said that that going overboard when it comes to food is okay for children and adolescents but not for
the adults.
He urges all to quit the habit of eating dishes of animal blood, which he said is source of several types of diseases. He said that consuming skin and other vital organs like liver, heart, kidney and spleen in excessive amount is also not good for health.
“Such organs are source of protein. But normal people who already have diabetes, a high level of cholesterol, hypertension should be extra cautious," he said.
Dr Regmi also urged people to control blood pressure.
Ways to prevent extra cholesterol:
Give up the habit of consuming animal blood that contains high cholesterol and other ills.
Don´t eat excessive amount of animal´s vital organs such as liver, heart, spleen, kidney and fat.
Exercise regularly, and double the physical activities during the festivals.
Eat food high on fiber while consuming meat items.
Reduce salt intake.
Check up cholesterol at least once a year.
Quit smoking and alcohol.
Control hypertension and overweight.
Reduce stress level.
Take regular medication to control cholesterol, if recommended by doctors.
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