Medics warn against overeating on Eid

Islamabad: Though Eidul Azha is all about meaty food, the doctors have warned the people against eating immodestly saying it could cause health problems on the imminent three-day festive occasion.

Dr Wasim Khawaja of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences told ‘The News’ that the people could consume meat-based dishes on Eid but overeating could cause gastric irritation, high cholesterol, acidity, abdominal contraction, nausea, diarrhoea, heart problems and constipation.

“We, the doctors, don’t stop people from consuming high-calorie food and drinks but as they say excess of everything is bad, all that should be taken modestly. Small intake of meaty food with lots of salad is strongly advised,” he said.

Dr Wasim Khawaja said the people shouldn’t skip meals during Eid days as taking balanced food and drinks at regular intervals would help keep cholesterol level in blood in control. He said compared with fizzy beverages, use of water was better, as it could help avoid intake of excessive liquid calories.

He also suggested tea after meaty meal. Dr Masood Ahmad, a dietitian at a local private hospital, also recommended low fat dishes on Eid and said that would help the people enjoy the festival to the maximum. He said since most of the food on ‘Bakra Eid’ was meat-based, use of fat and high-calorie sauces in their preparation should be avoided.

He said the people’s focus should be on Eid celebrations and not stuffing themselves with meat and opt for stroll after meal to burn calories. Suggesting use of oral saline for diarrhoea and antacid for gastric problem, Dr Masood said in case of any serious condition, doctor should be consulted without delay. 

Convention: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, a public sector self-sustained organisation working for the welfare of expatriate Pakistanis, is finalising arrangements for the two-day Overseas Pakistanis Convention to be held in the last week of December 2017. In this respect, a meeting of the 14th Conference Committee for the convention held here to review the operational and strategic progress of the December event.

Additional Foreign Secretary Shah M Jamal, OPF managing director Habibur Rehman Gillani, executive director (welfare and services), director general (education, research and training), and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Chairman of the Board of Governors Barrister Amjad Malik chaired the meeting and welcomed the members. The meeting was told that around 400 overseas delegates, members of Overseas Pakistanis Advisory Committee and 200 local participants including government and other relevant stakeholders would be invited to make policy recommendations through interactive thematic sessions.

The board chairman was given a detailed briefing about the progress made until now. He issued directions for the speeding up of actions and progress to make this historic event successful.

The participants agreed that the committee would meet on monthly intervals with the next meeting happening on September 27. NDMA: With an aim to prevent damages to public life and property, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised all concerned departments to send people SMS alerts regarding the possible flash floods due to the rains and thunderstorm forecast in Sindh and Balochistan this week.

The authority has asked PDMAs of Sindh and Balochistan to coordinate with cellular mobile operators for early dissemination of SMS alert in the areas. While forecasting the countrywide downpour during the current week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfalls could generate urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions on Wednesday and Thursday and flash floods in the vulnerable nullas and streams of eastern Balochistan during the period. It asked all relevant authorities to take necessary possible measures to prevent possible damage to public life and property during the period.