Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Alıcı: 'Excessive red meat consumption strains the heart'

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Alıcı, a Cardiology Specialist at the University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital, made important statements regarding the protection of cardiovascular health ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Adha. Alıcı stated that it should not be forgotten that excessive red meat consumption will strain the heart.

Dr. Alıcı stated that a healthy person's red meat consumption should be around 350g-500g per week, and that this amount should be reduced even further for individuals with atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Offering suggestions for a healthy holiday, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alıcı drew attention to the following:

"Choose the lean parts of the meat from the animal sacrificed during Eid al-Adha. Try to minimize salt consumption along with the meat. Limit meat consumption to one portion per day during the holiday. Do not choose red meat for every meal throughout the holiday. When consuming meat, be sure to choose dairy products such as yogurt or ayran. Try to consume roasted meat and red meat at lunch. Include greens and different food groups along with the meat. Choose milk-based desserts instead of heavy, syrupy desserts."

Alıcı also emphasized the importance of physical activity, recommending that people take a walk for at least one hour every day throughout the holiday.

Advising against the consumption of organ meats such as spleen, kidney, liver, tripe, and intestines, Alıcı said, "These organs pose a great risk to heart patients due to their high cholesterol content. If our patients want to consume meat, they should prefer it low-salt, very low-fat, and boiled."

Alıcı stated that the meat of animals sacrificed during Eid al-Adha should not be consumed without resting, adding, “Fresh meat is very difficult to digest. It can cause indigestion and is difficult to cook because it is tough. Sacrificial meat should be consumed after being kept in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. We especially recommend that cardiovascular patients pay close attention to this.”

Advising against overdoing it with heavy meals, pastries, and desserts in addition to excessive red meat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Alıcı drew attention to the harms of excessive consumption driven by an approach of 'what can I get out of one meal,' and spoke as follows:

“After a heavy meal, the heart starts to beat faster and blood pressure rises. Therefore, an excessively heavy meal, which means high-carbohydrate, fried, and fatty foods, will strain our heart. During Eid al-Adha, attention should also be paid to salt usage along with red meat consumption. Because excessive salt use is a serious danger for patients with high blood pressure. The excess amount of salt taken can lead to excessive spikes in blood pressure, increasing the risk of brain hemorrhage, stroke, and heart attack. Daily salt consumption should be kept below 5 grams.”