Don’t rush to consume the sacrificial meat: Wait at least a week

Although delicious feasts during Eid al-Adha may increase appetite, it is important not to overindulge. Prof. Dr. Fatma Çelik provided important advice on meat consumption during Eid al-Adha and explained what to pay attention to. Çelik stated that meat should be stored in the refrigerator for a week before consumption.
Eid al-Adha has arrived. Especially during holiday visits, an above-average amount of meat is consumed, and more energy is gained through dessert consumption. These changes in eating habits naturally have an impact on the body. Prof. Dr. Fatma Çelik, Vice Rector of Biruni University, gave advice on meat consumption during the holiday and explained what dietary practices should be followed.
“Burn off the energy you consume with exercise”
Çelik reminded that significant energy is consumed during holiday feasts, not only from meat but also from dessert consumption, saying, “If we consume a lot of meat in such hot weather and have sweet desserts served with it, we will take much more energy than usual. It may not be possible to burn off that energy during the day in such hot weather. Therefore, every extra calorie we consume will be stored as fat. Not only will it be stored as fat, but due to the consumption of meat, the levels of cholesterol and fat in the body increase in older individuals, especially in men. After consuming such sugary food and meat, if we manage to move, if we manage to include exercise, it won’t turn into a disadvantage for us,” emphasizing the necessity of moving.
“Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables alongside meat”
Emphasizing that fruits, vegetables, yogurt, grains, and legumes should be consumed alongside meat, Prof. Dr. Fatma Çelik explained the dietary practices that should be followed during the holiday as follows:
“Increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables alongside meat, consuming dairy products such as ayran, yogurt, water, fruits, vegetables, milk, and yogurt. It’s better to eat something from the cereal group or legume group alongside it when we consume meat. In addition to meat during the holiday, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains should be consumed regularly, one day legumes, one day nuts, yogurt every day, and cool water should be consumed throughout the day.”
“These individuals should avoid excessive meat consumption”
Pointing out the individuals who should avoid excessive meat consumption, Çelik said, “Especially those with chronic diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, problems in brain and nerve vessels, kidney and liver patients are groups that should not consume too much meat. We do not want kidney and liver failure patients to consume meat. Those suffering from gout should also be very careful. These people must definitely follow the instructions given by dietitians regarding the quantity when consuming meat.”
“It reaches maturity in a week”
“It should not be forgotten that the sacrificial meat is fresh. Therefore, it must be rested,” said Prof. Dr. Çelik, “Sacrificial meat becomes very tough; when such solid meat is cooked, it will harden a lot and be very difficult to digest. Therefore, it must be rested. It is not possible to leave it outside when the weather is so hot while it is being restored in 24 hours at room temperature. When meat is left in the refrigerator for a week, it reaches the desired maturity. After being kept for a week, no matter which part of the meat you eat, it reaches maturity.”