Professor Of IPB: Consumption Of Fresh Fruits Before Eating Eid Meat Helps Maintain Body Health

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Professor in the field of Community Nutrition and Family Resources of the Bogor Agricultural Institute Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Khomsan, MS, suggested consuming fresh fruit before eating the Lebaran meat menu to help maintain body health during Eid al-Adha.

Eating fruit before eating meat helps balance the high fat content of the Lebaran menu, especially for people with cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension.

"Even though Eid is synonymous with abundant meat, please remain vigilant in consuming it. Don't overdo it and always make efforts to make vegetables and fruit available as comorbidities," said Ali, quoted from Antara, Thursday, June 29.

In addition to being able to balance health, consuming fruit before eating heavy, Ali explained, it can make the stomach feel more full. If the stomach is full, then a person is not excessive when eating special dishes of Eid such as sugar, opor, rendang, and others.

"Food during Eid is generally calorie-intensive because of coconut milk and fat," said Ali.

The best balancing food during Eid, said Ali, is fresh vegetables and fruit so that intake of fiber, vitamins, and minerals can balance the high calorie food.

The fruit he recommends consumption before heavy meals are fruits that are easy to find such as apples, greens, and oranges. Although simple, the fruit contains good nutrition for the body.

Consuming one apple every day is believed to reduce calorie intake by 15 percent. Even the fruit is able to bind fat in the body which will then be disposed of because it contains high fiber content.

These fruits are durable and easy to store, also very good for the body. Fruits can reduce calorie intake from Eid foods that are usually consumed in the morning-night and for days," said Ali.

According to Ali, the recommendation to consume vegetables and fruit is 400 grams a day, or the equivalent of eating vegetables three times plus two medium sizes.

Meanwhile, rice or carbohydrates are recommended not to be more than 500-600 grams a day, and side dishes adjust to an average of 60-80 grams per meal.

"For healthy people, eating the Eid menu may not have a significant impact. But for people with cholesterol, heart disease, sugar, and hypertension, they need to be careful because they are very likely to be triggered by a relapse of the disease," said Ali.