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American Meat: A challenge to the Somali immigrant.
The dominant life style in Somalia is the nomadic way of life. The community is on the move; deserting dry lands and heading to the wet lands where there is abundance of water and thick vegetation. Because of the need to migrate, the community is not able to settle down and combine farming with breeding livestock. And so the nomads live on meat and milk.
Those who move to the urban areas do not wean themselves off the rural diet and remain faithful to the meat and milk diet. This protean rich diet predisposes to chronic constipation and is a blessing in disguise to the traditional healers who treat hemorrhoids.
In contrast the settlers of the river lands are more stable communities and more into farming. They rely on fresh produces rich in fibers for their daily sustenance and if they move to the metro areas they are more than likely to keep the healthy diet from back home and thus avoid the traditional healer’s knife.
Most Somalis who make to America do not unlearn eating habits from back home. The frozen section of the refrigerator remains constantly laden with succulent meat. Minnesota cities, where the better part of the Somali immigrants dwell have seen a flourishing business of small groceries. They are locally known as Halaal meat groceries – halaal, Arabic term meaning acceptable meat to a Muslim-. For most Somali’s a day without a meat is interpreted as a day of scarcity that should be averted if one can help.
The meat sold at the American markets is different from the one consumed in Somalia. For starters, in Somalia, the livestock is bred in a natural way. Raising the animals is not mainly driven by making the highest profit possible. After salaatul fajir, the dawn-prayer, the herdsmen lead the cattle and camels into the pastureland. The animals tramp into vast open fields where they can graze. The livestock is constantly on the move. No hay is provided at their shelter. Animals have to cover long distances before they are able to munch on their favorite plants.
Same thing applies for getting water. Some times during the dry seasons, in their pursuit for water, both men and their domestic fauna have to be on their feet more or less two to three days. This is hard life but the benefit is that the meat that makes to the Somali slaughter houses is lean with modest amount of animal fats.
Same thing applies for getting water. Some times during the dry seasons, in their pursuit for water, both men and their domestic fauna have to be on their feet more or less two to three days. This is hard life but the benefit is that the meat that makes to the Somali slaughter houses is lean with modest amount of animal fats.
The meat consumed in the United States is completely another ball game. Livestock is fed at the barn and there is no need to cover long distances for fodder and water are supplied constantly. With too much to munch on and too little opportunity for movements helps raise cattle which is competitive at the market because of its weight. But the consumer has to use this type of meat moderately to avoid health problems including dyslipedemia and obesity.
The number of young Somali’s diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia is increasing. I am of the opinion that hyper consumption of red meat is at the core of the accumulation disease. General practitioners who see Somali patients or other ethnic groups with similar eating habits need to counsel them about their dieting. There is no need to organize carnivorous anonymous sessions -similar to alcoholic anonymous-. Prescribing simply statins or other lipid-lowering agents will not solve the dsylipedimia. Drastic life style change is required. Moderate red meat consumption combined with vegetables and fruits and increased physical activity should be encouraged. This is the way to go to avoid the wrath of low density lipoproteins.
Ahmed Roble Mohamed, MD
Third Year Resident at St.Cloud U of M Family Medicine Residency Program.
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Third Year Resident at St.Cloud U of M Family Medicine Residency Program.
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