A training camp on oil-less cooking at a hotel in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 23: Adhyatmik Satsang Samity and Bihar Pradeshik Marwari Sammelan jointly organised a three-day Science and Art of Living (SAAOL) workshop sponsored by Emami Foundation.

The workshop aimed to spread awareness among heart patients on the different ways to deal with heart-related diseases without having to opt for bypass surgery.

Noted heart specialist Dr Bimal Chhajer, a former consultant of AIIMS, New Delhi, delivered a lecture — Zero Oil Cooking — at the workshop.

The session also comprised a practical demonstration to patients with cardiac diseases on how to cook mouth-watering delicacies with vegetables, halwa and pakoras without using even a single drop of oil. “Oil has got no taste,” said Dr Chhajer.

Dr Chhajer spoke of the different ways people can avoid heart problems.

He said: “Cardiac patients have to follow five important steps to avoid heart attacks. These steps can help patients avoid expensive surgeries in hospitals. The steps are education and knowledge about heart diseases, diet modification, stress management, yoga and walking.”

He added: “Heart patients must know what is meant by a blockage, how these blockages build up and the signs and symptoms of heart diseases. They should possess medical knowledge about heart attacks, ways to avoid them and knowledge about the medical tests and the medicines that are to be taken. Heart patients should be extremely particular about their diet. They should avoid non-vegetarian food items and also should know how to cook different types of food without using any oil.”

J.K. Rawat, one of the participants at the workshop, tasted the oil-free food provided by Dr Chhajer. He said: “The food tasted much better than those cooked in oil.” Quite a few members of the crowd, however, disagreed. Some in the audience said: “No difference.”

Dr Chhajer drew up a list of other reasons for cardiac diseases as well.

He said: “Stress is the main cause for increase in blood pressure. Sugar also has the ability to increase fats in the blood. Meditation and yoga are the best possible medicine for this. The patients should take a brisk 35-minute walk everyday. It is a must for heart care.”

Businessman Mr Prabhudayal Bhartiya, who took part in the workshop, said: “These kinds of programmes are of much use to the common people. Programmes like these should be organised in the other cities as well.”

The organiser of the programme, Mahesh Jalan, said: “We are holding our 500th programme today. Around 250 people have taken the advantage of this educational workshop.”

People came from different places like Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Ara among others to take part in the programme.