Over 1000 top civic and South Asian community leaders and guests gathered at the Santa Clara Marriott on Saturday, March 23 to celebrate “Scarlet Night,” the sixth annual fundraising gala of the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital. The event topped off the Center’s annual goal of raising from ticket sales, individual donations, auction proceeds and corporate sponsorships. Equally important, it raised awareness of just how critical this work has become.
Dr Tony Nader, leader of the Worldwide Transcendental Meditation Organization, who delivered the keynote address, spoke about how practicing transcendental mediation everyday can complement our physical well being. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and practiced by over 5 million people worldwide.
The meditation practice involves the use of a mantra, and is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice every day, while sitting with closed eyes. In addition to reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke by nearly half, TM also significantly lowered systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading.
Anger control and overall behavioral also improved. Those who entered the study with either high blood pressure or high stress benefited the most from meditation. He also pointed out South Asians’ unique needs when it comes to prevention, emphasizing the need for a center that focuses on the particular issues that affect this population. There was a special video presentation by Padma Bhushan Dr Devi Shetty, eminent cardiologist and Chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals.
The mission of the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital is to reduce the high incidence of coronary artery disease among South Asians, and save lives, through a comprehensive, culturally-appropriate program incorporating education, advanced screening, lifestyle changes, and case management, said Ashish Mathur, Executive Director of South Asian Heart center. He said South Asians should try to incorporate more greens in their meal compared to grains and try to exercise for over 40 minutes daily.
The mostly vegetarian meal prepared by Amber India Restaurant’s Executive Chef Vittal Shetty illustrated how meals can be brimming with flavorful appeal and nutrition while avoiding unhealthy fats and sugars. Each dish included significant amounts of nutrient-rich vegetables, underlining the message of the day: “Eat more Greens than Grains.”
“It’s hard to express the gratitude and satisfaction those of us who work at the Center feel at seeing the groundswell of support at this event,” said Mathur. “It’s the realization of a dream, but we cannot take it for granted. There is still so much more to do.”
Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
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