Nigerians should avoid the following foods in the new year to keep healthy and prevent non-communicable diseases and their potentially fatal repercussions, according to nutrition experts.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In order to increase productivity, the nutritionists suggested that they embrace a nutritious diet and that everyone in the nation prioritize living a healthy lifestyle. They pointed out that poor diets put people at risk for heart disease and other illnesses. Nutritionists have identified a number of foods that increase the risk of various diseases in people, including processed foods, sugar, salt, and fat. They advise Nigerians to limit their intake of these foods.
The World Health Organization states that excessive sugar consumption has a detrimental effect on health, raises the risk of illnesses, high blood pressure, heart disease, damaged teeth, and dental caries. It also causes unhealthful weight gain. According to the worldwide health body, simple or free sugars degrade meals’ nutritional value by giving off a lot of energy without supplying necessary nutrients. The WHO states that even fruit juices should be consumed in moderation because they might contain a significant amount of sugar.
According to Healthwise, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, a former president of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, stated that eating processed, salty, and sugary meals puts people at risk for developing chronic illnesses. He asserts that excessive intake of salt and sugar is one of the main causes of high blood pressure and other associated illnesses.
It is important to limit the amount of sugary, sweetened beverages consumed. If people are unable to avoid processed foods and salty diets, they should consume them in moderation as they can exacerbate high blood pressure and diabetes. “People should avoid eating foods that are fried repeatedly in the same oil because it also contains what is known as trans fatty acid, which is linked to metabolic syndromes like high blood pressure, strokes, and some types of cancer,” the professor said.
People who eat foods in those categories run the risk of developing diabetes, fatty liver disease, cancer, and inflammation, according to the professor of community nutrition at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State. However, he stated that Nigerians should instill safety measures with consumable goods, even though any product could pose a threat to human health.
“So, when we talk about ‘killer’ foods, any food can actually kill, especially if it’s unsafe. Therefore, individuals should focus especially on food safety procedures from the farm where the food is grown. According to the don, producers should follow the proper criteria while using pesticides and herbicides. He asserts that the use of chemicals for preservation should be treated seriously even after food has been collected and during storage and preservation.
Furthermore, the nutritionist advised Nigerians, especially consumers, to follow safety protocols by making sure that their food is properly stored and cleaned before consumption or cooking. According to the expert, Nigerians should adopt a more plant-based diet that includes more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and cereals. Let’s cut back on the intake of highly refined foods.
Individuals want to increase their intake of veggies and decrease their intake of carbs. We are not advocating that individuals avoid carbohydrates, but rather that they consume fewer carbohydrates and more vegetables. According to Beatrice Ogunba, a professor of public health nutrition at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigerians should substitute homemade foods for junk food in order to lead healthy lives.
The majority of junk food items, such as doughnuts, puff puff, and so forth, are fried and heavy in fat. They fried it while also adding fat during manufacture. Although I’m not advocating for us to fully avoid it, it would be beneficial if we could reduce our intake. We should also reduce our use of sugar to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, you don’t use salt in every dish you cook.
Nigerians were also counseled by the maternal and child nutrition expert to alter their cooking practices by using less cooking oil. The don advised the populace to switch from frying meat and poultry to grilling instead of using cooking oils. “We must reduce our consumption of sugar, salt, and fatty meals if we want to live a healthy life. We must flee from any food that has that.
“Instead of commercial foods, we should eat more homemade foods. During the manufacturing process, the majority of processed foods have lost some of their nutrients. We should consume a lot of fruits and veggies as well. The nutrition specialist advised us to consume in moderation and in a variety of foods.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
