Nutrition plays vital role in disease prevention- Specialist

Tue, Oct 8, 2019

By publisher

2 MIN READ

Dr Gabriel Adakole, an Abuja based Public Health Specialist, says proper nutrition can help in the prevention of a number of disease faced by Nigerians.
Adakole disclosed this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in food were the frontline defence against allergies, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, and most chronic illnesses.
“I can’t over stress the importance of wholesome food, especially if you are on a tight budget. I know it almost sounds counter-intuitive but it is true; you save more money making your food at home.
“Yes, I know it takes more time but that is when meal planning and batch cooking comes into play.
“And the taste is a lot better even for a kitchen novice because of the fresher ingredients you cook in your own kitchen without the need for preservatives, emulsifiers, additives and fillers.
“It makes for a more delicious meal that is full of life-giving nutrients,” Adakole said.
According to him, food manufacturers always try to make profit even at the detriment of consumers’ health.
Adakole said feeding others is a powerful calling because the health of end consumers depended on the food that manufacturers produced.
Speaking on synthetic colours in food, he said Nigerians could treat allergies through the use of elimination diets free of synthetic colours and preservatives.
Adakole lamented that synthetic colours and preservatives are still in the food system today causing havoc.
He said that it is an obligation for Nigerians to be their own advocates when it comes to their health and wellness.
“Not only are we what we eat but our children are the choices we make for them. Please choose wisely, diet continues to be the most important way to keep our children’s immune system and defence mechanisms work well,” he advised.
Adakole emphasised that germs and viruses are everywhere but, Nigerians should remember that a well nourished body is a hard environment for viruses to flourish. (NAN)

-Oct 8, 2019 @14:15 GMT |