Many Nigerians lack adequate dietary knowledge, say nutritionists

Angela Onwuzoo

Nutrition experts have identified a lack of adequate dietary knowledge as one of the major reasons many Nigerians do not make efforts to include fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in their diet.

The nutritionists said healthy foods which are required to promote health and well-being are not adequately represented in the daily diets of many households in the country.
This poor knowledge of food choices they noted was contributing to the alarming rate of non-communicable diseases in the country, adding that death from these diseases could be prevented through a healthy diet.

Experts say food choices and consumption patterns strongly predict overall health, wellness, and pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age.
The experts who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise said the impact of poor dietary intake among mothers was severe for both the mother and child, resulting in increased maternal and child morbidity and mortality

A nutritionist at the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Ariyo Oluwaseun, said cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death globally.

Oluwaseun said, “Globally, it is estimated that about 30,140 people die daily due to poor diet. This is higher than the number of deaths from tobacco and high blood pressure.
“Many of these deaths are preventable if adequate attention is paid to what we eat and drink.”

The nutritionist who gave insight into the characteristics of an unhealthy diet said poor nutrition had been linked to obesity, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension.
“A diet is considered poor if it is high in refined grains, added sugars, salt, unhealthy fats, and animal-source foods; and low in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and nuts.

“Coincidentally, these are the characteristics of diets in many Nigerian households. In some other households, consumption of roots and tubers is heavy while fruits, vegetables, milk, seeds, nuts, and legumes are not adequately represented in the diet”, he said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund in 2019 warned that poor diets were damaging children’s health worldwide, including in Nigeria.
UNICEF however, identified poverty and poor eating choices as factors driving unhealthy diets

Oluwaseun also said unhealthy diets drive ill health and many diet-related non-communicable diseases that have become very common in our communities.

He added, “In Nigeria, poor diets remain common among rich and poor households, and this is a major cause of ill health, disability, and death among the various population groups.”

A global report, he noted, indicates that low intake of whole grains is the leading dietary risk factor for death and disease in Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, evidence shows that two out of every three children are not eating the right varieties and quantity of foods, and consumption of milk, fish, eggs, fruits, and nuts is limited.

“This means that healthy foods which are required to promote health and well-being are not adequately represented in daily diets.

“Other studies in Nigeria have reported low dietary diversity, this means that a limited number of food groups are represented in the daily meals and therefore limited health benefits are derived.

“Consuming diets composed of many food groups widens the sources of nutrients and other bioactive substances that promote health and well-being.

“However, many Nigerians do not make efforts to include fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in their diet”, he said.
The nutritionist stressed that although the intake of vegetables was common, the amount consumed in many parts of the country was lower than the recommended four to five servings per day.

According to him, this is not acceptable where large amounts of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are available and accessible.

“Nigeria is blessed with several fruits, such that not less than seven varieties of local fruits are available at any season or throughout the year”, he said.

Lamenting the poor consumption of local fruits in the country, Oluwaseun noted, “To many Nigerians, these local fruits are not appreciated and not widely consumed. These fruits are a veritable source of several nutrients of public health importance and bioactive substances with health benefits.

“Some Nigerians relish investments in nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, the active substances in these products are widely represented in our various fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds which are relatively cheaper and easily accessible.”

The nutritionist urged the government to raise public awareness on the right choices of foods and good dietary practices.
He also enjoined communities, families, and individuals to be more proactive in educating members to make optimal use of locally available food resources.

The World Health Organisation says nutrition is coming to the fore as a major modifiable determinant of chronic disease, with scientific evidence increasingly supporting the view that alterations in diet have strong effects, both positive and negative, on health throughout life.

According to WHO, because of these changes in dietary and lifestyle patterns, chronic NCDs —including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and some types of cancer.
The global health body noted that these killer diseases are becoming increasingly significant causes of disability and premature death in both developing and newly developed countries.

Looking at the implications of poor knowledge of food choices during pregnancy, a professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, said poor nutrition during pregnancy could lead to poor brain development in babies.

Nnam said it was wrong for pregnant women to joke with their diet, especially during the first trimester.

According to the nutritionist, poor nutrition, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy often leads to poor brain development in babies.

The nutritionist stressed that proper diet in pregnancy was crucial to ensuring optimal development of the foetus.

Nnam said studies had confirmed that a major danger of poor nutrition in pregnancy was poor brain development in babies.

She said, “Poor nutrition will cause inadequate development of the baby because nutrients are required for cells of the foetus to develop properly. Nutrients such as iron are very important in the development of cells.

“When a pregnant woman stops taking foods rich in iron, she will be deficient in iron and that will affect the foetus and make the cells not form properly. This will lead to malformation when the baby is born.”
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