According to nutrition experts, many Nigerians fail to incorporate essential foods like fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains into their diets due to a lack of dietary knowledge. This limited understanding of healthy food options leads to inadequate representation of nutrient-dense foods in daily diets, contributing to the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country.

Wakadaily learnt that, Experts emphasize that a healthy diet can prevent deaths from these diseases, and that food choices significantly impact overall health, wellness, and pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age. Poor dietary intake among mothers has severe consequences for both mother and child, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.

Dr. Ariyo Oluwaseun, a nutritionist at the University of Ibadan, highlights that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of global deaths, underscoring the importance of informed food choices.

Oluwaseun stated, “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 explained that a diet lacking essential nutrients is associated with various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, highlighting the significance of a balanced diet in preventing these conditions.

“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 mentioned.

In 2019, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sounded the alarm that suboptimal diets were harming children’s health globally, including in Nigeria. UNICEF attributed this issue to poverty and unhealthy food choices.

According to Dr. Oluwaseun, unhealthy diets are a significant contributor to poor health and the rising prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases 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 stated.

The nutritionist emphasized that while vegetable consumption is widespread, the daily intake in many areas falls short of the recommended four to five servings.

He noted that this is unacceptable, given the abundance and accessibility of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in the country, and urged an increase in consumption to meet the recommended daily amount.

“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 stated.

Dr. Oluwaseun expressed disappointment over the low consumption of local fruits in Nigeria, stating that many Nigerians undervalue and rarely eat these fruits, which are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that provide significant health benefits.

He highlighted the importance of recognizing the value of local fruits as a vital source of nutrients and health-promoting substances.

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 called on the government to launch public awareness campaigns promoting healthy food choices and dietary practices.

He also encouraged communities, families, and individuals to take an active role in educating each other on how to make the most of locally available food resources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that nutrition plays a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases, and that dietary changes have a significant impact on health throughout life.

According to WHO, the shift towards unhealthy diets and lifestyles has led to a surge in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain types of cancer, which are now major causes of disability and premature death globally.

Professor Ngozi Nnam, a expert in Community and Public Health Nutrition, highlighted the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy, warning that poor diet can lead to poor brain development in babies.

She stressed that a healthy diet is crucial for optimal fetal development, and that poor nutrition during the first trimester can have long-lasting effects on a child’s brain development.

She highlighted, “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.”