Expert Advises Nigerians On Good Dietary Habits

The Head Dietitian, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Mrs Rachel Fakunle, has stressed the need for Nigerians to imbibe good dietary habits to facilitate their growth and body system maintenance.

Fakunle said this at a lecture she delivered at the start of the 2013 Maggi Influencer Forum in Ibadan.

The theme of the lecture is: “the Importance of Fortification Micronutrient in Food”.

The programme was organised by Nestle Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Oyo State Government to educate women on micronutrient deficiency and healthy living.

Fakunle said that over 30 per cent of the world population was suffering from iodine deficiency.

According to her, about 20 per cent of women, 50 per cent of pregnant women, 35 per cent of children and three per cent of men do not have Iron in their body.

She said that young children and pregnant women were vulnerable to iron deficiency because they needed higher levels of the mineral for growth and development.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, said the important role that good food play in human existence could not be over-emphasised.

According to her, poor nutrition habits inevitably affect human health which in turn affect economic and health status.

Nestle Category Business Manager (Culinary), Mr Guy Kellaway, in an address of welcome said that,  “MAGGI’’ cube has introduced iron fortified to solve the deficiency problem.

He said that the development of the Iron-fortified MAGGI cube was a continuation of the company’s commitment to reduce micronutrient deficiency on global scale worldwide.