Some researchers have picked signals that Nigerians are taking twice the World Health Organisation’s recommendation, of five point eight grams of salt, per day.
For this reason, interest groups on Salt intake reduction in Nigeria, are asking the people to reduce salt consumption and the government, to institute salt regulation on manufactured foods, for the safety of lives.
The World health organisation says for the past 20 years, heart diseases, known as Cardiovascular diseases, have been the highest causes of deaths, globally.
Top amongst them, is hypertension.
A 2019 World Health Organisation statistic, put the number of persons living with hypertension in Nigeria, at an ugly figure of 19.1 million.
Doctors say, too much intake of salt, precipitates hypertension.
A Coalition of Non- government organisations, disturbed by the statistic, say the people must have a more serious disposition, about reducing their salt intake and the government, must regulate the salt level of manufactured foods, and punish violators of the stipulated standard.
Doctor Jerome Mafeni became hypertensive at the age of 20. He advocates against high salt intake and he has been able to make his family comply.
Doctor Mafeni wants the government to come to the rescue.
An assistant project manager of the Cardiovascular Research Unit of Abuja University and its Teaching hospital, Vanessa Alfa, says Nigerians must deliberately cut down on salt intake, especially now that children are coming up, with hypertension.
Bukola Odele who is the programme officer of the Salt reduction and Cardiovascular health coalition says more needs to be done.
She says the government must step up to regulating adverts that woo children, to consume very salty products…to keep the future, safe.
Advocates against high salt intake say, in the place of salt, Locust beans, popularly known as Iru, crayfish or fish powder, ginger and garlic, black pepper and turmeric, can be used for cooking.
They say, the washing of vegetables and dry fish with salt, before cooking is, a No No.
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