Sodiq Mojibola
Following the celebration of Eid-el-Adha, on Wednesday, medical experts have warned against the excessive consumption of meat, stating that it causes hypertension, kidney failure, stroke, among others.
The experts who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES advised that persons approaching the age of 40 and above should take caution in the consumption of meat to avoid health complications.
A consultant physician at the University Of Osun Teaching Hospital, Oshogbo, Doctor Abiodun Odeyemi, during an interview with PLATFORM TIMES recommended that fish is a better source of protein for persons above the age of 40.
Dr. Odeyemi, who is also the Head of Department of Medicine, Osun State University, added that the consumption of white meat which includes chicken and turkey are better without the skin to prevent excess fat.
He said, “Too much of everything generally is not good. However, when you talk about meat, what we recommend for people above the age of 40 is fish. The best option for protein source is fish. After fish, the next option is white meat, which is poultry meat – chicken, turkey and others – excluding the skin. We recommend removal of the skin because it is rich in fat.
“Red meat is not recommended, particularly for people above the age of 40. We say this because red meat is particularly rich in fat, poultry meat is very good like I said earlier but the skin should be removed because it contains a lot of fat.”
“The fat is what we don’t want for people, particularly those approaching age 40 because most people get above the age and physical activities begin to reduce. It affects the body, not just the body but within the blood vessels as well. Such as blocking the blood supply to major organs of the body including the brain, eyes, heart, kidney and others.
“These can subsequently lead to major problem ranging from hypertension, stroke, heart attack and even kidney failure. So, on account of that, the meat we recommend dearly is white meat without the skin. Of course, the red meat include the one from the ram, but we have much more of it in beef which is the cow.” Odeyemi submitted.
In the same vein, a cardiac physiologist at the General Hospital Odan, Lagos State, Mrs. Salami Aminat, added that the consumption of excess meat increases cholesterol in the body.
Aminat emphasized further that high cholesterol in the body could lead to high blood pressure.
She said, “Consumption of excess of meat has an impact on the cardio-vascular system – heart, blood vessels in the body – as regards that it could increase the cholesterol level in the body which can advertently lead to narrowing of the blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure which is known as hypertension; it could block the blood vessel that leads to any part of the body and reduce the blood flow to the particular organ that the vessel supplies.
“Meat is actually good for the body, but cow and goat contain mostly the bad fat which have adverse effect on the cardiovascular system by increasing the cholesterol level of the body.” She submitted.
…Eat Vegetables, Fruits, Healthy Diet to Detoxify
The Cardiac Physiologist, Mrs. Aminat Salami recommended that the consumption of vegetables and fruits help to manage the health by cleaning the toxic substances.
Salami emphasized the need to eat balanced diet, urging that having the 6 classes of food in the body would help to balance manage the condition.
She stated that cutting-down on meat, as well as refined sugar consumption are good measures to reduce the risks of increasing cholesterol in the body.
Her words, “Ensure that you eat healthy by having the 6 classes of food in your diet. Eat vegetables well and try to cut-down on your meat consumption, not just the meat but also work on process called the refined sugar – which might not be just sugar in itself but the sugar that we find in so many food that we consume. In light of the festive period that we are in right now, after all the feast, let’s try to eat vegetables and fruits – carrots, cabbage, cucumber, etc. – these will help to detoxify or clean up the body system. Take a lot of water and reduce your intake of salt,” she said.
She further told PLATFORM TIMES that the consumption of meat is not so bad if moderately consumed.
Salami stated that meat serves as a good source of protein and iron, which are essential components for the body.
“Meat is a very good source of protein. Meat contains fat too, which is also essential for the body. Many people think fat is not good at all for the body but we have good fat and bad fats. Meat is also a very good source of iron which is good for blood production and others. There are other micronutrients of meat to the body but these are the major ones.”
Persons Living with Hypertensive Parents Risk High Blood Pressure – Cardiac Physiologist
The cardiac physiologist, Salami Aminat, while speaking with PLATFORM TIMES revealed that person living with hypertensive parents are prone to having high blood pressure.
While explaining the hazards of excess meat to persons above the age of 40, she stated that one of the adverse effects of excess meat consumption is high blood pressure, which is known as hypertension.
Salami gave a statistic of six out of every ten persons living with high blood pressure in Nigeria.
Her words, “Basically, about six out of ten people have high blood pressure. Having parents with hypertension increases your risk of having high blood pressure. High blood pressure is like the most communicable disease that is prevalent in Nigeria. So, we need to make sure that we feed well.
“Eating healthy is very important and it cannot be over emphasized.”
Stuck Meat in the Teeth Causes Localized Periodontitis – Dentist
Speaking with PLATFORM TIMES, a dentist at Kopul Dental Clinic, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, Doctor Mayowa Ajebeku revealed that eating a lot of meat for a short while and leaving particles of food stuck in the teeth can result to a dental condition called localized periodontitis.
He further explained that the eating hard meat is not advisable while maintaining a good dentition.
In his words, “Eating a lot of meat in a short while can cause localized periodontitis. This is caused by pockets created by stuck meat/food between the teeth. The effects of eating too much meat is particularly to hard meat, not soft meat. If the meat is not hard, that is, if it is soft, it doesn’t have any significant effect on the teeth.
“When meat gets stuck between the teeth, it causes mild pain and then the pain comes the next day after that. Boiling or frying the meat does not really much effect on the oral environment.” He submitted.
.. One Third Nigerians Hypertensive, Half Aware
Research, however shows that “nearly a third of Nigerians experience high blood pressure, a figure which has grown by 540 per cent since 1995.”
In a study, led by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with federal ministry of health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and researchers in Nigeria, in 2021, found out that women had faster increasing rate of hypertension than men, while half of the people living with the condition are unaware.
The research report says: “Researchers carried out an analysis 53 studies about the condition in Nigeria, which involved some 80,000 people. They found that among people with high blood pressure – also known as hypertension – only 29 per cent are aware they have the condition, while only 12 per cent took medication for the condition.
“The study estimates that there were more than 28 million cases of hypertension in Nigeria in 2020, rising from four million in 1995. Growth in population, a move towards more urban living, and changes in lifestyle including diet have contributed to this dramatic growth, experts say. Hypertension puts people at risk of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.”
Also, the Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) expressed concern over the high prevalence of hypertension among individuals in the country, emphasizing the potential adverse impact on the nation’s economy if not effectively managed.
In a recent joint statement, Prof. Ayodele Omotosho, the President of NHS, and Kolawole Wahab, the Secretary of the organization, highlighted hypertension, also known as High Blood Pressure (HPB), as the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide.
The statement defined hypertension as a condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure exceeding the threshold of 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic in adults.
It said: “Unfortunately, hypertension only announces its presence in most people after development of complications like stroke, heart failure, heart attack or kidney failure. The social and economic tolls of these complications on immediate families and the nation at large are enormous.
“The observance of the day is a call to the need to increase hypertension awareness, accurately measure blood pressure, detect and control hypertension to prevent premature death. The proportion of Nigerians with hypertension is high, while awareness, treatment, and control rates are low despite the availability of potent drugs.”
Similarly, Data obtained in a Daily Post Publication, dated May 18, 2023, on the ‘World Hypertension Day’, a professor of Cardiology and Internal Medicine of the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Professor Olayinka Akinwusi, explained the risk factors that predisposes one to hypertension.
According to the report, it is stated that in addition to hypertension, there are several other risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this condition. These factors include obesity, chronic alcoholism, tobacco use, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, the consumption of non-prescribed drugs, the use of Indian hemp and cocaine, excessive intake of alcoholic beverages and various types of teas, inadequate sleep habits, and advancing age.
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