The Sick And The Tired

By Sharon Jane Akinyemi

“I can’t believe it’s the starting of another working week already, I could hardly get out of bed this morning and come to work”. I really enjoyed the long public holiday.

“I know what you mean. The week is now too short.”

“Where is Adaora?”

“She’s not coming today. She’s sick again”

“Well I’m not feeling so strong  myself. I hope the boss  doesn’t  expect me to do any extra work  today. I’m so tired, I can hardly drag myself around”. Does this conversation sound familiar?

Many Nigerians are sick and tired, but why? We have modern conveniences  and food supply. To some extent, a high percentage of Nigerians are well informed and widely read. Yet our state of health proves that something is drastically wrong.

Many factors contribute to this sick and tired feeling  but am convinced that the way we eat  and  inability to exercise are the main reasons or the poor health of many Nigerians.

A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve general health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, adequate essential amino acids from protein,  essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and adequate calories. The requirements for a healthy diet can be met from a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods.

A healthy diet supports energy needs and provides for human nutrition without exposure to toxicity or excessive weight gain from consuming excessive amounts. Where lack of calories is not an issue, a properly balanced diet (in addition to exercise) is also thought to be important for lowering health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer

The Nigerian Eating Pattern

Over the past 30 years. The Nigerian way of eating has drastically changed. Many of these changes have been so gradual  that we don’t realise the extent or the danger of them. Our sick and tired state of health is directly related to these dietary changes.

How Has The Nigerian Diet Changed?

Whole grain, cooked cereal like millet, guinea corn, and  wheat are practically a thing of the past. Today the modern breakfast consist of doughnuts, white buttered bread or pancakes. Coffee,tea or sweetened fruit juices that are high in caffeine.

Lunch menus have also deteriorated. Many Nigerians no longer eat lunch at home or made from home. Fast-food chains, local restaurants, and school cafeterias have replaced home made vegetable soup, fresh moimoi, and fish stew. Hamburgers, sausages, pizza, batter-dipped chicken and deep fried meat and fish have taken over as the lunch time favourites.

The evening meal may be prepared at home, but it is very different from the dinner Grandma used to serve. We look for most convenient way to give our families a square meal: instant potatoes, noodles, pastas, frozen vegetables. Our foods are refined and processed until most of the nutrients are destroyed leaving only the calories behind.

Some of the things we eat are  man made fabrications that put together with imitation ingredients, additives, and preservatives. Would you call whipped toppings and ice cream foods?

What Effects Do These Fabricated Foods Have On Our Bodies? 

Margarine is a man- made food that has been around for many years. It is made by adding hydrogen to oil to make it hard at room temperature. It is now a well established fact that about 50% of the oil in margarine changes from  the natural form to an unnatural fatty acid form. This ” trans” form has no natural metabolic function, and our bodies do not know how to handle it. The result is that it interferes with normal fatty acid metabolism.

What About The Beverages We Drink? 

Are we drinking more or less water and natural fruit juice? Think about it. What beverages do you drink most often. We are drinking more soft drink, sweetened and processed fruit juices, beer and wine. These are not good exchanges for pure clean water- the drink required by every cell for hundreds of process .

Why Are You Sick And Tired?

The answer may be in your refrigerator, your grocery cart, your food store or on your kitchen table . Look around and see  if your way of eating could be the source  of your physical problems.

Helpful Tips

I believe it is possible to nourish your body for excellent health and still enjoy food for pure pleasure, if done in moderation. It is a matter of balance. Try to eat as much natural foods as possible. If you could actually see what is happening inside your body when you eat too much artificial foods, you would be shocked! We need to retrain our minds and taste bud to crave and enjoy natural foods more than all the decadent snacks we have come to love.

Physical Exercise Is Key. 

But before starting an exercise regime, it is wise to get a medical check up in order to avoid aggravating  any existing conditions such as heart disease , high blood pressure or back and waist problem. If you are over  forty or have an ongoing physical condition or other limitation , you definitely need to see your physician before starting an exercise programme .  Making a decision to start exercising is the first step, but consistency is the key to realising  measurable benefits. You don’t need to overdo it! It is better to get a light twenty- minute work- out three times to four times  a week for the rest of your life than to work out intensely everyday for a month. emember that this is a life time venture.

Exercise elevates your metabolism, it reduces stress improves digestion and increases energy thereby making you more active and lively.

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