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Experts in the Food and Nutrition industry have encouraged Nigerians to regularly consume soybeans as one of the protein-rich foods to curb malnutrition and reduce the high rate of protein deficiency in the country.
They gave the advice at a recent webinar, themed, ‘Nigeria’s Protein Deficiency Challenge: Soybeans To Rescue.’
A professor of Human Nutrition at the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, noted that Soybeans was one of the protein-rich foods in Nigeria.
Olayiwola said the lack of sufficient protein in the human body would automatically lead to malnutrition.
According to her, protein-rich foods were essential for growth, bodybuilding, repairs and replacement of lost tissues, adding that proteins protect against infections, boost the immune system, support metabolism, as well as provide a source of energy to the human body.
Nutrition experts have called for the addition of soybeans to wheat flour in the production of staples such as bread, pasta and noodles, as a way to tackle malnutrition in the country.
The experts made this call while speaking at the Protein Challenge Webinar Series 7 which held recently. The webinar was themed: “Nigeria’s Protein Deficiency Challenge: Soybeans To The Rescue.”
Mrs Josephine Chukwunweike, a nutritionist and member of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), stated that children’s (ages 0 to five years) growth is usually dependent on diet and way of life, not solely on genetics.
She added that protein is a vital nutrient needed for development, upkeep and repair of all the cells in the human body.
Nigeria: Tackle Malnutrition By Adding Soybeans to Staples - Nutrition Experts allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Children grow taller naturally by consuming soya beans Expert Children grow taller naturally by consuming soya beans Expert
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A nutritionist, Professor Ibiyemi Olayiwola, has asked Nigerian mothers to feed more soya bean and soya products to their children to ensure they grow tall as well as be protected from protein malnutrition, a reason many children are vulnerable to illnesses and end up with low intelligent quotient.
Olayiwola, a professor of Human Nutrition at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, speaking at the seventh Nigeria’s Protein Deficiency Challenge: Soya bean to the Rescue” webinar, stated that soya bean is one of the foods that children need to eat to grow taller naturally because of its high protein content and easy utilisation by the body.