PASS THE SALT, PLEASE by Dr. Okogwu-Nwoye

Lots of diets are now online but you need to know what is ideal for you. Not all diets are to loose weight. Some are to prevent worsening of certain disease conditions.
 

Those with cardiac issues, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) are advised to partake of a low salt diet. This does not go down well with most people. So it is ignored. The reason behind the low salt is quite simple. Where sodium (salt) goes, water follows.

Sodium is actively involved in fluid balance, maintenance of blood volume and pressure. Diets that are high in salt (sodium) can cause fluid retention resulting in edema (swelling) in the hands and feet and even around the lungs. Patients that have been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure are thus advised to strictly adhere to a low salt diet.

Low salt diet is not only meant for patients with cardiac issues. Nooo, others partake of the joys of a “salt less” meal! Anyone suffering from edema (swelling) of hands/feet or other parts of the body will definitely benefit from diets low in sodium. Patients with liver disease, kidney disease, lymphedema, or even high cholesterol have also been shown to benefit from such a diet.

It is said that the body needs only a quarter of a teaspoon of salt every day. Imagine that! ¼ of a teaspoon.  Tell that to (add name of favorite fast food joint here)!

 Adding other flavors and spices to your food can take away the feeling of “Ughhhh! What?! No salt?!”  Our sense of taste starts with the taste buds on our tongue. Theses buds (cells) then send information to the “taste center” in the medulla (area in the brain that sits on top of the spinal cord). From here signals are sent to the amygdala and the thalamus which then alerts the portion of the brain that interprets and stores the information.

It then stands to reason that one can "build" on flavors, so that with each bite...your taste buds experience sensation upon sensation of texture, of sweetness, of bitterness even sourness. We in Nigeria are blessed with herbs, fruits, vegetables and all sorts of creepy crawlies. Some are edible. Some are not.

Next time you are getting ready to cook….be adventurous. Try adding fruits to the meal. Build on the sensory experience of taste. I made a stir fry sauce with PawPaw once. My Mother thought I was crazy considering it was her birthday meal. If I do say so myself…it was GOOD!Add more vegetables, more spices but definitely less salt.

For the less adventurous, low sodium “salt” actually exists. There are even spices that are used as salt substitutes. Be aware that not all foods taste salty but most foods contain sodium. Look at the sodium content on the packaging of the foods.

And oh, just for fun, take a look at the sodium content in “no –sugar” foods. Mmm  hmmm. See….. if they don’t get you with sugar, it’s the salt!

Dr. Okogwu-Nwoye

Internal Medicine Specialist

The Roding Medical Centre Ltd

Olisa Adebua, beast or just inhuman

Recognize this face? well you should.
Olisa Adebua has been a known face in the media industry for a while now so when reports arise that he purportedly beat up a colleague for sleeping on duty, more than a few eye brows will be raised.


Mr. Adewunmi Oyekanmi was the unfortunate party who was caught sleeping

This, unfortunately is how he looked after Adebua was through with him.

What kind of society do we live in when people can get away with doing anything with out fear of repercussion. it has come to our notice that 'Dewunmi was advised against reporting the issue to the police. it was also suggested that this was advised at the risk of him losing his job.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM OLISA ADIBUA 

As has been widely reported I was involved in an altercation with a work colleague during the week. I am deeply regretful of what transpired and have taken full responsibility for my actions. I have privately apologized to my colleague, the team that I work with and I am taking this opportunity to apologize to the public at large. As humans we all make mistakes and I made a major one which is completely out of character. 

I over reacted to a situation and that is something that will never repeat itself. Despite being at the center of a media feeding frenzy, I've been silent in order to allow the organization, to which I'm affiliated with and at who's premises the incident occurred, to carry out its investigations and come to a conclusion but most importantly to allow the aggrieved party (Mr. Adewunmi Oyekanmi) time to accept my heartfelt apology.  

While the events have been distorted, I am very apologetic about the situation but picking holes in the media reports or pointing out the falsehoods will not be useful, however, any kind of loss of control is not excusable and I have since tendered an unreserved apology to 'Dewunmi. 

I have always preached against violence and so this is a time for some reflection. Again, I apologize and I thank 'Dewunmi for accepting my apology. I would like to thank the hundreds of people who called me and those who sent in messages. 

For more than 20years now, I've operated in the Electronic media sector without a blemish but by this action, I have let myself down and most importantly I've let Family, Friends and the millions of people who look up to me, down." To those who have been clamoring for my response, I thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you very much and God Bless. 

Olisa Adibua

All Nigerians have rights and it is when we do not act on them that people get away with all sorts. If we were in America for instance, Olisa would have been sued for battery and emotional distress and 'Dewunmi would have walked away with some sort of consolation and not just a written public apology.

Nigerians, you be the judge.