A health and wellness advocate, Dr.
Bisi Abiola has urged Nigerians to embrace consumption of 100% fruit juice in
order to reduce dehydration in this harmattan season.
Abiola, during the December edition
of Chivita -sponsored health and wellness dialogue, also warned against
indulging in excess sugar consumption during the yuletide. She advised
individuals to take pure fruit juice instead, as it is healthy and highly
nutritious.
According to the health and fitness
expert, the dustiness and coarseness that is associated with harmattan in most
parts of the country, calls for increased intake of pure fruit juice as an essential
survival strategy for both adults and children.
She noted: “Quite often, we talk
about celebration without considering the fact that you can only have fun when
you are healthy. What is your nutritional objective as Christmas and the New
Year approaches? Of course, this is a season of indulgence, but as a health-conscious
individual, you must select your meals and drinks with your overall nutritional
goal in mind. And I think pure fruit juice is definitely the way to go.”
Abiola also urged individuals to
adopt a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and heart diseases. She said that balancing
one’s diet with pure fruit juice consumption could reduce the severity in the
case of individuals who are suffering from such challenges.
“The available evidence relating to 100% fruit juice
consumption indicates modest benefits for blood pressure, while there is also
an emerging trend revealing inverse associations between 100% fruit juice
consumption and risk of stroke. Overall, this suggests that 100% fruit juice is
an appropriate choice of beverage for a heart healthy diet,” she stressed.
Abiola said that orange juice contains both vitamin C and flavonoids, which are powerful
antioxidants, and that drinking could “neutralise the inflammatory stress
generated by the unhealthy meal and help prevent blood vessel damage.”
She continued: “One
eight-ounce glass of orange juice gives you at least 100% of the recommended
daily value for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant. It can help
to neutralise free radicals formed as part of the body’s natural oxidation
processes.
“Consuming a
variety of fruits and vegetables is a recognised way to maximise the ingestion
of vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant nutrients. For one, the different
flavours of Chivita 100% have become important sources of vitamins and minerals
and are readily accessible all year round.
“Also, Clinical studies reveal several mechanisms
relating to vascular health, inflammation, lipid oxidation and platelet
aggregation that could explain a benefit for 100% fruit juices in lowering CVD
risk. Polyphenol compounds and potassium in fruit juices are most likely
responsible for these effects. In fact, more than a decade’s worth of research
suggests that 100% fruit juice can help support a healthy heart.”
The monthly
review is part of Chi Limited’s ‘no-added sugar’ campaign, which is aimed at
demystifying the myths about sugar intake and providing verifiable information
about the benefits of 100% fruit juice. The campaign started earlier in the
year.
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