Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of organisms. It includes ingestion, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism and excretion.

Dr. Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu, Manager, Nestle Nutrition Institute, during a virtual training, said that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the desire for good nutrition and sound health. She enjoined Nigerians to improve their immune system by means of right nutrition, as a protection against the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, “It is important for every household to improve its immune system by means of right nutrition, to fortify against virus and other germs of disease. Improving immunity became necessary considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging and killing millions of people all over the world. The immune system consists of various organs, tissues and cells located in various parts of the body.”

She likened the immune system to police checkpoint: “The immune system is constantly working to protect the body from infection, injury and disease. To ensure that we remain healthy our first duty is to improve our immune system.”

She disclosed that the new COVID-19 disease has brought to the limelight, the importance of nutrition in boosting immunity, in relation to protection against viruses: “Nigeria has made progress in tackling under-five stunting and wasting, as well as exclusive breastfeeding. However, the Federal Government has made no progress in solving female and male adult obesity, female and male adult diabetes, including women of reproductive age (WRA) anaemia. The conditions are worsening.”

Dr. Emma-Nwachukwu pointed out that Nigeria has no data on under-five overweight and urged Nigerian to: “Choose a healthy lifestyle; eat right, exercise regularly, maintain personal hygiene, practice positive stress management, maintain healthy hydration, maintain healthy weight and planned diet.” Sun News