Nigerians have been urged to be conscious of the kind of meal they take to avoid gastro-intestinal disease. A medical professional, Dr. Paul Edugbo who made the call in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt described gastro-intestinal disease as a disorder which occurs between the mouth to the anus involving the stomach, large and small intestines.
He lamented the attitude of some food vendors who use harmful chemicals to ripen fruits describing it as utter greed and noted that the act is capable of infecting the gastro-intestinal tract.
Dr Edugbo listed the causative factors of the ailment to include the consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs which do not digest easily.
“When we say causes there are several things that occur in any of that part of the body. So it can be due to an accident or what we eat. That part of the body processes what we eat that is why we must be mindful of what we take in.
Also Read: http://TUC Raises Alarm Over Growing Refuse Heaps in Port Harcourt
For example you are eating food that is not well cooked or contain substances that are not good to the body like cancer causing substances. This is why we are having these health problems. If you are not taking enough water when your diet is balanced you can still come down with gastro- intestinal issues,” he noted.
Dr. Edugbo enumerated continuous pain at the stomach region as one of the symptoms of the ailment.
“Well the symptoms that have to do with gastro- intestinal tract disorder is constipation, which is the inability to pass out stool at least three times in a week, vomiting these signs point to gastro- intestinal disorder,” he concluded.
The medical expert called on the government agency in charge of food regulation to do more to rid the market of unhealthy food which can be injurious to the gastro-intestinal tract.
