NIGERIANS have been advised to be conscious of what they eat and drink to minimise the risk of heart-related diseases.
A cardiologist based in the United States (U.S.), Dr Sabu George, yesterday alerted that many of staple food and beverages being consumed are prone to heart-related diseases.
He listed them as: bread, pounded yam, noodles, sugar, Coca Cola, Fanta, Pepsi, Seven Up and cassava, among others.
Dr George said that consuming the identified items on regular basis is dangerous to health as it could leads to cardiovascular-related diseases.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.
George spoke at the opening of three-day free health screening programme tagged: “Medical Mission” organised by the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos.
According to him, most cardiovascular-related diseases could be controlled, if detected at the early stage.
His words: “Cardiovascular diseases are a silent killer, and if not detected at the early stages, the sufferer is at high risk and can lead to sudden death. It is more expensive to treat the ailment and cheaper to prevent it by maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, checking cholesterol, avoiding too much of carbohydrates and sugar.
“We can avoid cardiovascular diseases by eating less of carbohydrates, but more of vegetables and drinking more water than fizzy drinks.
“We will ensure that any person detected to have such ailment will be given proper care by providing free treatment and there will be regular consultations, to monitor the patients.”
The cardiologist, a Nigerian, who has resided in the U.S. for more than two decades urged Nigerians to eat more of moinmoin, vegetable, melon soup and other soups.