Women in menopause phase have been tasked to maintain intake of alkaline diet to avoid health issues.
This was made know by a nutritionist and lecturer from Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Olubukola Babalola, during a health lecture organized by Ekiti chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to mark the 2020 International Women’s Day.
The health lecture, titled ‘Women and Challenges of Menopause’, was delivered at NUJ Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital at the weekend.
Dr Babalola said the reproductive abilities of women seize at menopause because of reduction in Oestrogene production, thereby necessitating proper diet for healthy living.
She said, “Menopause sets in at 50 and above and there is reduction in the production of Oestrogene. There are food to eat at this time.
“God has laid down rules to make people healthy, he told us what we have to eat.
“Alkaline diet will do your body a lot of good: it will curb hot flashes, depression and other symptoms of menopause.”
Describing what alkaline diets are, the nutritionist stated that they are mostly fruits and vegetables, adding that some water are alkaline while some are acidic. She said a lot of people believe bottled water is the best, but water from the well is good.
She revealed that when there is acidic food and water in the body, blood will extract water to keep afloat. This will further go to leg bones and extract calcium, a reason some aged people develop arthritis.
While maintaining that alkaline diet are very affordable, she said it could also be derived from watermelon, a natural viagra with no part that could be wasted.
“There is no synthetic drug that doesn’t have side effects, the best option is to make natural food the treatment
“Vitamin C level of menopausal woman drops with age. We need to boost it and make vegetables/fruits our friends,” she added.
Speaking on the topic, the guest lecturer, Dr Taofeek Yekini, urged women to do regular exercise so as to manage the symptoms of menopause.
According to him, “Regular exercise and cutting off caffeine will reduce symptoms of menopause.
“Oestrogene is a popular hormone in the body, once menopause sets in, Oestrogene withdraws.
“Soya milk is a high source of Oestrogene to ameliorate the symptoms and address insomnia, depression and dryness in the vagina.
“When the symptoms become unbearable, doctors can give Hormone Replanta with supervision.”
NAWOJ Vice president Zone B, Mrs Morenike Esan, enjoined women to support and build one another while urging men to show solidarity towards them.
She noted that if treated well, women radiate joy that affects everyone around them.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of NAWOJ in Ekiti, Mrs Fatima Bello, said women journalists in the state decided to focus on health as a crucial need of everyone.
“It is a healthy woman who can participate in developmental, political, economical and gender issues.
“In this respect, NAWOJ is looking at menopausal challenges of women to provide adequate education and enlightenment in connection with the challenges.
“It is important to note that women whose involvement are essential to gender activism fall in this category. They need proper enlightenment to provide them with the opportunity of safeguarding their health for functionality in the advocacy.”
The Chairman, NUJ Ekiti, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, represented by his vice, Mrs Ronke Samo, said the messages would provide a lot of benefit for women.
The event was attended by representatives from women wings of different sectors, such as NLC, law (FIDA), People Living with Disabilities, CAN, Islam (FOMWAN), among others.