A Clinical Dietitian, Mr Moses Okolie, has warned the public against the consumption of non-iodized salt affirming that such could lead to goitre and other throat diseases prevalent in the country.
Okolie, who works in the Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday, 24th December 2019 that the consumption of non-iodized salt was dangerous to human health.
He noted that non-iodized salt caused the blood pressure to rise rapidly in an attempt to move the toxic elements rapidly away from the heart.
In his words, “This is why doctors will often tell people with high blood pressure to stop intake of non-iodized salt. Moreover, excessive salt intake causes us to retain waters and other fluids.
Dr Okolie warned that many chronic imbalances such as diabetes and obesity can be worsened or even partially caused by excessive intake of such salt.
“It can also cause thyroid and liver problems, as well as the development of Goiters, Hypertension, Heart disease, Edema, Stroke, Heart failure, and even major nervous system disorders such as anxiety and depression,’’ he said.
Okolie advised that people should use only iodized salt in small packages of between 250gm and 500gm and not non-iodized ones normally in big bags and meant for industrial purposes.
He bemoaned that in spite of several warnings, Nigerians still endanger their lives and that of their loved ones by patronizing non-iodized salt.
