Expert advises women to eat food rich in calcium

 Expert advises women to eat food rich in calcium

Dr Ngozi Njeze, Consultant Radiologist, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, has advised women to always eat balance diet food with more calcium so as to prevent bone disease called osteoporosis.

Njeze gave the advice in an interview with the press in Enugu on Thursday. She described osteoporosis as a bone disease that affects the bone structure and strength of bone, and raising the risk of fractures. According to her, eating a well balance diet rich in calcium would help prevent bone disease that affects the strength of the bone. The expert noted that it could affect anybody, but most common in women due to the decrease in protective estrogen levels after menopause. “Osteoporosis can affect any gender, but it is particularly prevalent in women because from the onset women have softer bones and due to the sudden decrease in protective estrogen levels after menopause,’’ she said. She added that the disease was considered a silent disease, as there were no clear outward symptoms caused by the loss of bone density; adding that bone pain may occur in some people. Besides, Njeze advised women to do things with moderation especially women who were up to 50 years and above. “Women who are up to 50 years should do things in moderation. “They should exercise their body moderately, they should not use running as an exercise rather they should take a walk as part of their exercise,’’ she advised.