54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Fresh pods of okra are good source of folic acid eatrightconsult@yahoo.com I 08091276796 WONDER how many myths you have heard about the okra. For instance, I have heard that okra slows down progress because of its drawing nature, while some people say that it reduces men’s sexual prowess because it settles in their waist and others say that it aggravates epilepsy in individuals living with that condition. This is to mention a few. And I began to wonder.....But okra is a vegetable! Can a vegetable cause so much havoc?
with Funke Oshifuye The pods also houses high amounts of vitamin A which is essential for vision and also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. The okra is one of the green vegetable with highest lev-
els of flavonoids and anti-oxidants such as beta carotenes, xanthin and lutein. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids helps to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers. When it comes to vitamin C, the okra is not left out as it is an outstanding source of this anti-oxidant vitamin. Intake of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop immunity against infectious agents, reduce episodes of cold and cough and protects body from harmful radicals. High in fibre, this vegetable contains both soluble and insoluble fibre, help-
ing you to reduce your serum cholesterol and at the same time keeping your intestinal tract healthy This controversial vegetable is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid and other important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium. Eat your okra while fresh to obtain full benefits of the vitamins and anti-oxidants it contains. Note that it is better to steam the okra or cook using low heat, if you want to retain its nutrients. What do you think about the okra now? Really packed, huh? I hope you will agree with me that there’s really no need for you to stay off okra because it actually does your body a lot of good.
Over 18,000 HIV+ Nigerians access treatment at NIMR — DG
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The okra is a highly nutritious green edible pod which is harvested while immature and eaten as vegetable. Fresh pods of the okra are a good source of folic acid. Adequate intake of folic acid, especially during periods of preconception and pregnancy helps decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in the offspring. Are you pregnant or planning to have a baby? What other better way to boost up your folic acid level than consuming okra in addition to your haematinics?
O fewer than 18,000 Nigerians living with HIV are currently accessing treatment at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR. The Director General of NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos to announce the 2nd Anniversary of the Director General and his activities in the last one year lamented that most people living with HIV are now coming down with Tuberculosis, TB. Describing the combination of the two conditions in a single patient as tragic, he said the institute’s clinic not only treat HIV but also offer total management of both conditions. “It is even worse now that many people living with HIV have TB but the
good thing is that we have an international standard TB Laboratory. We study their CD4 counts at the molecular level” Ujah who disclosed that the institute is currently analyzing the just concluded National Survey on TB announced that the institute has upgraded its TB Laboratory to a four – star laboratory that has capacity to detect Tb cases that are not responding to the first line drugs. “We have a brand new Bio- Safety Level 3 (BSL3) MDR-TB Laboratory builds for the institute by FHI360 to expand our services and research as a National Reference Laboratory in multi - drug resistant TB, an emerging disease.”
Recalling that the first case of HIV was detected by the institute in 1985 said NIMR does not only treat but also provide research and we ensure that we keep our patients healthy. Continuing, the Director General who decried the relegation of Health research to the background by policy makers and organized private sector disclosed that the grants the institute got from donor agencies was more than the budeget5 received from the Federal Government. He announced that the Institute will be organising a symposium on emergency Preparedness and response to disease epidemics tagged Role of Nigeria Institute of Medical Research”
COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)
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got married at sixteen and started having chil dren immediately. It was an arranged marriage and my husband is much older than me. We fight a lot these days. He says I am dull in bed but I don’t enjoy sex with him. He doesn’t treat me well and just wants to be able to spread my legs whenever he wants. I cannot take that again – Hannah Dear Hannah, the relationship you had with your husband earlier in your life was that of an adult and a child. You are older and more experienced now and it is difficult for him to accept that he can no longer boss you around and demand sex whenever he wants. That is one of the reasons for the fighting. Mutual respect is important in a relationship because a wife is not a sex slave. When a man respects a woman’s body and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding intimacy, marriage is easier. You both need to see a family councillor. Your relationship with your husband needs to be re-negotiated and he has to accept the grown woman that you have become. Once that happens, everything else will get better. Good luck – Uche After years of child birth, I have become lose down there and my husband does not enjoy it anymore Mrs Odeh Dear Mrs. Odeh, sexual active women, especially those who have had children, should practise their pelvic exercises regularly. It helps to strengthen the vaginal walls and muscles for better and tighter intercourse. A vagina tightening cream will help you too and so will the orgasm balls for Pelvic Exercises. Ask for the Tighten it Up V-Gel and the Real Skin Ben Wa Balls. They will firm up your pelvic muscles – Uche Hi Uche, I have stumbled on your column in the Newspapers and they are astonishing. I want to believe they are real. Most of the products I read about for penis enlargement are creams. Are there no capsules that can do the same thing? Frank Dear Frank, of course there are penis enlargement pills as well. There is the Extenze Plus, Max Size
and Big Bam Boo enlargement pills and they are all very good – Uche Please Uche my breasts are too small and I cannot bear it anymore. I don’t want surgery and I don’t want the cream. Do you know any natural way for breast enlargement? Please help a sister – Flora Dear Flora, there is a pill for breast enlargement called Grobust. It is a 100% natural supplement and clients who have used it reported results. We don’t have a lot of variety in this area because we only talk about confirmed products that work and Grobust works – Uche Please do you have a pill for premature ejaculation and weak erection? Dave Hello Dave, there are no pills for premature ejaculation. But there are lots of delay creams, delay wipes and delay condoms for premature ejaculation and they are effective. Call and ask for Stay Hard Delay Cream. It is amazing. To stop your weak erection, go for Cockstar or Enzyte supplement. These are both top quality all natural erection enhancers – Uche Please women also read your columns and we want something for us too. You are always focusing on men. Thanks – Bisola Dear Bisola, you are right. Men write us a lot because there is more pressure on them to perform so we tend to answer more male oriented questions. But there are libido boosters, orgasm gels, vibrators, massage creams, films and books for women. Write us and let us know what your needs are and we will talk about them – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.