A Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Beatrice Ogunba, says there is no scientific evidence to the claim by some Nigerians that drinking malt and milk mixed together increases blood volume.
According to her, many people believe that drinking malt and peak milk increase blood volume, insisting that the assertion has no evidence in medicine.
Prof. Ogunba, however, said consuming milk and malt could deliver nutrients to the body because they are fortified with iron, calcium and vitamins.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise in an interview, the nutritionist said that the claim that consuming milk and malt increases blood in the body is not scientific.
Prof. Ogunba said, “Milk is protein and we have fortified milk with iron and calcium. Some malts are also fortified with vitamins, so consuming all these will deliver nutrients to the body.
“But mixing milk and malt with the notion that it will increase blood volume is unrealistic. There is no scientific evidence for that. I have heard about the mixture and it is mostly consumed by women. But in terms of delivering iron, I am sure of that because milk has iron.”
She, however, urged Nigerians to diversify the foods they consume to get all the nutrients they need to be healthy.
She also noted that people who are vulnerable to anaemia should consume foods rich in iron such as vegetables and liver.
Not having enough blood volume according to an online news portal, Verywellheath is known as hypovolemia.
“There are clinical signs of hypovolemia, but it could be possible to lose up to 30 per cent of total circulatory volume before any signs or symptoms of hypovolemia become apparent.
“The lack of volume affects the ability of the body to adequately perfuse (fill) the tissues with blood, oxygen, and nutrients”, it noted.
According to her, poor eating habits can lead to malnutrition and its attendant health consequences, adding that malnutrition in children and adults is either caused by under consumption of appropriate foods or over consumption of appropriate foods.
She noted that pregnant women, people living with HIV and those with chronic kidney disease could suffer from anemia while urging them to eat well and from different food groups.
During pregnancy, according to an online news portal, Webmd, “Your body produces more blood to support the growth of your baby. If you’re not getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body might not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make this additional blood.”
“It’s normal to have mild anemia when you are pregnant. But you may have more severe anemia from low iron or vitamin levels or other reasons.
“Anemia can leave you feeling tired and weak. If it is severe but goes untreated, it can increase your risk of serious complications like preterm delivery”, WebMD noted.
PUNCH
