Nutrition expert Dr. Jamila Lawal has raised concerns over the increasing number of women of reproductive age and children suffering from iron deficiency due to poor dietary choices and the neglect of nutritious local foods.
According to her, iron deficiency remains one of the leading causes of anemia, leaving many women constantly tired, weak and at greater risk of complications during pregnancy. Children are also affected, with low iron levels capable of slowing physical growth, weakening immunity and affecting learning and brain development. She made the statement when she appeared as a guest on S24 Television Abuja
Dr. Lawal noted that many households overlook affordable foods that naturally contain high levels of iron. She encouraged families to include more locally available vegetables such as spinach, fluted pumpkin leaves (ugu) and moringa leaves (zogale) in their daily meals.
She also recommended consuming animal sources of iron, including meat and fish, which provide heme iron,a form the body absorbs more easily than plant-based iron.
For people who rely mainly on vegetables and grains, she advised combining iron-rich meals with foods high in vitamin C, such as oranges, tomatoes and citrus fruits, to improve iron absorption.
She stressed that improving nutrition does not always require expensive foods, explaining that many traditional Nigerian vegetables are affordable, widely available and packed with essential nutrients.
Dr. Lawal urged women, especially those of reproductive age, pregnant women and parents of young children, to make iron-rich foods a regular part of their diets to help prevent anemia and promote healthier families.
