The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sugar

  • High blood sugar crashes125 points in 5 days

    Congratulation, Mrs. X. she telephoned me on Friday last week to break the news I was eagerly waiting to hear. Her blood sugar had dropped by a whopping 125 points in only five days. I broke into a celebration song and dance. I was in the office of budget travels at Ilupeju in Lagos. Mrs. BukkyAzeez, the chief executive officer, and her staff asked me what was going on. I had just heard from the woman and her brother who came to see me in their office the previous Friday. I met her about five years ago in Lagos when I gave a health lecture courtesy of ColoBright (Ltd), now of blessed memory, to retired military officers. She was thin and diabetic with a blood sugar record which hovered a bone 400mg/dl. She had tried almost everything she could without success. Over the years, I suggested some herbs. But being of meagre means, she could not afford them. By last month her condition worsened to include swelling in both lower limbs that could have been caused by heart or kidney problems. At that time, she was ready to experiment with Orange peel powder.

    In five days, the blood sugar crashed 125 full points to her amazement and her brothers. We were all celebrating at budget travels, because the staff, too, knew her and had taken to her. This column will follow up the case of Mrs. X. meanwhile, I would like to suggest that orange peel be a part of the daily diet. As already explained in this column over the months, it cuts high cholesterol levels, raised the quantum of the good cholesterol, reduces level of the bad cholesterol, improves breathing and long function, especially in asthmatics, and does lots more to give us radiant health. Lest I forget, when it is added to hair creams, orange peel powder makes the hair grows beautifully, long and sturdy. In body creams, it clears skin blemishes and soften the skin, exfoliates dead cells and leaves behind a youthful appearance.

     

    Black ant and red ant

    The reference last week to the African black Ant as a possible solution to erectile dysfunction and many other challenges of male sexual vitality aroused the interest of many readers of this column. May be I should add that the small African Black Ant can be a tip of the iceberg in these matters. In the ant family, the black ant compares with the run of the mill of society. The red ant are the soldiers of the colouring and are more fiery and potent in the medicinal extracts they yield to man. For now, I will only add that, for men who take the extract of the African Black Ant or those of the red and penile enlargement, erectile force and staying power, they may not take more than one tablet or capsule a week, and may need to take lots of warm water if the penile shaft would not take a bow after the curtain falls.

     

    Berry oil

    If you are searching the health store shelf for a multipurpose oil, I would suggest that you watch out for long rich Berry oil. It stocks vitamin A, carotenoids, 18 Amino acids of which 10 are essentials amino acids and vitamin E, among many others. I had it on my mind last week when someone asked me about which alternative medicine products could help his eye floaters. These floaters are cellular debris that the body did not dissolve and keep circulating in the eye. Sometimes, those strands of debris may join together and become bigger materials. When they come between the lens and the retina, the result is black-out vision.

    They have often been helped with enzyme therapy. In this therapy, systemic enzymes are taken to dissolve them. The immune system uses these enzymes to do its works. In some people, digestive enzymes are not sufficient for digestion and, so, the body has to borrow from the stock of immune enzymes if digestion is to be efficient.

    here this is not enough, digestion and immunity may suffer. So, in this therapy, digestive enzymes may be added to the diet during meals while enzymes may also be taken in between meals for immune function. It will help a lot if the quantum of raw food in the diet is increased, as raw food provides plenty of enzymes. There was a food proprietary systemic enzymes product in the market a few years ago. It was called Neprinol. It provided such enzymes as Serrapeptase, Papain, Bromelain etc. the enzymes are available in their individual forms. To support this therapy, I often suggest a supplement such as Eyemaxplus which contains about 18 nutrients required for eye health.

    Last week, I mentioned Sure best eye solution which provides bilberry and eyebright among others. Kale, an antioxidant vegetable, is also well recommended because of its high amounts of the carotenoids Lutein and Zeazantein which have now caught the fancy of ophthalmologists and well recommended by them for eye health care. And berry oil? According to its literature report, “it boosts immunity, protects liver from chemical damage and is suitable for the eye. It contains powerful antioxidant that can help prevent some forms of cancer, heart diseases and its helps to enhance your body’s immune response to infection. It helps the body reduce the inflammatory action and singlet or free radical oxygen atoms like to combine into pairs. Singlet oxygen atoms are unable to interact with lipid found in cell walls causing inflammation and damage. It is a valuable preventive medicine; in addition to its role in cancer prevention, the berry oil offers us protection from heart disease, again it is their antioxidant behaviour that protect the lining of the arteries and the fat in the blood from free radical oxidative damage.

    It improves the communication between cells which can result in fewer cells imitation, white blood cells attacks bacterial, viruses, cancer cells. It is among the top five anti-aging vitamins. Carotenoids as its ingredient contains vitamin A and protein. It contains 18 amino acids of 10 essential amino acids necessary for human health. It is also suitable for people with hypotension.”

     

    Vintage liquer

    While still talking about What is new on the shelf, I stumbled into long rich’s vintage liquer which I would like to suggest to an acquaintance of mine resident at Oko Oba GRA scheme 1 in Lagos. He has an enlarged heart, coughs profusely, he is taking pharmaceutical medications and improving gradually but has refused to give up alcohol which he says helps him to knock off easily and soundly for the night. I always tell him he can sleep well without alcohol, that alcohol only sedates his brain, but he would not agree. It wasn’t until his condition became life threatening that he tried to shift from lager and stout to red wine. Even then, is choice of red wine is loaded with Sulfite a health hazard wine drinker should watch out for on the wine label.

    About eight benefit are ascribed to this longrich vintage liquer. It may gladden the heart of women who wish to increase the size of their bust-line that “it can accelerate the development of main Mammary glands” for people of slow metabolism who, on account of this, easily add weight, this wine is offered for weight loss because it contains Safflower, said to improve the metabolic rate. Improvement of metabolism prevent accumulation of fats. Besides, it prevent damage of fatty acids. Many people on a slimming therapy hate dietary adjustment and exercise. This wine is put up as able to help them without diet or exercise sufferance. Muscle mass may grow and the body may become learner.

    It is anti-inflammatory, helps digestion of all sorts of food, perhaps because of the presence of pawpaw (papaya) enzymes. But it is contraindicated in liver and kidney conditions because of its alcohol.

     

    Stubborn ulcers    

    Many ulcers are simple walk-overs for the medicine-man or the sufferer. Some people claim cures from the use of Cayeme pepper, yes Cayeme, red hot pepper. Who hasn’t heard that a chemical substance in Cayeme blocks pain transmission? I have read, too, that Cayeme stopped bleeding from gunshot injuries! I believe that it was from Stanford University that we heard of the first research of how Cabbage Juice taken for 14 days not only eliminate the Helicobacter pylori bacterium found in ulcer sites but also healed the peptic ulcer it is believed to cause. This experiment has been done in many reputable institutions world-wide with the same or similar results. But there are isolated cases in which the patient does not tolerate Cabbage juice which tends to cause them more pain than the ulcer presents.

    Some people mill corn, remove the fiber, which are offered to goats or other animals, and they say that does it. For some other people, it doesn’t work.

    I have known joy on seeing some ulcer sufferers smile when they add Bell’s Acidic Stomach and Alkaline Balance to their regimen. In other cases where insufficiency of stomach acid was what led to over-acidity of the stomach when food stayed longer than necessary in the stomach and decomposed into acidic free radicals, Apple Cider Vinegar has been all that was required to end the patient’s nightmare. In many cases, the physician merely routinely assumes that, since the stomach is acidic, alkalizers and acid absorbers would do the trick. This has been the thinking behind the prescription of antacids and consumption of cow’s milk. But milk, being acidic on the pH scale, causes more problem than it is expected to resolve, and, so, many doctors and patients have dispensed with its services.

    Potato juice, like Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc, have helped or resolve many cases suitable for them to overcome. Sodium bicarbonate is a good addition to the list of helpful remedies.

    For this reason, the pharmaceutical Sodamintis popular among ulcer patients. It is a tablet which is licked morning and evening. I tasted it once, and found the taste to be awful.  We cannot forget the Iranian Dr. F Batmanghligd who urged his patient to slowly sip water at the onset of any pain. His hypothesis was that if the body was dehydrated and the Pancreas did not receive enough water supply to make Pancreatic juice, the duodenum, that connection between the stomach and the small intestine, would not open its gate for acidic content from the stomach to move to the intestine. Thus, a prolonged stay of food in the stomach would irritate it with acid and cause an ulcer.

    If he expels the irritant through the throat and the month, acid reflux may occur in which the patient complains of chest pain when, actually, it is the lower end of the throat, the esophagus, that is being damaged by acid. In some cases, this has resulted in throat cancer that may warrant removal of the damaged tissue and its replacement with a portion of the intestine.

    In ulcer therapy knowledge of the stomach structure and function is important. The stomach has three layers of muscles. The outermost is longitudinal. It is reinforced by a middle layer of circular muscles. The inner layer is oblique. Above the inner layer of muscles there is a lining of four layers.  It is on top of the fourth inner layer of this lining that digestion takes place. This involves enzymes, acid and gastric juice. When this lining is eroded, food, acids, enzymes e.t.c drop to the muscle tissue, causing irritation, inflammation pain, injury and damage. In extreme cases, perforation of the muscles layers may cause stomach content to drop into the cavity, leading to a serious health trouble, even death.

    rosion of the lining may arise from stress of all sorts, chemical poisons, bacteria, drugs e.t.c in the sort of condition, the ulcer may become stubborn, irresponsive to medication which appear to help other people.  For this condition and others, I would like to propose that Slippery elm, like is cousin marshmalow, be added to the therapy. Of slippery elm, healthwisdom.com says:

    “Slippery elm has a substance called mucilage which is polysaccharide that becomes a gel when mixed with water. The mucilagedoes a good job of soothing and coating the mouth, throat, stomach and intestine causing much relief from things like gastrophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, diverticulosis, and irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).”

    In www.webmd.com we learn that: “Slippery elm is a tree which is used as medicine. People take it for cough, sore throat, colic, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBM), bladder, urinary tract infection, myphissis, herpes and for expelling tape worm.”

    Add to these the suggestions by DraktijicSuzioi:

    “The inner bark of slippery elm contains various nutrients such as beta sitosterol, can pestros, tannins calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, Selenium, zinc, beta carotene, Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. Its mentioned earlier, slippery elm is tough and flexible of a fine fibrous texture. It has an odour like fenugreek and is very mucilaginous with an inspired taste. Ten grammes of the powder bark will make a thick jelly with an ounce of water. Slippery elm is effective remedy for duodenal ulcer, gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) hemorrhoids and heart burn.

    It is used for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns and all inflamed surface, soothing, healing and reducing pain and inflammation. It is a simple food as part of a normal diet. It can be eaten as porridge. It is very nutritious, and paced with antioxidants with a similar taste like oat meal. It makes a whole food for infants and invalids. It is also good for heart remedy, for treating cancer. It heals diseases of the female organs. It is used as an antioxidant to prevent fat rancid.A pinch of it stops tooth from decaying. It has been used in North American for centuries in healing ulcer, burn and inflammation.

    It can be taken orally to relief cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and stomach problems. It is also good for excess acidity.

    While we congratulate Mrs. X, look forward to shared experiences on Red or Black African Ant and of course, Slippery elm, I wonder if the woman who required for a cleaning healing natural agent for breast cancer sore may profit from slippery elm or Marshmallow dressing.

  • Dangote Sugar Refinery to pay N7.2b dividend

    Dangote Sugar Refinery to pay N7.2b dividend

    Shareholders of Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc will receive N7.2 billion cash dividends for the 2015 business year, according to the sugar-refining company’s earnings report, which has shown a modest growth in sales.

    The board of directors of DSR indicated that shareholders will receive a dividend per share of 60 kobo, about 62.5 per cent of the net earnings per share for the year.

    Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of DRS for the year ended December 31, 2015 showed that total turnover rose from N94.86 billion in 2014 to N101.06 billion. Gross profit also improved from N18.63 billion to N20.73 billion. Operating Profit increased to N15.85 billion in 2015 as against N13.59 billion in 2014.

    Also, the company recorded a profit before tax of N16.55 billion in 2015, representing an increase of eight per cent on N15.27 billion recorded in 2014. After taxes, net profit however dropped marginally from N11.64 billion to N11.54 billion. Earnings per share followed the trend, dropping slightly from 97 kobo in 2014 to 96 kobo. Total assets rose to N102.62 billion in 2015 as against N92.80 billion in 2014.

    The highlights of the company’s operations in 2015 showed that season sugar production at Savannah was 6,610 tonnes, up from 6,333 tonnes in 2014. The full year refinery production at Apapa stood at 740,350 tonnes, down from 832,660 tonnes the previous year. Group sugar sales improved from 781,319 tonnes in 2014 to 782,120 in 2015. The company added 100 trucks to the fleet under its management.

    Acting Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DRS) Plc, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, said it was gladdening that the company was able to grow its revenue by 11 per cent and improve sales volumes compared to 2014 despite the current macro-economic challenges which Nigeria is facing.

    According to him, the 2015 business year ended with remarkable increase in volume in the fourth quarter as its corporate strategy to reduce margins in September by 28 per cent and the addition of 100 trucks to its fleet improved delivery to customers and resulted in increased market share.

    He outlined that the company has redeveloped its sequencing strategy to self-sufficiency through the production of refined sugar from cane and remain steadfast in its efforts to execute the “Sugar for Nigeria” project.

    “We have already had a strong start to 2016 as we pick up market share from competitors and smugglers. We have increased our fleet and are now able to meet our customer orders timely. We expect raw sugar prices to remain volatile for the rest of the year as weather conditions continue to threaten production in 2015/2016 season but do not expect to exceed the average achieved in 2015,” Sule said.

    He noted that refined sugar from cane remains the priority for the company adding that this path to self-sufficiency will eliminate reliance on foreign exchange as well as the volatility of raw sugar prices known with the currently import.

     

  • Local sugar production begins in 2016, says Council

    The Federal Government on has said the domestic production of sugar would take off from next year with an estimated initial output of 700,000 tons.

    Dr Latif Busari, the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), said this in an interview in Abuja.Busari said the projected take off output would be contributed by three private investors, Dangote, Bua and Flour Mill Sugar Companies.

    To this effect, he said the three companies had already signed separate agreements with the government for the execution of backward integration projects, which the council was monitoring.

    “The Savanah Sugar Company in Adamawa, which was acquired by the Dangote Group in 2002, has also given its commitment to commence production in 2016. Currently, they have expanded their field in Numan to about 7,000 hectares and they are planning to further expand it to 10,000 hectares by 2018 with an installed capacity of 100,000 tons.

    He explained that the sugar project owned by Flour Mill at Sunti, Niger State, will also begin operation by 2016 with an estimation of 50,000 ton per hectare sugar mill.

    Busari, who was appraising the sector since independence, noted that major achievements had been recorded, especially in the area of establishment of sugar refineries in the country. He said: “Twenty years ago, the Savanah Sugar Company and the Nigerian Sugar Company, which were the two major sugar companies in the country, were at a point of collapse.

    What happened between 1995 and 2005, ten years later, was mainly the establishment of refineries, first was the Dangote Sugar Refinery in 2000 followed by Bua refinery in 2006,’’ Busari said.

  • Overcoming challenges in sugar production

    Overcoming challenges in sugar production

    Following the Federal Government’s policy of increasing local production of sugar through mini plant technology,   the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and other organs of government have taken steps to ensure compliance and delivery of incentives to address challenges, reports OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

    Despite  the huge potential for the production of sugar, Nigeria produces less than two per cent of its  requirement, estimated at 1.7 million tonnes, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    Data obtained from the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) indicate that sugar consumption in 2012 was 1.1m tonnes against the domestic production of 10,843 tonnes.

    Within the period, 1.1m tonnes was imported at $517.2 million. To address the shortage, the Federal Government has come out with a policy to increase local production. The policy aims at instituting mini sugar plant technology and a package of incentives.

    But industry watchers, who applaud the policy, said with a landmass of over 500,000 hectares suitable for cane and capable of producing over five million metric tonnes of sugarcane, the nation had no business importing sugar.

    Nigeria produces two per cent of its requirement, importing 98 per cent of the commodity. This was attested to by AFDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

    The Nation checks revealed that  due to challenges faced by sugar cane farmers, which have made the commodity highly unexploited, key players have remained in the business by importing  from Brazil.

    There are five major players in the industry: Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), BUA Sugar Refinery, Savannah Sugar and Josepdam Sugar Company, and Flour Mills of Nigeria.  Dangote Sugar produces 1.44 million tonnes.  BUA adds 720,000 metric tonnes.

    Dangote Refinery, which supplies 70 per cent of the local market requirement, plans to spend $1.5 billion to increase output over the next five years.

    “In the next five years, we should be able to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes locally, from around 50,000 metric tonnes now,” Abdullahi Sule, Managing Director of DSR, told Reuters in Abuja.

    To revamp the sector, the Federal Government has initiated incentives for an enabling environment for investors.

    Among the incentives are zero per cent duty on machinery and spare parts by companies, as well as 10 per cent import duty and 50 per cent levy on imported raw sugar. There is equally a 20 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy on imported refined sugar.

    The government has also begun a credit support scheme for sugarcane growers through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks; in addition to provision of infrastructure, such as access roads, boreholes, power lines, land acquisition, and health care facilities for new sugar estates.

    To reinforce its commitment, it has banned refined sugar in retail-ready packets into the country.

    According to industry watchers, privatisation of sugar estates has improved the subsector; it is now better managed. This, to them, can be attributed to the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) and the National Sugar Development Council.

    But the challenge remains evolving strategies to meet the demands of about 168 million consumers and prevent huge spending on imports.

    Industry players contend that there is an urgent need to establish mills where sugarcane can be crushed. They also add that sufficient portions of land should be made available to grow the plant. Sugar cane farmers complain of dearth of industrial buyers which leads to immense post-harvest wastage.

    Analysts believe that the establishment of a board to link buyers (companies) and sellers (farmers) could be a way out.

    Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) lauded the policy, describing it as a bold step which, if well implemented, will  have a multiplier effect on the sugar sector.

    “If we don’t want to move backward, we should take our destiny in our  hands to reduce importation, save the naira and the exchange rate and give jobs to our people,” said former NACCIMA Director-General, John Isemede.

    He said the private sector strongly believes that with these incentives, new investors will come into the sector while existing ones may expand their operations which would create jobs.

    “Those who are service providers, those who are into agro chemical and implements will have jobs,” he emphasised.

    However, he urged that priority should be given to companies and individuals in form of tax holidays, so that: ”We  do not leave our gates open for people to come in only to invest and after four-to- five years, because you have given them pioneer status, they will relocate to neighbouring countries.”

    “There should be a road map and it should be properly monitored so that we do not solve one problem and create multiple other problems. So, the position of NACCIMA, or the OPS, is that it is a welcome development because it will create jobs, it will reduce the price of sugar

    “In addition, it will help the country to move from its present level of the consumption of granulated sugar to cube and brown sugar, the one used for cake-making, so, it is a welcome development”.

    He noted that extant companies in the sector, such as Dangote Sugar Refinery and BUA Sugar Refinery, are into pack sizes now, and they have big sugar cane farms.

    “Dangote has a big farm in Numa, Adamawa State, which is the Savannah Sugar Company. So, they can now continue to invest more. You heard of Bacita Sugar, there is one in Hadejia and there is another one in Kwara. So, these are opportunities that we have to tap into to develop our economy,” he added.

    Managing Director, A &P Foods Limited, Sameer Vaswani, manufacturers of HAANSBRO brand of biscuits, chewing gums and sweets, also hailed the policy.

    Vaswani said: “The three main raw materials required for biscuit production are flour, sugar and palm oil. The long-term policy of encouraging local sugar cane plantations and growing of sugar cane locally is a fantastic policy but it needs time as sugarcane planting and harvesting cannot just start overnight.”

    In order to ensure availability of sugar cane, Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Abuja, Dr. Latif Busari, unveiled plans to cite 236,000 land banks in 17 states for sugarcane production.

    He listed the states as  Katsina, Zamafara, Jigawa, Imo, Ogun, Kwara, Kogi, Edo, Cross River, Benue, Taraba, Ogun, Plateau, Ondo, Anambra  and Adamawa.

    According to him, the industry is a promoter of investment, job and wealth creation and a tool for rapid rural development as it creates communities that are self-sufficient.

    As an example, he said that in India, the sugar industry employs one million people directly and six million indirectly, stressing that it is what it will do for Nigeria.

    He advised the Federal Government to encourage states to make land available to existing and prospective investors for the project. He said the expected cost of implementing the project to raise local sugar production for self-sufficiency as in the cement is about $3.1 billion. This will stem the tide of importation and enhance the production of ethanol and electricity generation.

    In an interview, former Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said compared to other West African countries, Nigeria produces two per cent of the 2.5 million metric tonnes of sugar required for its 170 million population while over 75 per cent of raw sugar is imported and granulated by a few investors in the sugar sector. Thus, the country is the lowest producer in the region, in spite of abundant raw materials for sugar production across the country.

    For instance, Benin Republic produces 25.6 per cent of its sugar requirement; Burkina Faso, 47 per cent; Cote d’Ivoire 54 per cent; Senegal, 48 per cent and Mali, 28 per cent.

  • Nigeria spends N10tr on rice, sugar, wheat since 2005

    The Federal Government yesterday said the country has spent over N10 trillion on the importation of rice, sugar, wheat and fish since 2005.

    The government said the figure indicated that the country spends over N1 trillion year importing the food items.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sonny Echono, said  Nigeria’s food import bill is growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent, while the country continued to rely on the importation of food from the global market.

    Echono spoke during a two-day workshop on Food Crisis Prevention and Management Charter held at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja yesterday.

    He added that import dependency was hurting Nigeria farmers, displacing local production and creating  unemployment.

    According to him, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is spiralling, driven by the wave of four million young people entering the workforce every year with only a small fraction able to find employment.

    “Nigeria became a net importer of food and major importer of wheat, rice, sugar and fish. Importation of these four commodities accounts for over N1trillion in foreign exchange every year since 2005. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that Nigeria is the world’s largest importer of United States hard red and white winter wheat with an annual food import of N635billion.

    “It is also the second largest importer of rice (N700billion last year), sugar (N217billion) and fish (N97billion). Nigeria’s food imports are growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent per annum while relying on the import of expensive food on global markets fuels domestic inflation,” he said, lamenting that Nigeria  imports what it can produce in abundance.

    According to him,  import-dependency is hurting local  farmers, displacing local production and creating job loss.

    Echono, who was represented by the Director of Agriculture, Mr. Damilola Eniayeju, explained that Nigeria had vast arable land for cultivation, adding that this must be harnessed by stakeholders in order to effectively prevent food crisis and reduce import to its barest minimum.

    He noted that the country has about 174 million people to feed daily as well as its neighbours, adding that it was time to start thinking of massive agricultural production for export.

    “Nigeria has huge agricultural potential, with over 84 million hectares of arable land, of which only 40 per cent is cultivated. A population of over 167 million making it Africa’s largest market; and 230 billion cubic meters of water, making it one of the richest sources for agricultural growth in the world.

    “Agriculture contributes to rural people’s livelihoods by providing them with food and income. In addition, agricultural exports have potential to contribute to the national economy through generating foreign exchange and improving the balance of payments.

    “The fact that the bread basket region–Northcentral part of Nigeria, has the lowest unemployment rate (nine per cent) in the country suggests that increasing investment in agricukture is a frontal attack on the unemployment challenge,” Echono added.

  • Low sugar prices hurt S.Africa’s Illovo Sugar, Tongaat

    Illovo Sugar Ltd and Tongaat Hullett, Africa’s two biggest producers of the sweetener, reported weaker full-year profits on Monday, blaming softer global prices and lower output, sending their shares sliding.

    Lower export prices to key regions such as the European Union (EU) were worsened by the weakening of the euro and the Brazilian real as well as weaker production in South Africa.

    Shares in Illovo dropped by 8 per cent to 969 rand, their lowest in six years and biggest daily fall since 2004.

    Smaller rival Tongaat fell 0.7 percent to 174 rand.

    The sugar industry has grown increasingly competitive in recent years due to excess supplies and a crowded marketplace.

    World sugar prices are languishing near the lowest levels in more than six years below 13 cents per pound.

    The South African sugar producers said they were forced to sell their commodity at a loss due to low prices and high operating costs while countries such as Brazil produce cheaply and flood the market.

    Illovo said tough global markets were offset by stronger demand in South Africa and Tanzania after the governments there took import protection steps against cheap and illegal sugar.

    Mozambique is expected to introduce protection measures in the next few months, said the firm’s managing director Gavin Dalgleish.

    Illovo, which also operates in Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania, expected a medium-term price recovery in world sugar prices.

    Dalgleish told Reuters that Illovo would intensify diversification of its revenue and reduce exposure to sugar, including replicating its Tanzanian ethanol distillery in Zambia and the possibility of furfural production in Swaziland.

    Ethanol is used in whisky and rums while furfural is an ingredient used in making lubricating oils and flavourants.

    Illovo’s sugar’s production fell 3.8 per cent to 1.76 million tonnes in the year, while Tongaat’s output dropped 7.7 per cent to 1.31 million. Both firms attributed the fall to the drought and winter frost affecting their South African plantations.

    Illovo’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year to March fell 7.7 per cent to 179 cents, while Tongaat’s HEPS slipped 16 percent to 826.1 cents over the same period.

    Wage talks with unions in the sugar industry reached a deadlock last week, risking the possibility of a strike, said Dalgleish. Last year workers downed tools over wages, briefly affecting output.

  • Beware, honey has more calories than table sugar

    I would not have been writing on this subject today, but I seem to be getting into argument on it all the time. Honey is good for me but sugar is not.

    I am surrounded by people who love sweet things and feel safe submerging themselves in honey but speaking against and declining table sugar.

    My dear Mrs. Ekwom, my very dependable friend, who picks my daughter from school any time I am held up, believes that her family of lovely four boys and husband are better off with honey and not sugar.

    My own husband who secretly heaps sugar into his tea/coffee and cereals but eats honey openly and smugly and, of course, my lovely mother who all her life preaches against refined table sugar while indulging in honey and calorie counting.

    Don’t get me wrong, honey is good. I am not here to write against it. But if you are running away from sugar because of its negative health consequences, then you should also run away from the god’s food ‘honey’.

    A visit to the dietician department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) revealed that about over fifty patients are attended to weekly by nutritionists and other health personnel.

     “We do not recommend honey for any of our patients because it has more calories than even sugar; many people are not aware of this, but that is a fact,” said one of the senior officers whose name I cannot mention because of the civil service code.

    “Most of our patients are people who are diabetic and others who are suffering from different weight-related diseases, so we do not treat them with sugar or honey, two of which can make their case worse,” explained the LASUTH nutritionist.

    “Rather, we recommend sweeteners that have no sugar and are calorie-free.” True to what she said, I saw some packets of Tropicana Slim sweeteners which she said sells for N500 per packet and the big packet goes for a higher price.

    Though the LASUTH staff I interviewed stated that Tropicana Slim sweetener is zero calorie, further research reveals that it contains aspartame. It contains 10 calorie per serving (2.5g) but provides the same sweetness as 10g sugar (sucrose) containing 40 calories.

    From research findings also, some people who have been using artificial sweeteners for long have complained of gastrointestinal problems, seizures, dizziness, migraines, blurred vision, allergic reactions, blood sugar increases and weight gain.

    The major ingredients in most artificial sweeteners are sorbitol and sucralose, while they contain no saccharine, cyclamate, sugar, it still provides the taste of real sugar without all the calories of sugar or honey.

    Loading honey unto a bowl of pap, porridge or breakfast cereal is not much better for our bodies than layering that cup of tea of cereal with granulated sugar; it is not benign. It has a knock on effect on the body like refined sugar.

    “You will be surprised to know that honey is higher in calories than table sugar.” I actually made a double take when Dietician Ngozi Ajero of Eko Hospital Lagos said this to me.

    Yes, I did a double take. I have a niece who has been working assiduously on her weight. She goes to the gym regularly but comes back to laden her toast and cereals with honey. Of course it never occurred to her that honey is high in calories. Poor girl.

    “A teaspoon of commercial natural honey contains about 22 calories, while a teaspoon of sugar is around 16 calories,” she explained.

    Unfortunately, most people who swapped honey for sugar, like my own husband, pour it onto their foods liberally, believing it to be superior to table sugar. When people think that something is low in fat, they eat it more.

    Where are the health benefits of honey so often talked about? While raw, unrefined varieties of honey do contain trace vitamins and minerals; niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin Bb, they only make-up about the two percent of honey’s total content.

    Researchers from Jahrom University of Medical Science in Iran monitored a range of symptoms, including runny nose, muscle pain, fever, coughing and sneezing. At the end of the study, which was reported in the Archives of Medical Research, the researchers found a significant difference in duration of all symptoms with the honey group faring much better.

    It’s thought that this is due to compounds in honey such as phenolic acids and flavonoids.

     However, many big brand honeys and other natural sweeteners in super markets have been processed, heated and fitted to rid them of pollen and naturally-occurring bacteria in raw varieties, in the process inadvertently removing vitamins and minerals.

    According to Dr. Fred Onyeachonam of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, people believe that honey is better than sugar because honey is made of 55 percent fructose (fruit sugar) or the kind of sugar you find in fruits.

    “Refined table sugar (sucrose) is processed in our bodies by insulin which is produced by the pancreas.  Honey is about 55 percent fructose that is processed by the liver,” he said.

    Continuing, he explained, “despite the chemical difference, our bodies still react to honey in much the same way as it reacts to sugar that is with a blood sugar increase.”

    This, he said, “encourages the pancreas to produce insulin, which leads the body to store fat and gain weight. When eaten in excess, products containing fructose contribute to obesity, heart problems and liver disease just like products with refined sugar.”

    According to one report, “it is all about the language. When you think of honey, you think of nature; farms, bees, while when you think of sugar, images of factories, processing, churning out of white granules fill the mind.”

    But who says that everything natural is good to health. Table sugar does not fall from the sky. It comes from two sources, which are sugar cane and sugar beets. When honey is refined, it’s no longer natural, just as refined sugar cane and sugar beets.

    Just be aware of what you are taking in. Reactions are very much welcome.

  • Sugar contributes to emerging health threats in Africa

    Sugar contributes to emerging health threats in Africa

    Africa is long known for high rates of hunger, under nutrition and infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS but a disturbing new threat of non communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with overweight, obesity and diet-related NCDs is emerging in many countries. The rapid unplanned urbanization of countries in the African Region has resulted in increasing consumption of free sugars, sugar-sweetened drinks and processed foodstuffs.

    To help improve dietary choices and counter the rapid upsurge of NCDs, WHO released updated recommendations for adults and children to reduce the intake of free sugars throughout the life course.

    WHO further recommends that in both adults and children, the intake of free sugars be reduced to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake and a further reduction to below 5 per cent of total energy intake would provide additional health benefits.

    “After years of research and over 9000 studies, the dangers of high levels of sugars consumption are finally starting to be known. Daily intake of free sugars should be no more than 10 per cent of total energy intake in order to prevent NCDs, in particular tooth decay and health problems resulting for overweight and obesity, namely diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer and it is suggested to further reduce the intake to less than 5 per cent of total energy intake for added health benefits,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

    Using a 2000-calorie diet as an example, less than 10 per cent of total energy intake of free sugars or 200 calories equates to less than 50 grams of free sugars. Applying the suggested intake of less than 5 per cent of total energy for the same example would reduce the free sugars intake to less than 25 grams. This is of utmost importance to children and adults as over-consumption of free sugars which is contributing greatly to excess energy intake coupled with low-energy expenditures from lack of physical activity is causing unhealthy weight gains.

    Much of the sugars consumed today are “hidden” in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweets. For example, 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce contains around 4 grams (around 1 teaspoon) of sugar. A single can of sugar-sweetened soda contains up to 40 grams (around 10 teaspoons) of
    sugars.

    In recent years, the rate of increase of childhood overweight and obesity in developing countries with emerging economies has been more than 30 per cent higher than that in developed countries.

    In 2013, it was estimated that 42 million children under the age of 5 in the world were overweight or obese and about 35 million of them were living in the developing countries.

    “The risk of type 2 diabetes in adults increases continuously with increasing obesity, and decreases with weight loss. The new WHO sugars recommendations contribute to halting the spread of overweight and obesity and helping individuals maintain a healthy weight throughout the life course,” said Dr Tigest Ketsela, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    The upsurge of sugars consumption in the African Region is closely associated with many cross-cutting variables such as increased availability, cultural traditions, individual preferences and beliefs as well as geographical, environmental, economic and social factors.

    “Rapid uptake of the new WHO sugars guidelines along with increased physical activity is needed to halt and reverse the obesity and NCD epidemics in Africa. New and bold inter sectoral policies and actions are needed to improve overall health and quality of life of populations in the Region,” said Dr Chandralall Sookram, Medical Officer for the Primary Prevention of NCDs at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

  • Too much sugar reduces immunity, says provost

    Too much sugar reduces immunity, says provost

    Provost of the Federal College of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Lagos, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya has urged people to adopt lifestyles that can boost their immunity.

    According to him, this is necessary because people with strong immunity have natural resistance to diseases.

    He said consuming too much sugar suppresses the immune system cells responsible for attacking bacteria. “By consuming between 75 and 100 grammes of sugar solution can reduce the ability of white blood cells to overpower and destroy bacteria,” he said.

    Besides, natural fruit juices, tea and water should be used to flush the cells, boost immune system with vitamins and keep hydrated.

    He advised people to deal decisively with chronic stress because it makes them more vulnerable to illness, colds, and even serious diseases.

    “The continuation of stress exposes the body to a steady flow of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenalin, which suppress the immune system. People should breathe deep, meditate, or focus on ‘letting go’ to reduce their stress,” he said.

    People, he said, should be active by exercising as getting stuck to a chair for long hours can reduce immune system efficiency.

    “Being stuck at a desk all day or skipping exercise can reduce your immune system’s efficiency. Movement, or exercise, not only stimulates the lymphatic system (the sewer system of the body), but increases oxygenation, and increases the level of leukocytes in the body, an immune system cell that fights infection,” he said.

    He said inadequate sleep can affect immunity, stressing that insomnia can cause a rise in inflammation – and similarly an increase in cortisol. It is clear a great way to boost the immune system is to get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night.

    Ogunkoya recommended lifestyle changes for people to shed extra body weight, adding that being overweight increases their chances of having diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

    “People can increase their immunity by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, avoiding refined sugars and processed carbohydrates. Also, they should consume lean, optimally plant-based proteins, drinking plenty of water, and getting a moderate exercise regularly.

    He said the essential amino acids, antioxidants, and healthy fats in avocados can help to balance hormones, support the immune system and balance adrenals.

    The provost said ginger is a good plant that aids immunity. “It warms the body and it helps to break down accumulation of toxins in the organs, specifically the lungs and sinuses. This root also helps to cleanse the body’s lymphatic system, which is the body’s sewer system,” he said.

    He urged people to meditate because relaxation can help to clear negative thought and ensure best possible focus.

    Ogunkoya said taking oat can improve overall benefit of the immune system, adding that a portion of oatmeal contains soluble fibre, which is known to reduce LDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol.

    Garlic, he said, works as antibacterial, antiviral and a great immune booster when eaten in its raw state. It is rich in antioxidants, he added.

    He enjoined people to take vitamin C as it is known for its immune boosting power. “Generally all fresh fruits and vegetables are good for the immune system. Top antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc are good for boosting immunity. Also helpful are brightly coloured fruits, such as citrus, berries, grapes, kiwi, apples, and vegetables, such as kale, onions, spinach and sweet potatoes. Zinc is found naturally in red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, legumes, sunflower and pumpkin seeds,” Ogunkoya said.

  • Which is better between honey and sugar?

    Which is better between honey and sugar?

    In a sugar conscious world, it’s important to find alternatives. Honey is one such alternative; but is it really better for you than sugar? Here’s a short guide that can explain the differences between honey and sugar to determine if honey is superior to sugar.

    White sugar

    White sugar is also known as refined sugar. It usually comes from one of two sources – sugar cane or sugar beets. The process of refining sugar strips it of its nutrients and has additives added to it to allow it to crystallise and keep for longer than other sweeteners.

    Advantages and disadvantages of sugar

    The major advantages of sugar seem to be for the producers of sugar. It keeps longer – meaning it has a longer shelf life and is less likely to be wasted. Secondly, refined sugar produces a more attractive product – more likely to attract customers to purchase it.

    However, according to its opponents, sugar has many disadvantages. It has been blamed for everything from diabetes to cancer. While many of the things sugar is blamed for may not be true, here are a few of the things sugar has been suggested to do:

    • Decreases appetite

    • Irritates the stomach and causes heartburn

    • Causes diabetes

    • Provides a quick, short burst of energy that leaves you worse off than before

    • Raises insulin levels

    • Weakens the immune system

    • Increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety, hyperactivity and inability to concentrate

    • Causes kidney damage

    • Increases the likelihood of tooth decay

    • Speeds up the aging process

    • Causes cardiovascular disease and hypertension

    • Worsens cancer

     

    Honey

    Proponents of honey over sugar say that honey is the world’s most natural sweetener. It is not produced by human hands, and therefore is believed by its supporters to be an ideal sweetener. Honey is produced by bees. They gather nectar from flowers and return it to the hive. There, the nectar is transformed into honey and stored in the hive for food over the winter. Honey has a long history of consumption by humans and is believed to be an older sweetener than sugar.

    Advantages and disadvantages of honey

    Like sugar, honey is a high calorie food. Pound for pound, it almost contains as many calories as sugar. However, the good news is that honey is sweeter than sugar, so you need less for the same amount of sweetness. Also, unlike sugar, which is virtually nutrient-free, honey contains a small amount of nutrients. Some would say that this is a negligible amount and that consuming honey is no better off than consuming sugar.

    Proponents of honey offer these benefits:

    • Inclusion of healthy bacteria

    • Helps to control blood sugar better than refined sugar does

    • Can improve insulin resistance over that of refined sugar

    • Helps to improve the immune system,particularly in cancer patients

    • Contains antioxidants that help prevent free radicals

    These benefits, as well as the nutrients it provides, are reduced or disappear altogether in processed honey. Raw honey is recommended. A downside to honey, however, is the likelihood of a toxin that affects children under the age of one.