National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday warned against excessive fasting which can destroy kidney.
Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who spoke in Abuja, urged Nigerians to fast with sense not to damage their kidneys.
He said Nigerians should not patronise hawkers and street sellers of medicines.
Adeyeye said: “Kidney failure, liver damage, others, I don’t know how many have died in Nigeria due to substandard medicines and unwholesome foods.
‘’However, we are a religious country, Muslims and Christians, we fast a lot, and it is part of the kidney problem. Because your body has to have homeostasis balance, meaning the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function. Some people will fast for 10, 20 days, without drinking a lot of water. The kidney is being punished.
“Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in an exponential manner, with damage to the kidneys. This is because the kidney does not have enough water to dilute and filter.
“I fast, but I do with sense. We have to fast with sense, if not, we will pay with our kidneys. Also, do not buy medicines from hawkers and corner stores but pharmacies.”
