Nutrition experts have called for the addition of soybeans to wheat flour in the production of staples such as bread, pasta and noodles, as a way to tackling malnutrition in the country. The experts made this call while speaking at the Protein Challenge Webinar Series 7, which held recently.
The webinar was themed: “Nigeria’s Protein Deficiency Challenge: Soybeans to The Rescue”.
Mrs Josephine Chukwunweike, a nutritionist and member of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), stated that children’s (ages 0 to five years) growth is usually dependent on diet and way of life, not solely on genetics. She added that protein is a vital nutrient needed for the development, upkeep and repair of all the cells in the human body.
She explained that soybean is a very healthy and cheap source of protein, which should be added in the production of staples, while also urging the government to educate farmers on the appropriate methods in farming to increase the production of soybeans in the country.
According to her, “Soybeans consist of more than 36 percent protein, 30 percent carbohydrates, and excellent amounts of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. It also has 20 percent oil, which makes it the most important crop for producing edible oil. A by-product from the oil production (soybean cake) is used as a high-protein animal feed in many countries.”
She revealed that soybean can be used in the production of soymilk, soy cake, tofu and soybean oil. Another panelist, Mr Charles Nkwoala, a community nutritionist with a specialty in Nutrition Education, said that people do not go to a shop to buy protein, minerals or vitamins, but food. Soybean is food and is very rich in protein, hence, when people eat soybean, a high amount of protein has been consumed.
The keynote speaker, Professor Ibiyemi Olayiwola, a professor of Human Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Bowen University, Iwo Osun State, stated that protein deficiency has led to a number of diseases among vulnerable groups such as wasting, stunting and underweight.
