As a young girl, I ate all sorts of deserts: ice cream, meat pie, burger, chips and everything you could possibly think of. But when it comes to fruits? Nope! It was a no-go zone for me. I found an excuse for each fruit. Watermelon felt tasteless, oranges, Banana's and pawpaw, too sugary.
Well, over the course of time I discovered I fell ill easily. I caught a lot of flu and febrile illnesses. Drugs were to no avail and my parents were bothered as to why such things would happen incessantly. I had the best clothes, food, shoes, I literally lived a healthy life way above that of the average teenager.
Image is mine
The one that really got a hold of us was the day I fell really ill. My temperature rose to an extremely high level. My parents were scared. I felt lethargic, couldn't eat, lost my appetite, and I couldn't even walk. Breathing felt like a difficult task. It's an experience that's hard to erase, the kind that makes you want to narrate your experience to everyone you've ever come across.
I was rushed to the hospital where I was admitted for about 2 or 3 days. A doctor constantly checked up on me and guess what? He asked my mum some series of questions...
"Does she sleep with mosquito nets?" What is her source of water?" "Is she a sickler?"
"No." My mum responded to all his questions.
At some point he stopped. He assumed a writing stance, his gaze to the hospital ceiling.
"Yes!" He exclaimed, as though a sudden wave of realization had hit him.
"What kind of food does your daughter love?"
"She takes everything except fruit?"
"Interesting!" He said with an affirmative nod.
I laid on the hospital bed listening closely as I paid attention to every little detail.
Surely, there's no way something as ordinary as a fruit would be responsible for this I thought within myself.
"Is it because of the fruit?" I innocently asked.
He turned his gaze to me and said something...
"Try dey chop fruit oo," he spoke in pidgin, a native language known to all Nigerians. It translates to "Try to be eating fruits," in English language.
"Don't mind her." My Mum jumped in.
He wrote down some tests and told my mum to carry it out at the laboratory.
My mum returned with the tests and it happened that his observations were correct.
"I said it! Her immune system is really low." He said as he swiftly flipped through the results.
He took in a deep breath, took off his glasses "you'll have to get lots of fruits and vitamin supplements. Make sure she eats fruits at least give times in a week." He said , facing my mum.
Once in a week was enough punishment for me, now five times a week? I felt sad, and at the same time regretted that I neglected fruits, the major source of rich vitamins.
I was eventually taken off the drips and salines that they had placed me on, then I was discharged. The bills were paid and then just as I was about leaving, he said to me..
"Take fruits seriously, they prevent a whole lot of illnesses." He said before his cheeks widened into a warm friendly smile.
Upon arrival I placed myself on fruit therapy. I made certain I ate fruits atleast five times a week—A mindset that I've carried with me up till now. Only this time, I set my limits to about three times a week.
I know in this part of the world we tend to downplay every single thing, but come to think of it, it's the little things that matter.
We could help ourselves out by taking that conscious effort to eat fruits atleast three times in a week. It's really important for our health. My personal experience has taught me this the hard way.
Fruits boosts our immune system, contains potassium and lots of other ions that keep us fit and healthy.
Ever heard of the phrase you never know how bitter something is until you taste it. Well, don't wait to taste the bitterness of ill health before you adopt the habit of eating fruits.
Time waits for no being; Make the most of it now while you still can.