Wickedness hinders longevity – Experts

Participants in a workshop have said that avoiding acts of wickedness and healthy eating are some of the secrets of longevity.
They said this on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State at a symposium to mark the centenary of the birth of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana.
The topic of the symposium was: “Ageing, Longevity and God Ordained Prophesy.”
Prof. Lekan Oyedeji, a former lecturer at the University of Lagos, said that the best medicine for promoting longevity “is to ensure that people stop all acts of wickedness”.
Oyedeji added: “It is good to forgive and forget the past because God forgives us our sins.”
Oyedeji, who is also a historian, noted that water and vegetables help in promoting longevity.
“A litre of water daily prevents malaria,” he said.
The lecturer further said that taking water could also prevent ailments such as heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
He said: “So, we should drink water to dilute blood so that it can flow freely in our bodies.
“The heart will have difficulty pumping if the blood is thick.”
Oyedeji also advised that people should take more of vegetables as eating them also makes one to live longer.
Tunde Ajobo, a dietician at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, noted that ageing cannot be avoided, but advised people to eat a lot of fruits.
Ajobo said: “Theoretically, ageing is unstoppable.
“Growth and development go alongside ageing once we become adults.”
Ajobo, who said inhaling smoke could accelerate ageing, stressed the danger of taking carbonated food.
He called on the government to promote healthy living by investing in food production.
“It has been noticed that the price foods low in fat such as fish is on the high side and so people cannot afford it,” he said.
He advised the public to exercise, saying good health comes not merely from eating good food.
Bishop Wale Oke of the Christ Life Ministries, spoke on the bad effect of speaking negative words to others.
According to Oke, once people are able to keep their lips from speaking evil and do good, then there are chances of them living long.
He said: “The wicked die before their days.
“God can lengthen your days if you think positively of others.
“If Nigerians can live rightly, God will lengthen their days.
“Wicked people will die before their time.”
Prof. Abdulrahman Oloyede, the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, in his contribution, said longevity “is God’s directive, which has nothing to do with what one drinks or eats”.
Oloyede advised the public to do what pleases God so that they could live longer.
Speaking in the same vein, a worshipper of Ifa religion, Chief Ifasola Ifamapawa, warned against discrimination and intolerance.
Ifamapawa called on the public to serve God in truth and in light, adding: “I advice all of you to love one another and stop acts of wickedness.”
Earlier, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, a renowned medical practitioner, said ageing occurs in every process.
“So, we should do good and hope in God to give us good health so that we can live long,” Akinkugbe said.