The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says excessive fasting can damage the kidney and other vital body organs.

Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, gave the warning during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

She asked Nigerians to ensure they conduct religious fasting with common sense for their body organs to function properly.

Ms Adeyeye explained that the body is supposed to have “homeostasis balance,” meaning the water level in the body system must be enough to make the kidney function properly without “being punished.”

“However, we are a very 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,” the NAFDAC boss stressed.

She explained that some people would fast for 10 to 20 days “without drinking a lot of water,” noting that “the kidney is being punished.”

The NAFDAC chief said, “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.”

She added, “I fast, but I fast with common sense. We have to fast with common sense. If not, we will pay it with our kidneys.”