“Jedi Jedi” is an health condition that is widely discussed especially in the south western part of Nigeria. Many people have narrated their encounter with this health condition.

Many people when asked to define what “Jedi Jedi” is, tried to give different answers. The different answers given range from back pain, constipation, bloody stool, haemorrhoid, water stool to low sexual drive.

This popular health condition is believed to affect people of all age range. Many people believed that this “Jedi Jedi” do affect babies which makes them to pass watery and mucous stool.

Though there is no medical condition called “Jedi Jedi” but the symptoms which the health condition labeled “Jedi Jedi” gives have their own medical terminologies.

Symptoms such as watery and mucous faeces is called Diarrhoea, bloody and mucous faeces is called Dysentery, the protrusion of the lining of the rectum through the anus is called Rectal Prolapse, also symptom such as the swollen and inflamed veins in the anus and rectum with the presence of blood is called Haemorrhoids.

It is widely believed among people that there is no medical treatment for “Jedi Jedi”. So many times, people turn to local herbs to treat this “Jedi Jedi” with the symptoms that has been mentioned above.

Parents do give these concoctions called local herbs to their babies who showed any symptoms of this “Jedi Jedi”.

Care must be taken in giving babies these local herbs because it can have adverse effects on the baby’s kidney and liver. Even adult’s liver and kidney are not spared from damage from the use or consumption of these local herbs.

The consumption of local herbs for this “Jedi Jedi” is wrong because all the symptoms it posited have different ways of treatment. No single local herb can be used to manage all the symptoms that come with “Jedi Jedi”.

Diarrhea can be treated by using Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), Dysentery can be treated using antibiotics while Rectal Prolapse and Haemorrhoids depending on the level of their severity can be managed. There is a need to visit or consult a doctor for proper management.

One of the symptoms of “Jedi Jedi” in adult that is mostly talked about is back pain.

When we consume a diet high in sugar, there is a trigger for the release of insulin and stress hormones. When there is an elevated blood sugar, the adrenal glands trigger the release of cortisol.

According to scientific research, the cortisol level in the blood is usually at higher value in the morning. Cortisol has an anti inflammatory function. This protects the tissue and nerve against damage.

An excessive increase in secretion of cortisol (hypercortisolism) in the blood due to elevated blood sugar which is as a result of high diet in sugar may pose a damaging effect in the body.

This activates inflammatory mast cells. Acute back pain is a stimulus response to hypercortisolism (excessive level of cortisol in the blood).

If the condition is not adequately and promptly managed, it can result to prolonged back pain, which could affect appetite, sexual drive, depression and fatigue.

Research has shown that important minerals are required for proper muscle activities. Sugar has a negative effect on minerals needed for muscle activities.

Minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium are affected negatively by high sugar diet. The deficiency of some of these minerals can bring cramps or excessive muscle contraction.

Nutritional management include the following:
1. Consumption of low glycemic index foods: Research shows that low glycemic index foods have a positive effect on the rise of blood sugar level, 2 to 4 hours after consuming them. These low glycemic index foods have slower action on the rise of glucose level in the blood. They are called “good carbs”.
They tend to keep your blood sugar more stable and steady. These are examples of foods with low glycemic index; Corn, Beans, Okro, Leafy Vegetables, Banana, Unripe Plaintain, Milk, Fruits (lower glycemic index ones), Brown Rice, Akara, MoinMoin, Soy, Lentils.
High glycemic foods should be reduced in your diet. Examples include; White bread, White rice, Pastas, Table sugar, Processed foods, Watermelon, Pineapples, Sweetened drinks, Ice creams, Cornflakes, Garri, Eba, Amala, Agidi, Semovita.

2. Consumption of fruits and vegetables: Vegetables and fruits is very good because it has high fiber content. Most high fiber foods have low glycemic index. So they have positive effect on the blood glucose level. Examples include; cashew, lemon, apples, pears, oranges, dates grapefruit, carrots, cucumber, celery, cauliflower, asparagus.

3. Do not skip or consume high sugar breakfast: Research has shown that skipping or consuming high sugar breakfast may give rise to unstable increase in cortisol level and this may put you at risk of chronic inflammation and acute back pain.
4. Avoid consumption of caffeine
5. Have a good sleep and exercise regularly.


Written by : AYOADE ADEDEJI MOSES
Adedamz Nutrition Consult
Email: adedamznc@gmail.com
Tel: 08137821105