As delicious as Nigerian foods are, some of them might be quietly harming your health, especially when eaten too often or prepared the wrong way.
Many beloved Nigerian foods, while delicious, may pose health risks when consumed excessively or prepared poorly. Staples like fried plantains, pounded yam with rich soups, and sugar-laden snacks often contain unhealthy amounts of oil, salt, or processed ingredients that can contribute to hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease over time. The traditional cooking methods that make these dishes so flavorful – deep-frying, excessive palm oil use, and heavy seasoning – can transform nutritious ingredients into potential health hazards when not balanced properly.
1. Suya
Suya is a popular street food we all love. Unfortunately, this beloved delicacy is doing more harm than good.
Most suya is grilled over open flames, which can produce harmful compounds that are linked to cancer when consumed often. Suya also tends to be high in salt, spice, and MSG (used in yaji), which can raise your blood pressure and strain your kidneys over time.
Instead, take suya once in a while. When you do, balance it with fresh vegetables or cucumber, and avoid pairing it with soft drinks. Better yet, try grilling lean meat at home with less salt and natural spices.
2. Semo
Semo is smooth, stretchy, filling, and if we’re being honest, delicious. It can be paired with any soup and still bang. But nutritionally, it’s not the best swallow out there. Semo is a highly processed carbohydrate with little to no fibre or nutrients, and eating too much of it can spike your blood sugar and lead to weight gain.
Semo also contributes to insulin resistance when consumed frequently, which increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
A better choice? Go for swallows like oat flour, unripe plantain flour, or amala made from real yam or cassava. These are more fibrous and better for your gut and blood sugar.
3. Soft drinks
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Soft drinks like Coke, Fanta, and other fizzy drinks are basically liquid sugar bombs. One bottle of soda can contain up to 12 teaspoons of sugar! That’s more than your body needs in a whole day. Over time, this can cause obesity, diabetes, liver problems, and even heart disease.
NAFDAC has warned about the increasing sugar content in fizzy drinks, especially among young Nigerians.
Tip: Swap soda for water, zobo without added sugar, or fresh fruit smoothies.