Energy drinks, alcohol, damage liver, kidney – Doctors warn Nigerian youths

A Senior Registrar, Community Medicine and Primary Care, Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abeokuta, Dr Okoro Sulaiman, has warned Nigerians, especially youths, against the consumption of alcohol, energy and carbonated drinks, saying they damage vital organs.

Dr Sulaiman explained that the chemical constituents in the drinks, including caffeine and alcohol, damage the liver, kidneys and other vital organs.

He faulted the belief that a small quantity of alcohol is healthy, insisting that no level of alcohol is safe and total abstinence remains best.

The doctor, who spoke at Abule Ojere,at a programme organised by the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Unification Campus Fellowship, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, also advised residents to reduce their salt intake, over-fried foods and beverages, and replace beef, the most common red meat, with healthier options like snail, fish, chicken and goat meat.

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He asked the elderly to embrace daily intake of fruits, vegetables, water and yogurt for better health and start a regular exercise routine, noting that lifestyle modification accounts for a large percentage of disease prevention.

“Alcohol itself is actually unhealthy for the system. The chemical content in these things- the alcohol, the caffeine, and some other constituents in these drinks is unhealthy for the system.

“So it’s important that people realise this early, before it damages them. My take is that no level of alcohol is actually healthy. The best is to avoid them totally, and it’s the same for energy drinks.”

Okoro, however, lamented poor drug compliance among Nigerians, stressing that conditions like hypertension and diabetes are not curable but only manageable with consistent medication.

Also speaking, Dr Dosunmu Adesegun, a Medical Officer with the Ogun State Primary Health Care Board, said diet contributes about 50 per cent to the management of ailments, while drugs contribute only 10 to 15 per cent.

He called for regular checkups, stressing that early detection is key.

“Now, the thing about it is what people don’t really tell us is the fact that our diet constitutes about 50% of management of almost any ailment. Now, a lifestyle modification, which includes stress management, exercises, adequate sleep and rest, is about 35-40%.

“Our drugs, which many doctors, pharmacists, lay emphasis on, are just 10-15%. So, the way we live our lives, yes, is the key to us living healthy lives.“

He also cautioned residents against patronising quack tattoo artists, warning that improperly sterilised instruments could transmit infections from person to person like every other sharp object.

Chairperson of Abule -ijeun kukute, Abeokuta, Mrs Mary Gbamigboye, appreciated the church and medical team for the gesture, while appealing to government to address bad roads, lack of clean water and high rent in the student area.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman Graduate Forum of the fellowship, Bakare Adewale, explained that the aim is to give back to the host community, maintaining that health is importance and the initiative is necessary following the current economic hardship.

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