Nutritionist warns: Don’t eat Suya without vegetables

I guess there is always a bit of hidden bitter in every sweet. I must confess, most times I eat my suya without the veg.

Lovers of grilled and barbecued beef and chicken popularly called suya in Nigeria, have been advised to always eat the delicacy with generous portions of the slices of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables usually served along with the meat.

Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, a Professor of Nutrition and Director of Academic Planning at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Edo State, said there is a strong link between consumption of suya and increased risk of cancer,  consumption of suya garnished with onions and other vegetables, has a strong cancer-lowering effect.

Onimawo, who is Immediate past President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, and Dean, College of Food Processing & Storage Technology ,Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, recalled a warning by the World Health Organisation, WHO, that except there is deliberate effort to imbibe healthier  dietary and lifestyle habits over the next 10 years, cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, will increase by more than 27 percent in developing countries like Nigeria, compared to 17 percent in the developed world.

Speaking during the nutrition workshop organised by Coca-Cola Nigeria for health writers, the nutrition expert remarked that dietary habits play a major role in outcome of our health and one of this is the issue of cancer.

“Breast cancer used to be very low among our women in those days and it was even tagged oyinbo disease because it was very rare in Nigeria or in Africa for that matter”. “But today, this is no longer the case”. “in our research to trace it origin in Nigeria, it origin was traced to suya consumption”.

“During preparation of suya, the meat is cooked over an open fire, and oils from the meat undergo complex chemical reactions that produce toxins that are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in nature”.

“Meat cooked over open flame often causes the formation of toxic compounds known as Heterocyclic Amines, HCAs, which are carcinogenic compounds”. “The more well-done a meat is cooked, the higher concentration of carcinogenic HCA’s can form”.

When suya is served, the onion and other vegetables are actually added to act as antidote to the effect of the oil from the suya. Onions neutralise the oxidative effect of the chemicals in the oil and help prevent cancer.

The use of local spices such as ginger, clove, red pepper, black pepper, onion, thyme, oregano and garlic in a meat marinade before grilling is encouraged as it drastically reduce any carcinogens that normally would form on grilled meat.

The suya sauce popularly called Yaji, comprising most of these spices is believed to help ameliorate possible negative effects of the roasted red meat.  But excessive consumption of suya sauce could possible lead to kidney damage.

When meat is cooked in a water base as opposed to grilling, HCAs are eliminated. Meat cooked in a soup or pot will not have carcinogenic HCAs and is a healthier way to cook meat.

If you must eat suya, eat alongside with vegetables with less sauce. Prevention they say is better than cure.

Credit: Vanguard NG

Edited by Uchenna Udekwe