Stomach or peptic ulcer is very common among young people today. There is a trend that starving or fasting for a long time without food causes ulcers, however, this assertion is not strong.
From my observations and research, I realized that Nsaid drugs (Pain killers) such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, and their kinds cause 80% of peptic ulcer.
Ulcer results from a secretion of acids from the stomach which harm the underlying layer of the intestines and cause wounds (ulcer). This wound causes pain and other symptoms in the body. Taking these Nsaid drugs without enough food makes the situation worse as it solves one problem and creates another one.
Now let’s talk about Cassava. Cassava is a tropical root crop grown and processed to make fufu (akpu) and Garri.
It can be consumed either by roasting or cooking in its raw form or eaten as eba or fufu when processed. It can also be consumed in another form when soaked in water and diluted with sugar and other ingredients.
Can Garri Cause Ulcer?
Although 80% of what we eat determines our health condition. However, there is no strong research that garri causes ulcers. Additionally, I have observed that there is a particular species of garri that has high acid content which people commonly call “chop and die” in pidgin. The reason why it is called chop and die is not because when you eat it you’ll die but because of the effect of the high acid content contained in it.
In its fried form, there are some garri that are sour while others are not. The sour garri tends to cause more trouble to ulcer patients than the other. Therefore, it is possible that the sour garri may be a product of the”chop and die” cassava species.
It is strongly encouraged that you look into your health and observe the flare-ups that occur when you eat a particular food or with respect to this topic drink a certain garri. Ulcer flares happen often when you don’t eat for a while or when you eat the wrong food.
In all, stay away from acidic foods and drinks.
Written By: Teryila Sylvester Denis denissly1@gmail.com