Does Drinking OF Garri Affect Your Eyes? A Big Truth Every Student Should Know

Introduction

In most parts of West Africa, particularly Nigeria, garri is more than just food – it is a cultural symbol, a survival meal, and one of the most consumed staple foods. Whether soaked in cold water with sugar and groundnuts or prepared hot as eba with soup, garri has remained the student’s best companion in times of financial difficulty.

Yet, there is a persistent rumor, often repeated by parents, teachers, and elders: “If you drink too much garri, you will damage your eyes.”

But how true is this claim? Is garri a silent threat to vision, or is it just one of those traditional warnings designed to scare young people into moderation?

This article explores the history of garri, the science behind its production, the nutrients it contains, the myths surrounding eye health, and what every student should know about eating garri safely.

By the end of this article, you will have the big truth – supported by science – about whether drinking garri really affects eyesight.

Chapter 1: What Exactly Is Garri?

Garri is a food product made from cassava tubers (Manihot esculenta). It is produced through a process of peeling, washing, fermenting, grating, pressing, sieving, and frying. This results in the fine, crispy granules known as garri.

It is typically consumed in two main forms:

1. Soaked Garri (drinking garri): Garri is poured into cold water and taken with sugar, groundnuts, coconut, milk, or even smoked fish. Students often love this version because it is cheap, quick, and refreshing.

2. Garri as Eba (swallow): Hot water is used to make a stiff paste, usually eaten with soups such as egusi, vegetable, ogbono, or okra.

Garri is not just food; it is survival. For students in boarding schools, universities, and polytechnics, garri is often the last line of defense against hunger. It is portable, affordable, and filling.

But behind this beloved meal lies a health debate that has persisted for decades.

Chapter 2: The Origin of the Eye Problem Claim

The claim that “garri damages the eyes” is not new. It likely originated from the process of producing garri from cassava.

Cassava contains a natural compound called cyanogenic glycosides, which can release hydrogen cyanide when not properly processed. Cyanide in high concentrations is toxic to humans and can affect several body systems, including the nervous system and the eyes.

In poorly processed garri, traces of cyanide can remain. Consuming large amounts of such garri has been linked to a condition called tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) – a neurological disorder that can affect vision, hearing, and movement.

So the warning about garri and eye problems has its roots in real medical history, but the truth is more nuanced.

Chapter 3: Understanding Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy (TAN)

Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy is a disorder found in regions where cassava is a staple. Symptoms may include:

• Poor vision or partial blindness

• Hearing difficulties

• Numbness in hands and feet

• Difficulty walking or loss of balance

Research shows that this condition is linked to long-term consumption of insufficiently processed cassava, which leaves behind cyanide residues.

In Nigeria and other African countries where cassava is a staple, public health campaigns have stressed proper processing of garri to prevent such health risks.

Chapter 4: How Garri Can (and Cannot) Affect Your Eyes

Let’s break it down clearly:

✅ What Is True

• If garri is not well processed, cyanide residues may remain. Consuming such garri regularly in large amounts could, over time, damage nerves, including those related to eyesight.

• Poor nutrition (common among students who rely on only garri without adding protein or vitamins) can worsen eye health, leading to deficiencies such as vitamin A deficiency, which causes night blindness.

❌ What Is a Myth

• Eating any type of garri automatically damages the eyes. This is false. Properly processed garri is safe.

• Drinking garri once in a while, especially with a balanced diet, has no direct harmful effect on eyesight.

The truth is: it is not garri itself but the quality of processing and the overall diet that determine whether eyesight is affected.

Chapter 5: The Nutritional Value of Garri

Garri is primarily a source of carbohydrates. Here’s a breakdown of its nutritional content (per 100 grams, approximately):

• Calories: 360 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 80–85 g

• Protein: 1–2 g

• Fat: 0.1–0.3 g

• Fiber: 1–2 g

• Vitamin C: Traces (reduced during processing)

• Minerals: Calcium, magnesium, potassium in small amounts

Clearly, garri provides energy but lacks essential vitamins and proteins needed for eye health. This is where the risk comes in – not from toxicity alone, but from nutrient deficiency if garri is eaten in isolation.

Chapter 6: Eye Health and Nutrition

To understand the full picture, let’s connect nutrition to eye health.

Nutrients Essential for Healthy Eyes

• Vitamin A: Prevents night blindness and dry eyes. Found in palm oil, carrots, leafy greens, eggs, and milk.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Support retinal health. Found in fish and groundnuts.

• Vitamin C & E: Protect eyes from oxidative stress. Found in citrus fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

• Zinc: Helps in visual function. Found in beans, seafood, and meat.

When students consume only garri without these nutrients, their eyes may suffer indirectly due to deficiencies.

Chapter 7: Why Students Depend on Garri

For many students, garri is not a choice but a necessity. Reasons include:

1. Affordability: Garri is one of the cheapest staples available.

2. Convenience: It requires no cooking; just add water.

3. Durability: Garri lasts long without refrigeration.

4. Versatility: Can be eaten plain or with extras like sugar, milk, or groundnuts.

But the heavy reliance on garri as a main meal means students often neglect variety in their diet, making the myth of “garri damaging eyes” appear more believable.

Chapter 8: How to Safely Drink Garri Without Fear

Here are practical tips students should follow:

1. Buy Quality Garri: Always buy from trusted sources where proper processing is guaranteed.

2. Add Protein: Combine garri with groundnuts, milk, beans, fish, or eggs.

3. Add Vitamins: Fruits (like banana or orange) alongside soaked garri improve nutrition.

4. Avoid Overdependence: Don’t make garri your breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Balance is key.

5. Use Palm Oil in Soups: When eating garri as eba, palm oil in soups provides vitamin A for eye health.

6. Stay Hydrated: Garri absorbs water; always drink plenty of water after soaking it.

Chapter 9: The Psychological Side of the Myth

Culturally, parents often warn children about foods using exaggerated health claims. Just like “don’t swallow seeds, they will grow in your stomach,” the “garri spoils your eyes” story served as a scare tactic to prevent children from overindulging in garri.

Ironically, this myth still lingers, making many students believe garri is inherently harmful, when in fact, it is nutritionally incomplete, not poisonous (if well processed).

Chapter 10: Scientific Studies on Garri and Eyesight

Several studies have examined the link between cassava consumption and eye health:

• A Nigerian Journal of Medicine (2003) report found that poorly processed cassava products contributed to cyanide exposure but did not confirm direct blindness in moderate consumers.

• A World Health Organization (WHO) study highlighted that vitamin A deficiency, not cassava itself, is the leading cause of preventable blindness in African children.

• Research from University of Ibadan confirmed that safe processing of garri eliminates most cyanide risks.

These findings prove that the main problem is not garri itself, but processing quality and poor dietary balance.

Chapter 11: So, Does Drinking Garri Affect Your Eyes?

Here’s the big truth every student should know:

• Drinking garri does not directly damage your eyes if it is well processed.

• The risk comes from poorly processed garri (with cyanide residues) and poor diets lacking vitamin A and proteins.

• Moderation, variety, and proper nutrition protect your eyes, even if garri remains part of your daily food.

So next time you soak garri in cold water after lectures, remember: your eyesight is safe as long as your diet is balanced.

Chapter 12: Practical Meal Ideas for Students

To keep your eyes healthy while enjoying garri, here are some budget-friendly ideas:

1. Garri + Groundnut + Banana: Energy, protein, and vitamin boost.

2. Garri + Milk + Sugar + Coconut: Tasty and nutritious.

3. Eba + Egusi Soup with Palm Oil and Vegetables: Provides vitamin A and minerals.

4. Garri + Beans Cake (Akara) + Orange: Rich in protein and vitamin C.

5. Garri + Fish Pepper Soup: Adds protein and omega-3 for eye health.

Conclusion

Garri is not your enemy. It is a survival food that has kept millions of students from hunger. The claim that “drinking garri affects your eyes” is half-truth and half-myth.

The truth is this:

• Poorly processed garri can pose risks due to cyanide.

• Overdependence on garri without other nutrients can lead to deficiencies that affect eye health.

• But well-processed garri, eaten as part of a balanced diet, is safe and will not damage your eyes.

So, to every student out there: enjoy your garri, but remember to add protein, vitamins, and variety to your meals. Your eyes will thank you for it.

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