'Do Not Eat Suya Without Onion, Cabbage' - Nutritionist Warns

A nutritionist, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo has advised regular consumers of grilled and barbecued beef and chicken popularly called  suya, to always eat the delicacy with generous portions of the slices of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables.

Speaking during a workshop organised by Coca-Cola Nigeria for health writers in Lagos, Onimawo, who is a Professor of Nutrition and Director of Academic Planning at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State said research has shown that while 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.
He said, "Breast cancer is everywhere. It is even killing people in the village. When we carried out studies to try to look at the aetiology of the disease, to find out where it all started, what we discovered was that we could trace the origin to suya consumption."
Onimawo explained that during suya preparation, 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 and causes the formation of toxic compounds known as Heterocyclic Amines, HCAs, which are carcinogenic compounds.
He said cancer is due to  oxidative processes in the body and onions are powerful antioxidants that effectively stop the oxidative process triggerred by consumption of suya from taking place.
"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.
"I’m not saying suya is bad, on the contrary, it is a great delicacy, but beneficial only when eaten in moderation and along with the onion and cabbage," he stated.