A natural medicine advocate, Oheneba Ntim-Barimah, has warned the public of the potential health risks associated with the frequent consumption of soft drinks, particularly after heavy meals. 

According to him, such drinks have been linked to diabetes and hypertension, all risk factors for chronic kidney diseases. 

Speaking in a recent interview on Net 2 TV, he stressed the need for the public to reduce their intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and carbonated drinks to improve their kidney health. 

He explained that the drinks contain high amounts of sugar, which can burden the kidneys, especially when taken after a heavy meal. 

"These drinks have been classified as kidney-damaging foods because they increase one's risk of getting chronic kidney diseases.

“Some bottles of carbonated drinks contain about eight cubes of sugar, so if after consuming a big bowl of banku and you decide to take a soft drink, you are placing a burden on your kidneys and your liver, it is not right. That is why today most young people are suffering from kidney and liver diseases. It has become a practice that after eating a heavy meal you take a soft drink; it is not right.                                                                                 “Once upon a time, people used to take soft drinks only during festive occasions. How many people had kidney diseases at that time? It was not because our forefathers did not have money to buy the drinks but because they knew about the health implications of consuming such drinks frequently," he stated.

Oheneba Ntim-Barimah encouraged the public to adopt healthy eating habits and inactivity, reiterating the importance of exercise and sleep. 

“Most people in Ghana do not eat our local foods. Go to countries like Japan and China; they consume more of their local foods than junk food. People should avoid processed foods, foods that are high in sugar, and refined carbohydrates; these foods put a burden on the kidneys and the liver.   "Inactivity is a leading cause of diseases. Once in a while, ditch the lift and use the staircase. Exercise is good for the body. It should be done four to five times a week. Don’t also spend too much time watching television, sleep early, and stop abusing drugs like painkillers. A headache could be the sign of a more serious illness, so if you are experiencing frequent headaches, don't take any medicine. Seek prompt medical care. Excessive drug use can harm the  liver," he noted.

JKB/OGB 

Watch the latest episode of Everyday People below:





Hassan Ayariga is our guest on the latest edition of Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV with host, Etsey Atisu. Catch the full interview below: