The flaws of Nigeria garri flakes
LESSONS ON GARRI (How drinking garri affects your eyes)
Garri is a food made from cassava tubers.
Cassava roots and tubers contain what is known as CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDES (i.e cyanides bound to sugar molecules)But the main element in that compound is CYANIDE.
According to the American Cancer Society, the cyanide produced in cassava plant is poisonous, can be deadly to humans, and also pose serious health hazard IF NOT PROPERLY PROCESSED.
Proper garri processing should reduce the concentration of this acid to a harmless level, but impatience on the part of its producers make them employ inappropriate processing methods which give rise to "cyanide-laden garri poison".
A BRIEF ON CYANIDE
People may be exposed to low levels of cyanides in their daily lives from foods, smoking and other sources.
After ingestion, cyanide quickly enters the bloodstream. The body handles small amounts of cyanide effectively and differently than large amounts:
• In small doses, cyanide in the body can be changed into thiocyanate, which is less harmful (about seven times less toxic than cyanide) and is excreted in urine.
• In large doses (which can cause chronic cyanide poisoning)
Chronic or long cyanide exposure is linked to lesions of the optic nerve & optic atrophy leading to blindness.
Don't forget, most garri drinkers are addicts. And also considering the economic situation of the country, some people drink it three times a day.
HOW IT AFFECTS THE EYE
The body has several mechanisms to effectively detoxify cyanide. The majority of cyanide reacts with thiosulfate to produce thiocyanate which blocks the production of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine.
A low thyroid state interferes with vitamin A production, essential to regeneration of the retinal pigments and healing of the retina.Night blindness and retinal damage are the most obvious of the consequences
FURTHER WORSENING CONDITIONS
Thiocyanate levels can increase after cigarette smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke so smokers who drink garri are at greater risk of having eyesight problems.
To all garri fans out there, I'm so sorry if this breaks your heart.