Does Garri affect the eyes? We know it has been passed down from generation to generation in Nigeria that consuming a lot of garri can lead to blindness.
How true is that fact? Is it a myth or a farfetched tale? Read to find out.
The amount of popularity Garri has amassed among Nigerians over time is astounding. We are sure that almost everyone has heard of the slang “groceries,” which is synonymous with garri. Indeed, it has been wryly referred to as a lifesaver for many people. Garri is what you get after processing cassava.
Because of the low cost, all you need is sugar and water. Garri is a meal with a high carbohydrate content, so irritation gives you energy and makes you feel full for a long time. There are some types of cassava, which makes it seem like as much as you add water, the thicker it becomes, making it a sought-after meal all over the country.
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Does Garri affect the eyes?
We would tentatively answer with a yes. What affects eyesight when drinking Garri is the cyanide content in it. Cassava contains thousands of parts per million of cyanide in its form before it is processed. Cyanide is very harmful to the body; if a person suffers from cyanide poisoning, it might lead to the person’s death or even blindness.
So, one can imagine the effects cyanide would have on meals consumed, such as cassava; it can even lead to paralysis. If processed properly, Cassava contains low levels of cyanide compared to those that need to be better processed.
So, in cases where a person consumes very badly processed garri on an average of three to four times a week over a couple of years, it can lead to blindness or visual impairment. But well-processed cassava wouldn’t necessarily harm the eyes if it was drunk in moderation.
What matters most is that when taking Garri, you should ensure that what you are consuming is properly processed cassava, which is good for human consumption; otherwise, it would harm your eyes and body over time.
