shawarma, sodas, and other fast meals could severely damage the liver, especially among Nigerians with poor dietary habits and existing liver conditions.
Babatunde explained that diet plays a central role not just in maintaining liver health, but also in preventing and managing liver diseases.
She said the rise in fatty liver conditions and inflammation-related liver problems is directly linked to the kind of food people regularly consume.
“Foods that are high in sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and salt—like shawarma, sodas, pastries, and heavily fried items, can lead to fat accumulation in the liver and trigger inflammation. These foods also increase insulin resistance, which worsens liver damage,” she said.
The food expert highlighted that improper dietary practices and frequent consumption of processed meals now contribute significantly to the global rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its more severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
She added that these conditions can quietly progress without symptoms until advanced stages when irreversible liver damage, such as cirrhosis, has already set in.
“You don’t have to be a heavy drinker to develop liver disease anymore. What you eat every day matters greatly,” she said.
Recommending how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the nutritionist listed foods that support liver function, including green leafy vegetables, berries, walnuts (asala), fatty fish, coffee, green tea, and turmeric.
These foods, she explained, are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help regenerate liver cells and support detoxification.
She cautioned against excess sodium intake, particularly in patients with liver complications such as ascites, a condition where fluid builds up in the abdomen.
“Too much salt leads to water retention, which worsens outcomes in advanced liver disease,” she explained.
Babatunde also stressed the importance of mindful eating and proper meal planning.
She advised Nigerians to prepare healthy meals in advance, choose fruits and nuts over processed snacks, and opt for Mediterranean or plant-based dishes when eating out.