Joyce Onwuka
The founder of PharmaPlan Systems, Dr. Remi Olukoya, has highlighted the need for greater public awareness about how everyday foods can influence the effectiveness and safety of medications, cautioning that neglecting this link could compromise treatment outcomes.
Olukoya, a renowned healthcare expert, noted people often-overlooked connection between diet and medication performance, with a particular focus on African and diaspora communities. While stressing the importance of adhering to prescribed treatments, she pointed out that dietary habits play a crucial role in drug efficacy.
She pointed out that in a country where over 3.8 drugs are prescribed per patient on average, a silent crisis is brewing in the Nigerian kitchen, sounded a loud alarm, that “your favorite African staple might be turning your life-saving medication into a silent killer.”
Speaking during a health session, she revealed that 50 per cent of patients cannot identify a single food-drug interaction affecting their own prescriptions.
She underscored the fact that culturally specific diets and traditional foods should not be overlooked when prescribing or taking medications, as they can affect how drugs are absorbed or metabolized in the body.
Drawing from her book, titled “Foods that Clash with Your Precriptions” described as an accessible guide to food-drug interactions free of complex medical jargon, she gave examples of commonly consumed foods that can interfere with medications.
She also mentioned grapefruit’s impact on some cholesterol-lowering drugs, and pointed out that bitter leaf, a popular item consumed in many African households, has the potential to affect blood sugar levels and interact with diabetes treatments.
Olukoya said she has introduced the Medi Meal Safe app, a digital tool designed to guide users on safe food choices while on medication, offering customized meal plans for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
The app also alerts users to foods they should avoid or consume cautiously based on their prescriptions.
“The goal is to prevent adverse reactions and improve treatment outcomes by helping people make informed dietary choices,” she explained.
During the session, participants expressed concerns about food sensitivities and the complexities surrounding traditional diets—particularly the dual effects of bitter leaf on nutrition and blood sugar regulation. In response, Dr. Olukoya advised that people should carefully con
sider their health conditions and medications before regularly consuming such foods.
She stressed that understanding the interaction between nutrition and medication is essential for safer and more effective healthcare, urging both patients and healthcare providers to pay closer attention to dietary habits alongside prescribed treatments.