Deconstructed Vegetable Soup and Uziza Crusted Fish (#worlddiabetesdayng)

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There is saying that African men can eat whatever they please.

What is diabetes? According to google. “It’s a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired; resulting in an abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.”

For the amount of rice we eat as Nigerians. It’s God who has been our strength.

Every 14th day in November, is diabetes awareness day. When I received the email from Atim of Afrolems.com to talk about diabetes, I didn’t even know where and how to start. It’s like you have a passion to educate people and as much as you want to do it, knowing where and how to start is like huge deal.

Anyway, I’ll start by explaining the different types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is the type of diabetes that is genetically transferred. It is a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. This condition cannot be cured but it can be controlled by diet and treatment. This condition typically appears during adolescent years and though it’s symptoms may vary and it includes increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. It’s treatment aims at maintaining a normal blood sugar level through regular monitoring, insulin therapy, diet, and exercise.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). It’s treatable by a medical professional and requires a medical diagnosis. It can last for years or be lifelong; depending on how well you take care of yourself. With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it resists insulin. Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be no symptoms. Treatment include diet, exercise, medication, and insulin therapy.

According to my understanding, for a control or cure of the disease of diabetes, the patient is placed on a low carb and low sugar diet; depending on the type of diabetes and how these foods affects their blood sugar. For a break down of diet for diabetic patients, you have to see a dietician or your general health care professional.

When it comes to Nigerians and diabetes, there are a lot of factors that come to play. Here are a few things my friends had to say:

“Most Nigerians don’t go for checks and do not know they are diabetic. When they have sores that get affected by gangrene, they will say their enemies have poisoned them.”(Chioma Emezi)

“Access to quality health care is an issue.”(Ogbueze Matilda Onyinyechi)

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A lot of issues- Lack of adequate insurance cover. People still pay through their noses for diagnosis, treatment and diet plans. The medications are not easily available and when they are, they are not easily affordable. Our diet too is carb rich and may also present a challenge to low income earners who need a diet modification.
Our belief systems too mitigate against the proper management of diabetes. I once had a distant relative who believed he was not diabetic. He believed someone put a hex on him. Well, he is dead now from complications arising from poorly managed diabetes.
Another client of ours died because her gangrenous foot was not amputated. She believed her foot will be used for rituals and depended instead on faith healers. She lost both foot and life.” (Chidinma Nene Kayla)

“This is how Diabetes affects us: you either have it, know someone who does, are related to someone who does or…you will either soon have it, are related to someone who will soon have it, or someone you know will soon have it. Sigh.” (Ruona Meyer)

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“Delayed diagnosis/or no diagnosis at all. Difficulty in explaining the long term complications, like the neuropathy that leads to unseen foot injury and then to gangrene, etc. Cultural barriers with regards to treatment and diet are also major.” (Ronke Akintola Ogunremi)

“My dad is diabetic and he would not want to hear the word “check” talk more of “up” so I devised a means to help him out by making meals that are low in carbohydrates. 75% of our meals in this part of the country is starchy.
Also considering the cost of health care services most persons can’t afford it.” (Ideyi Nneka Justina)

“I lived with my aunt a few years back. She was diabetic. All I can remember about her condition are just nightmares and spending my nights at the hospital and watching people die.

She was coming from work one evening when it rained heavily. So she was about crossing a road when her left foot stepped into a gutter. She came back home, all sore and wounded. Then she went and bought some costly local drugs (all those bitter kinds herbalists mix together and pour inside Eva water bottle to sell). She was taking them dutifully until her foot started swelling up and puss was oozing out. I’m talking about this kind of foul smelling puss coming out of her leg. She wouldn’t go to a hospital because she couldn’t afford the high cost of the bills. So her first son brought a nurse who was his friend and she came and cleaned the wound at regular intervals.
One morning I couldn’t take it any longer because the smell of her foot filled the entire house. I called her elder sister (my mum) and told her to ask her sister to go to the hospital because she wouldn’t listen to me. The whole thing escalated that morning when the rest of her siblings also called and ordered her to go to the hospital. Her 1st son chartered a friends car and that’s how we all carried her to UNTH enugu because she couldn’t walk again.
She was admitted for about a month and the doctor told us that we did right to bring her in on time because if it got any worse than it was they would have to amputate her leg.
So I spent my days at the hospital whilst I was an intern working in enugu. It was such a nightmare in that UNTH. I wake up in the mornings and discover that someone opposite her has died or someone in another ward had died. I see people who are a shadow of themselves. Some can’t even feed themselves. They are given food through the nose. It was so horrific an experience.

She got well after a long while and my mum and the other siblings had to hustle to get money to help with the bills.

I couldn’t believe my aunt would have preferred to stay at home and wallow in her condition than go to a hospital because she couldn’t afford the bills.” (Niqui Anekwe)

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If these little stories don’t tell you how dangerous diabetes is. I don’t know what else will. Put yourself and health first and get some knowledge 🙂

Now to the recipe…

Today’s recipe is a healthy vegetable soup recipe. A mild and tasty version of vegetable soup a.k.a Efo riro and Salmon. with a healthy side of easy mashed potatoes.

When I say a healthier version, I don’t mean it cannot be tasty. We shall just be leaving out the ingredients which could spike a change in a diabetic’s condition for the worse.

The use of Iru i.e. locust beans and crayfish replaces the bouillon which we would normally use as a seasoning agent. Then the Uziza crust on the salmon plays the role of a natural seasoning and takes the taste of the fish to a totally new dimension that could possibly rock your world.

This recipe is very easy. Very healthy and very affordable for the average Nigerian family; whether in the diaspora or in the heart of Nigeria.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Deconstructed Vegetable Soup
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Cuisine: Nigerian
Serves: 2
Ingredients
For the fish
  • 1 salmon steak (any healthy fish works)(rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids)
  • A small garlic clove
  • ½-1 tsp Freshly ground uziza seeds(substitute with black pepper)
  • salt to taste
  • 1tsp olive or coconut oil
For the sauce base
  • 4 plum tomatoes
  • 1 Garlic clove(minced)
  • ½ tsp grated ginger
  • 1 small Habanero(ata-rodo to taste)
  • half a small onion(sliced)
  • Iru(locust beans)
  • 1 tsp Cray fish powder
  • 2 tbsps. coconut or olive oil
for the vegetables
  • spinach or efo tete
  • salt to taste
for the starch
  • 1½ small potatoes
  • salt to taste
Instructions
for the fish
  1. Season the fish with some salt.
  2. coarsely to finely crush the uziza and garlic, mix in ½ tsp of the oil into the spices; then rub into the fish. Let it marinate for 30minutes to an hour. Rub the remaining ½tsp of the oil oil onto the pan and cook on both sides until well done.(do not cook on high heat so that the fish does not burn and the uziza turn bitter)
for the sauce
  1. Blend or chop the tomatoes and habanero and pour through a fine mesh sieve to remove excess water. Alternatively, season the tomatoes and pepper with a little salt and oil; then roast the tomatoes and pepper in the oven; then blend or mash.
  2. Heat the oil. Add the onions and garlic. Sauté until the garlic is fragrant and the onions translucent. Add the ginger, crayfish and tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes have rendered. Add the iru and salt to taste; then set aside.
for the spinach
  1. place in a pan, season with salt to taste and let it heat up for about 6minutes.
for the potatoes
  1. wash, peel and pour potatoes into a pot. Pour some cold water into the pot, add some salt and cook until soft. using a fork, break the potatoes into little pieces; making sure to mash some and serve with the vegetables, fish and stew.

 

 

 

 

 

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