Eating too much ‘milky doughnuts’, which is one of the latest social media sensations, may raise Nigeria’s high burden of non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension and others, physicians warn.
They noted that the elevated levels of sugar, fat, and calories in the treat can contribute to weight gain and fluctuations in blood sugar levels, adding that the snack has little nutritional and health benefits.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise respectively on the issue, they emphasised the importance of applying caution among individuals with food allergies before embracing social media food trends.
The popularity of this new doughnut recipe, dubbed “milky doughnut” due to the use of condensed milk instead of traditional jam, has surged on social media platforms recently.
The trend, which initially began on TikTok, swiftly spread across various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), and it was accompanied by numerous videos and images showcasing the snack and its preparation methods.
As the trend gained momentum, numerous online vendors commenced advertising the sale of the product.
However, PUNCH Healthwise observed that these snacks are locally prepared and packaged without the necessary dietary information label.
The experts cautioned against embracing social media food trends indiscriminately, highlighting that the safety of some food trends has not been verified by food scientists.
According to the World Health Organisation, non-communicable diseases, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease are collectively responsible for 74 per cent of deaths worldwide.
One of the five major risk factors of NCDs is an unhealthy diet.
Meanwhile, the World Heart Federation says unhealthy diets are high in sugars, saturated and trans-fats, low-fibre foods and high-sugar drinks.
It contributes to noncommunicable diseases and other health problems.
The Global Nutrition Report stated that Nigeria has shown limited progress in achieving diet-related noncommunicable disease targets.
It added that 15.7 per of women and 5.9 per cent of men are living with obesity, while diabetes is estimated to affect 6.8 per cent of women and 7.5 per cent of men.
A global organisation with a focus on obesity, World Obesity, scored Nigeria’s obesity rate at 8.52 per cent and ranked Nigeria as 155 out of 200 countries with the condition.
In response to concerns regarding the health implications of consuming milky doughnuts, a consultant dietician, Charles Oguikpe, warned that such snacks are not nutritionally balanced and not advisable for regular consumption.
He highlighted the high-calorie content of milky doughnuts, saying it ranges from 80 to 120 grams per serving, primarily due to excessive milk and sugar.
Oguikpe outlined the ingredients typically used in preparing milky doughnuts to include flour, sugar, soft margarine, eggs, yeast, powdered milk, condensed milk, warm water, vanilla extract, and oil for frying.
He pointed out that while flour provides carbohydrates, the significant amount of sugar contributes to additional carbohydrate content, and the use of margarine adds to the fat content.
Oguikpe stressed that the lack of essential nutrients in proper proportions makes milky doughnuts an unhealthy choice for individuals seeking balanced nutrition.
The registered nutritionist-dietician highlighted that while milky doughnuts offer some key nutrients found in milk, such as calcium and vitamin D, which promote strong bones, their nutritional drawbacks outweigh their benefits.
Oguikpe, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigerian Dieticians, Lagos State, emphasised that these snacks are high in sugars and fats, posing risks of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
He also noted that despite the snack being an instant energy booster due to the milk fortification, their high calorie and sugar content can lead to obesity and elevated cholesterol levels, predisposing consumers to various health issues.
“It is low in nutrients, making it an inadequate diet. The sugars in the doughnut can become a risk factor for gum inflammation and cavities. It is important that we understand that doughnuts have a high glycaemic index and can cause blood sugar levels to spike,” the dietician warned.
He advised moderation in consumption, particularly for individuals with or at risk of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
Also, a doctor of Internal Medicine, Olusina Ajidahun, warned against blindly following food trends, cautioning that many of these trends could be harmful and lack confirmation of safety from food scientists.
He emphasised the importance of avoiding such trends, especially for individuals with food allergies or sensitivities, as they could trigger unexpected and potentially dangerous reactions.
Reflecting on past instances where viral food trends led to health hazards, Ajidahun highlighted the dangers associated with practices like excessive salt consumption or engaging in contests involving rapid water intake.
“Since some of these food trends gain a lot of traffic on social media and people need to be careful before jumping on such trends. There was a time when codeine was being added to foods and some people began to try it and that was dangerous. Some viral food videos contain some unhealthy food practices such as adding a lot of salt to one’s food. High salt intake increases the risk of hypertension and it is unhealthy.
“Some videos would also ask people to engage in a contest of rushing to drink a certain amount of water within a particular time frame. All of these are dangerous. There was another viral video and trend of people eating raw pork but there is no reason for someone to eat raw pork because it can be contaminated with tapeworm and those who eat it can have an infestation of tapeworm. Other bacteria can also be transmitted through eating such.
“Some people can have food allergies. So, one can’t go around trying foods because they saw them on social media,” the doctor said.
He urged people to consult with healthcare professionals before experimenting with new and popular food trends.
Ajidahun further advocated for measures to address and counter unhealthy food trends on social media to uphold food safety standards.
