You may love that seasoning cube so much that you keep adding more “just to bring out the taste.” But what if that same cube is quietly putting your kidneys at risk?
You may love that seasoning cube so much that you keep adding more “just to bring out the taste.” But what if that same cube is quietly putting your kidneys at risk?
Health experts are now raising the alarm over the excessive use of seasoning cubes in Nigerian kitchens, a common habit that could silently damage the kidneys and increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Their concern follows a wave of viral videos showing people squeezing up to six or eight seasoning cubes into a single pot of stew or jollof rice. While the visuals might look tasty on TikTok, experts say the health consequences are far from appetising.
Speaking with Guardian Life, clinical dietitian Enoabasi Nta says most seasoning cubes are packed with high levels of sodium and artificial additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG), a combination that places unnecessary strain on the kidneys.
“Sodium is one of the biggest concerns,” Nta says, adding that excess intake raises blood pressure. “Over time, high blood pressure puts stress on the kidneys and can lead to permanent damage or even kidney failure.”
“This is especially risky in Nigeria, where hypertension is already one of the leading causes of kidney disease,” she continues. “And we’re beginning to see more cases of paediatric hypertension as well.”
Kidney damage
Also weighing in, Prof Aliyu Abdu, Professor of Medicine at Bayero University Kano and Consultant Nephrologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, explains that consuming excess sodium can negatively affect kidney function.
“Kidneys are responsible for regulating the sodium level in the body,” Prof Abdu says. “And when they are exposed to higher amounts, this means additional stress on normal kidney functions.”
When the kidneys are unable to excrete the excess amount of sodium, it leads to its retention in the body. “Excess amounts of sodium in the body lead to poor blood pressure control and fluid retention, causing body swelling,” Prof Abdu adds.
For already-weakened kidneys, that extra sodium can speed up damage, leading to full kidney failure. The effects include rising blood pressure, more fluid retention, and cardiovascular problems.
How much is too much?
In a joint health alert issued in March 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that excess sodium intake is responsible for over 1.89 million deaths globally each year, many linked to heart and kidney-related diseases.
The WHO recommends no more than 2,000mg of sodium per day for adults, yet one seasoning cube alone can contain up to 1,000mg.
Similarly, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to limit artificial flavour enhancers, noting a “spike in sodium-induced health cases in urban communities” in its January 2025 safety bulletin.
Clinical nutritionist Fiyinfoluwa Odukoya warns that relying too heavily on seasoning cubes could come at a long-term cost.
“MSG, for example, has been linked to a range of symptoms in sensitive individuals, including headaches, palpitations, and general discomfort,” Odukoya warns.
“In children especially, prolonged exposure to artificial additives may affect taste preference development, making them more inclined toward processed foods and increasing their risk of chronic diseases later in life.”
—Natural ingredients to cook with instead of seasoning cubes—
Flavour your food without compromising your health. These local staples offer depth, aroma, and the richness your dishes deserve, minus the sodium overload. Because good flavour shouldn’t come at the cost of your kidneys.
Crayfish
This Nigerian kitchen staple packs a rich, savoury punch. It delivers umami flavour to soups, stews, and sauces, no cube required.
Locust beans (Iru or DawaDawa)
Fermented and packed with nutrients, iru adds a deep, earthy taste to native dishes like egusi, ogbono, and native rice.
Garlic
Whether crushed or chopped, garlic boosts the flavour of any dish — plus it supports heart health.
Ginger
This slightly spicy root adds warmth to sauces, stews, and soups. It also helps with digestion and inflammation.
Onions
Caramelised or fried, onions build a sweet, savoury base that holds your dish together. They are essential for everything from jollof to beans.
Scent leaf (Efirin/Nchuanwu)
Fresh and aromatic, scent leaf adds depth to pepper soup, yam porridge, beans, and local sauce.
——————————————————————
ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable
Lots of times when we have stomach problems, we don’t know what to blame. Maybe the onions that we ate earlier are to blame.
Onions absorb bacteria and that is the reason why they are also good at preventing us from getting colds & flu, if left peeled in our room!!!
And for that very reason we should not eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.
Left over onions are poisonous!
When food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is whether the ‘victim’ ate onions and where those onions came from. Most probably the onions are the cause.
Onions are huge magnets for bacteria, especially uncooked ones.
Never ever keep a portion of sliced onion over a period of time and thereafter use it to prepare food. It’s not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and placed it in your refrigerator. It is still poisonous
——The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions——-
Onions belong to the Allium family of plants, which also includes chives, garlic, and leeks. These vegetables have characteristic pungent flavors and some medicinal properties.
Onions vary in size, shape, color, and flavor. The most common types are red, yellow, and white onions. The taste of these vegetables can range from sweet and juicy to sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which people grow and consume them. Onions are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are known to offer a variety of health benefits.
- Clogged ears
The clogged ears are often irritating and not good for your hearing ability. Follow the process to unclogged your ears
- Remove a soft part of the onion and put it at the beginning of the ear canal.
- Don’t push it hard inside your ear, be careful that you place at the beginning only.
- Allow it to remain overnight and the onion juice will soften the wax build up in the ear.
- Next day it will be easy for you to remove the wax and unclogged the ears.
- Burns
Burns are common if you love baking cookies and cakes. The onion juice is very useful to soothe the burning skin.
- Just cut the onion in half and apply the piece of it on the burned skin. Leave it on the burned area for 5 minutes and the pain will vanish.
- High Body Temperature
It is the best solution to high body temperature.
Put the slices of onion in your socks as a treatment for high body temperature. This one is truly great and provides an amazing result
- Diabetes Prevention
One serving of onions has 27% of your biotin DRI that is extremely beneficial for your overall health. It has the ability to combat symptoms related to Type 2 diabetes. A recent study showed that a combination of chromium and biotin can regulate blood sugar and decrease insulin resistance.
- Healthy Digestion
Onions are rich in fiber that is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive tract. With a proper amount of fiber in the system, the harmful chemicals can be released through defecation of waste products in order to prevent health problems. The proper function of the digestive system can facilitate proper digestion and efficiently absorb the nutrients from your food.
- Lowers Blood Pressure
The sulfur found in onions can act as a natural blood thinner and prevent blood platelets from collecting. This is beneficial for lowering blood pressure, thus preventing the risk of heart attack or stroke. Moreover, quercetin can prevent the accumulation of plaque in arteries.
- Prevention of Cancer
Onions are packed with flavonoids, especially quercetin known for its potent cancer-fighting properties. It can reduce DNA damage and prevent the formation of tumors as well. A number of studies showed that quercetin can reduce the risk of developing colorectal and ovarian cancer.
- Improved Immunity
Onions are a great source of vitamin C and phytochemicals which can increase the effectiveness of vitamin C in your body. In other words, you will have a more effective and healthier immune system.
- Healthy Heart
The regular consumption of onions can stimulate the production of good cholesterol in the body, thus helping the proper regulation of cholesterol levels. This will balance your blood pressure and prevent heart problems.
- Pain Relief
Fresh onion juice can relieve pain and burning sensation from insect bites. It is also very effective in the case of bee stings due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
- Skin Health
Biotin is very beneficial for maintaining a healthy skin. It can treat brittle nails, maintain skin health and prevent hair loss.
- Stress Relief
Quercetin also prevents stress. When a person is experiencing stress, the body produces cortisol. Too much cortisol can lead to protein breakdown and damage your muscle tissue. Quercetin has the ability to suppress enzyme needed for cortisol releases. High amounts of antioxidants like quercetin are found in onions, relieving the body from free radicals and preserving its health. Onions can be easily juiced and consumed as such, helping with respiratory diseases because of its cleansing nature. Onions are good for treating and preventing many different health problems.
- Weight Loss
Eating one onion a day can help improve metabolism and digestion. If you want to have regular bowel movements and maintain weight, add more onions to your diet.
- Sexual Enhancement
Onion is a potent aphrodisiac and stands second only to garlic. For this, the white variety is most effective. It stimulates your sexual hormones.
- Urinary Tract Infection
Boil some onion in water till half of the water evaporated. Sieve the onion water, leave to cool and drink. The anti-bacterial properties help to relieve the burning sensation in urination.
- Onion Detoxifies The Blood
Here’s how to use onions to help detoxify your blood:
Take an onion (any color) and cut into flat slices.
Place the onions at the bottom of your feet and pull a thick pair of socks over the onions to keep them in place overnight. Go to sleep and in the morning discard the onions
