Cooking with alcohol triggers heart attack – experts

Some health experts have warned that spicing meals with alcohol could trigger heart attack.

They expressed concerns over the rising trend of spicing meals with alcohol and cannabis, which they warned poses serious dangers.

The experts cautioned that alcohol used in cooking does not always fully evaporate, leaving residual amounts that can stress the cardiovascular system.

Recent viral videos trending on the popular social media platforms like TikTok show people cooking meals mixed with alcohol and, in some cases, adding cannabis.

Many of the people posting these clips refer to the practice as “the new way of getting high”.

Experts, in separate interviews with PUNCH, warned that such practices may trigger dangerous heart complications, including heart attacks and strokes.

A professor of public health, Tanimola Akande, condemned the practice, stressing that intentionally adding alcohol to food served to individuals who avoid it for religious, cultural, or health reasons is both immoral and dangerous.

Akande, a Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, cautioned that such unsuspecting individuals, being unaccustomed to alcohol, could become easily intoxicated, experience mood alterations, and possibly misbehave after eating such food.

“It is immoral to put alcohol intentionally into food prepared for someone who avoids alcohol for religious, cultural, or health reasons. If that happens, it is likely that such individuals get intoxicated easily because they are not used to taking alcohol. This is the likelihood to alter their mood, get them drunk, and may misbehave. If this is not done repeatedly, it may not lead to long-term health problems,” he stated.

The don explained that the danger becomes more worrisome when cannabis, also known as weed, is involved.

According to him, although some countries permit cannabis use strictly for medical purposes, it remains illegal in Nigeria, and its infiltration into cooked meals poses serious risks.

“It is disheartening that this is happening particularly among young people in social circles. However, in some countries where cannabis use is allowed for treating certain chronic disease conditions, its use is acceptable when used appropriately. It can have negative effects on mental health, particularly when used by inexperienced users. It can also lead to an increased heart rate,” Akande said.

The public health expert stressed that using cannabis in food is especially risky because of its unpredictable potency when consumed, warning that people may underestimate its strength compared to smoking and unknowingly ingest harmful doses.

He added that such substances could trigger anxiety, panic attacks, or drowsiness, which can be dangerous for children and other vulnerable groups.

He added, “Adding such substances to food can have an effect on vulnerable people like children, depending on the amount added to food. It can be dangerous for individuals with heart problems. It can also activate mental health problems like anxiety and panic attacks. It can also lead to drowsiness, which is dangerous for children.”

The professor urged Nigerians to completely avoid introducing such substances into cooking and to remain vigilant in social gatherings where there may be a tendency for people to spike food with alcohol or drugs.

He warned that ingesting cannabis or alcohol unknowingly could put people at risk of addiction and other avoidable health complications.

Similarly, a licensed community health practitioner, Tahir Laurat, decried the growing habit of mixing alcohol or cannabis in meals, warning that such practices distort the essence of food and expose unsuspecting people to serious health dangers.

She said, “Alcohol doesn’t always burn off in cooking and even small amounts can harm people avoiding it for health, cultural, or religious reasons. Alcohol is a leading contributor to many diseases in our society, from liver problems to heart disease and diabetes. Adding it to food only increases unnecessary exposure.”

Laurat explained that cannabis could be even more harmful when consumed in food because its effects are stronger and last longer compared to smoking, making it easy for people to overdose without realising it.