Herbalist and wellness advocate Nola Sela has stirred debate on social media after criticising men who regularly eat foods such as chips, ice cream and chapati with beans, arguing that such diets may be contributing to poor health.
Speaking in a widely shared video, Sela claimed that many modern lifestyle diseases affecting men are linked to unhealthy eating habits.
“Kama wewe ni mwanaume na unakula chips unahitaji viboko. Kwa nini unakula chips na wewe ni mwanaume?”
She went on to recount an experience that surprised her while in Nairobi.
“There was a time I went to Nairobi to buy pizza, and I turned and saw a man eating ice cream. But why are you doing that as a man? I am talking from a perspective of health and not a social thing.”
Sela also took issue with chapati served with beans, popularly known as chapati dondo, describing it as a meal men should avoid.
“Kama wewe ni mwanaume na unakula chapati na madondo, hiyo si chakula ya wanaume. Najua inapatikana kwa urahisi, lakini tafadhali iepukeni kwa sababu inadhuru mwili kwa njia ambazo hamwezi kuona.”
She questioned why conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and poor sexual performance appear to be more common today than in previous generations, suggesting that processed and convenience foods play a role.
Nutrition experts, however, caution against linking specific foods to gender or attributing complex health conditions to single meals. According to the World Health Organization, the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease is influenced by several factors, including overall diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and genetics.
Diet matters more than individual foods.
Health professionals generally recommend eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and lean sources of protein while limiting foods high in saturated fats, salt, and added sugars.
Foods such as chips and ice cream are considered occasional treats because they are often high in calories, unhealthy fats, and sugar.
Kenya, like many countries, has experienced a rise in non-communicable diseases. Government health data indicates that illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease account for a growing share of hospital admissions and deaths, reflecting changing lifestyles, urbanisation and dietary patterns.
Medical experts also note that UTIs are caused by bacterial infections rather than by consuming foods such as chips or ice cream. Likewise, sexual performance can be affected by a combination of physical health, mental wellbeing, hormonal factors and underlying medical conditions.
