We enjoy eating every day – eating to our satisfaction and also to our stomach appeasement, what most people never tell you about eating, especially for enjoyment, is that it can quietly damage your health.

It can alter your health in so many ways before you know it and before you’d know what is happening – you are already taking medications.

High cholesterol foods

If you have heard about High Cholesterol, you are aware that eating a lot of food that is cholesterol risk implied in earlier lines, high in saturated fat can raise your cholesterol levels.

According to the Federal ministry of health, too much LDL(low-density lipoprotein) can lead to atherosclerosis – this is the buildup of cholesterol and fatty material in your blood vessels.

Talking about the worst food that can contribute to high cholesterol, they have the highest levels of fat that can damage your health control – you should be conscious of eating less of them.

We have:

Fries: frying foods build up the calorie count in your body, this is because saturated fats and cholesterol are absorbed by the food during the frying process.

Meat

Red Meat: Are you a lover of meat? It’s time to take control of the consumption. Meat also includes ribs, the pork meat you eat, burgers too. Even if you don’t want to cut off eating red meat entirely, you can start and focus on small amounts or size. You can avoid eating too much red meat all week or maybe, just once in a week. Poultry also contains saturated fats and can be responsible for high cholesterol, so when you hear “stop eating protein” it does not mean you should lean on munching chicken.

Cake – high cholesterol foods

Baked Food: The pastries, pies, cakes and even biscuits you eat with pride contain so much cholesterol from either the palm oil or added butter. There’s also something about added sugars. According to research, sugar has been found to be contributing to lower levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol levels. It also contributes to triggering higher levels of a blood fat also known as triglycerides, which is possible to elevate heart attack risk.

What do you eat instead?

Aquatic proteins specifically fish and shellfish will keep your cholesterol in a moderate level.

You can learn to bake at home, that way you control the amount, type of fat and sugar you use or you can talk to your baker concerning how to reduce each ingredient that can contribute to high cholesterol.

Replace sausages with eggs(although, not too many eggs, you can control how you eat eggs too).

Kiwi, apple, berries

Eat more fruits like apples, berries, pears, kiwi and avocado help to lower cholesterol levels and improve your overall health.

Your heart health and over all is important – don’t damage it with too much cholesterol. Eat responsibly.

Ever caught yourself reaching for a sugary snack at any given time? or any slight inconvenience, you use that as an excuse to consume sugar. Some even go as far as having midnight snack, for others it might just be pure habit. You’re not alone. Sugar has a sneaky way of becoming a daily companion — especially in our country Nigeria where we have limited options of food and sugar has basically become part of our regular diet. Whether it’s that spoon of sugar in your morning tea or the slice of cake you didn’t plan for. But what really happens when you decide to quit sugar, even if it’s just for seven days? Here’s what your body might go through during a week without any sweet stuff.

Days 1–2

Withdrawal symptom from sugar

The first couple of days are usually the hardest, especially if your body is used to regular doses of sugar. Withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, intense cravings or mood swings, that’s if you are an emotional eater, might be triggered. Also you will begin to feel irritable or unusually tired. That’s because sugar causes a spike in dopamine (the feel-good hormone), and without it, your brain starts to protest— but don’t panic, it’s just your body adjusting.

Days 3–4

By the middle of the week, something begins to shift. Your energy levels, which felt drained at the beginning, start to feel more stable. Instead of the usual sugar highs and crashes, your body starts using those stored fat and complex carbs for energy. You might also notice your cravings levels has decreased — your taste buds begin to reset, and suddenly, fruits taste sweeter than ever. A banana might feel like a treat!

Days 5–6

Increased concentration due to no sugar intake

This is when things start getting exciting. Many people report better sleep around Day 5. Without sugar constantly spiking your blood sugar levels, your body finds its rhythm again. You might wake up feeling more refreshed. Even mentally, there’s a boost too — you begin concentrate better and less brain fog. Those regular mood swings start to mellow out.

Day 7

Weight loss due to no sugar intake

By the seventh day, the benefits become more visible. Due to low calorie intake, you might begin to lose some weight, not only that but your skin will look more radiant, especially if you’ve been hydrating properly. Sugar is known to trigger inflammation, which can lead to breakouts, puffiness, or dullness. Cutting it out, even temporarily, can give your skin that boost and the break it needs. You may also notice easier digestion and less bloating. With fewer processed or fast foods in your system, your gut start to reset.

So, Is It Worth It?
Though the 7 days might seem short but I t’s enough to prove how strongly sugar can affect your body — and how amazing you can feel without it. It’s not about quitting sugar forever (unless you want to), but more about being mindful of how much you consume and where it’s coming from. Natural sugars in fruits are totally fine but added or industrial sugars in snacks, sodas, and sauces? Those are the ones to watch out for.

Final Thoughts
The first few days may seem difficult, but by Day 7, you will feel lighter and more in control of those unnecessary cravings. Once you experience how good it feels to have balanced energy, better sleep, and glowing skin — you just might want to keep going.

Not long ago, the phrase “soft life” was often met with side-eyes — as if choosing ease over exhaustion meant you were unserious. But scratch the surface and you’ll find something more deliberate: a refusal to suffer unnecessarily. For many Nigerians, especially young women, the soft life isn’t a fantasy — it’s a boundary.

In a society where overworking is worn like a badge of honour, slowing down is often mistaken for weakness. But choosing a softer path doesn’t mean refusing to work. It means refusing to suffer for the sake of appearances. It means asking: Why must stress be a badge of success?

When someone says they want a soft life, they’re not saying they want to do nothing. They’re saying they want to work without being worked to the ground. To grow without losing themselves in the process. To earn without constantly chasing. That’s not laziness — that’s clarity.

And for women, the message cuts even deeper. You’re expected to work like you don’t have children, parent like you don’t have a job, and smile through all of it. So when a woman says she wants softness, she’s not chasing luxury. She’s asking for room to exist without always performing strength.

Of course, not everyone can afford to quit their job or book a beachside retreat. But softness doesn’t have to be extravagant. Sometimes it means resting without guilt. Turning down obligations that drain you. Cooking because you want to, not because you feel pressured to. It’s in the small choices — choosing stillness instead of hustle when you can, silence over noise, boundaries over burnout.

Soft living isn’t about escape — it’s about intention. It’s the choice to protect your peace in a world that constantly pulls at it. To say, “I deserve ease, too,” even when everything around you says otherwise.

So the next time someone talks about living softly, pause before you dismiss them. They’re not running from life. They’re just choosing not to let it run them over.