Detty December or Dangerous December? Why Nigerians must celebrate wisely

The air is buzzing again.

Harmattan dust hangs lightly in the sky, carols are filling homes and streets, and “Detty December” has officially announced itself.

For many Nigerians, Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year, a season of homecoming, laughter, food in excess, and drinks that flow without apology.

From office end-of-year parties to village reunions, December encourages us to let loose.

We celebrate hard, eat without counting, and drink as though January is a rumour.

But beneath the fireworks, loud music and overflowing coolers, there is a conversation Nigerians must confront honestly: are we protecting the most important gift of all, our health?

Christmas, ironically, comes with a quiet contradiction.

While joy is loud, stress quietly creeps in.

Traffic worsens, last-minute shopping becomes chaotic, expectations pile up, and sleep disappears.

At the same time, healthy routines collapse. Exercise is postponed, nights stretch into early mornings, and restraint disappears from our plates and cups.

The result is predictable, and dangerous.

Hospitals and pharmacies across the country know this story well.

The festive season is often marked by a spike in preventable health emergencies.

Doctors repeatedly warn that heart attacks and cardiac arrests rise sharply between Christmas Eve and the New Year.

Heavy, salty foods, excessive alcohol, emotional pressure, and fatigue combine to place enormous strain on the heart, a condition experts often describe as “Holiday Heart Syndrome.”

Digestive problems also surge.

Overeating rich, oily and sugary foods leads to severe indigestion, acid reflux, and gallstone attacks.

For Nigerians living with diabetes, December can be especially risky. Hidden sugars in soft drinks, cocktails, and even local juices push blood sugar levels dangerously high.

Add sleep deprivation to the mix, and weakened immunity opens the door to flu, coughs and lingering infections.

This is not an attempt to spoil Christmas. It is a necessary reminder that celebration and self-destruction are not the same thing.

Enjoying the season does not require abandoning common sense.

What is needed is mindful moderation, or, simply put, discipline.

Yes, we know the culprits. Cakes dripping with sugar, fizzy drinks, creamy alcoholic mixes, heavily seasoned meats, processed snacks, they are delicious and everywhere.

The solution is not total denial, but portion control.

Taste, enjoy, but do not overindulge. High-sodium foods quietly raise blood pressure.

Sugary drinks deliver empty calories before you finish swallowing them. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, encourages overeating, and strains the liver.

A simple rule helps: alternate every alcoholic drink with water.

If you must drink, choose spirits mixed with water or soda water instead of sugary sodas. Hydration is not optional, it is essential.

Better still, make healthier choices intentional.

Fill half your plate with vegetables before attacking starch and meat.

Ugu, okra, ewedu, cabbage, carrots or a simple salad provide fibre, aid digestion, and help control portions.

Choose lean proteins like grilled fish, skinless chicken or goat meat.

When eating stew, opt for fish or chicken and skim excess oil where possible.

Make water your main drink. Infuse it with cucumber, lemon or mint to keep it festive.

Unsweetened zobo or ginger tea are excellent alternatives that aid digestion without piling on calories.

Reduce portions of refined carbs and opt for beans, roasted plantain or smaller servings of rice.

And do not forget movement.

A 15-minute walk after meals improves digestion and blood sugar control. Visiting family or new places? Walk around. Movement does not have to wait until January 1.

This Christmas, let us raise a glass of water, not just champagne.

Let us feast on connection, not just consumption.

The true spirit of the season lies in love, gratitude, shared moments and lasting memories, not in how much we ate or drank.

“Health is wealth” is not a cliché; it is reality. Your body is the foundation of your ability to enjoy life, money, family and success.

Do not allow two weeks of reckless indulgence to damage the health you need for the rest of the year, or worse, land you in an emergency room.

Celebrate with joy. Eat with wisdom. Drink with restraint. Move with intention.

This Christmas, make good health your most valuable gift, to yourself and to the people who need you alive, well and present long after the music fades.

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