By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a human rights group, and some health experts have raised the alarm over the high level consumption of Trans Fats in Nigeria.
They said that trans fats increase the risk for heart attacks, stroke and type 2 diabetes, adding that it has an unhealthy effect on ones cholesterol levels.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, the executive director, CAPPA, spoke at a two-day Journalism Training on Trans Fats Reporting in Lagos, while appealing to the Nigerian government to churn out strong law that will effectively regulate or ban use of trans fats in Nigeria.
According to him, trans fat is formed through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil, which causes the oil to become solid at room temperature for it to have a longer shelf life.
Also, the Executive Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation, who was the special guest, said that trans fat was considered the worst type of fat for human consumption.
He said, unlike other dietary fats, trans fat — also called trans-fatty acids — raises ones “bad” cholesterol and also lowers ones “good” cholesterol.
His words: “A diet laden with trans fat increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of adults. The more trans fat you eat, the greater your risk of heart and blood vessel disease.”
Corroborating, Dr. Jerome Mafemi, Trans Fatty Acids Technical Advisor, NHED, said that trans fat was double trouble for ones heart health.
According to him, “Trans fat increases your “bad” cholesterol and lowers your “good” cholesterol.
He said that some restaurants use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in their deep fryers, because it doesn’t have to be changed as often as do other oils.
“Some meat and dairy products have a small amount of naturally occurring trans fat. It’s not clear whether this naturally occurring trans fat has any benefits or harm,” he said.
He explained that the manufactured form of trans fat, known as partially hydrogenated oil, may be found in a variety of food products, including: baked goods, such as cakes, cookies and pies, while warning that refrigerated dough, such as biscuits, fried foods, including french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken, were injurios to health. He advised Nigerians to eat natural foods and avoid trans fats, stressing that bleached palm oil is injurius to health.
Besides, Mr. Philip Jakpor, the director of programmes, CAPPA; and
Vanessa Offiong, the programme manager, CAPPA, enjoined journalists to continue to sensitise the public on the dangers of consumption of trans fats.
