Most Nigerians’ve high cholesterol – Oguikpe

By Doris Obinna
Experts have urged Nigerians to be weary of oil they patronise during this festive season., as most of them are hazardous.
The appeal was made in Lagos recently, during a health sensitisation programme organised by Orjiokosisi and Sons Limited, distributors of Laser oil.
Speaking at the programme, a dietician and nutritionist, Charles Oguikpe, said the higher the cholesterol, the higher the level of heart and blood vessel disease, adding that there were no signs and symptoms of high cholesterol unless a blood cholesterol test is taken.
Said he: “So many Nigerians go around with a high cholesterol level without being in the know, until it causes damage.
“However, cholesterol is not altogether bad. At moderate levels, it aids metabolism in the body. Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important natural functions when it comes to digesting foods, producing hormones, and generating Vitamin D. It is manufactured by the body but can also be taken in from food.
“However, if the concentration of cholesterol in the blood gets too high, it becomes a silent danger that puts people at risk of heart attack. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, a cause of heart attacks. A build-up of cholesterol is part of the process that narrows arteries, in which plaques form and cause restriction of blood flow. Reduced blood flow can lead to a stroke of heart attack.
“There is no one single cause for high cholesterol, but top on the list is eating a diet that is high in saturated fat, often gotten from one of our major cooking ingredients, cooking oil.”
According to Oguikpe, a research conducted by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun State, stated that there was a high cholesterol concentration (mg/100g) in fast food samples of selected outlets. A deep fried snack was seen to have a high cholesterol level, which is believed to likely be a function of the type of fat and oil used in the preparation and frying of the product.
On his part, Mr. Evans Ndukwe said, Laser oil, which is made from Rapeseed oil and a blend of olive oil and pomace olive oil, comes as a superior product designed for health, taste and flavor.
He said: “Rapeseed oil is packed with both poly and mono – unsaturated fat but low in saturated fat. It has been proven to be more effective in helping to lower cholesterol and protect the heart and is a major ingredient in making a range of laser oil, thus making this particular range of laser oil lower in saturated fat, higher in Vitamin E and has a higher smoke point, making it the better choice for cooking.
“It is high essential fatty acids omegas 3, 6, and an excellent source of Vitamins E and K. With this range of oil, there is virtually no trans-fats and no artificial preservative nor genetically modified.