Repetition of oil in fried foods can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke – Doctor

Nana Kofi Owusu, a registered dietitian, warned Ghanaians against the practice of over-frying oil or using the same oil repeatedly to fry foods for consumption.

He also warned against high consumption of trans and saturated fat.

Dr. Owusu launched the appeal at a health forum organized on Friday, July 19, 2019 in Accra by the Holy Trinity Medical Center.

The forum was held under the theme: "Fats That Kill; Understanding dyslipidemia and eating well, "and Dr. Seth Yao Nani, a medical specialist at Korle Bu Hospital, was one of the resource people.

According to Dr. Owusu, repeated use of the same oil to fry foods such as yam, pork, chicken, among others, causes the formation of trans fat.

He noted that high intake of saturated fats increased the risk of heart disease and stroke.

"The problem with fats is that fats are not bad, but the types of fats you take can increase your risk of getting certain diseases," he said, adding that the consumption of fats saturated fat should be about 10%.

He further urged Ghanaians to reduce the level of oil in the foods they consume.

Trans fats generally come in two forms: natural and artificial trans fats.

Natural trans fats are thought to be due to bacteria in the stomach of cattle, sheep and goats, and represent 3 to 7% of the total fat contained in dairy products, such as milk and cheese, between 3 and 10% in beef and lamb. and only 0-2% in chicken and pork.

On the other hand, it is thought that artificial trans fatty acids are formed mainly during hydrogenation, a process in which hydrogen is added to the vegetable oil to form a semi product -Solid called partially hydrogenated oil.

Studies have linked the consumption of trans fat to heart disease, inflammation, among others.

Dyslipidemia is considered a high level of cholesterol or fats (lipids) in the blood, which increases the risk of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart attacks, strokes or strokes. other circulatory problems, especially in smokers.

Dr. Nani lamented the lack of official data on lipid cases, while cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death in the world.

He revealed that about 17.9 million people died of CVD in 2016, accounting for 31% of all deaths worldwide.

"Of these deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke," he said, adding that "more than three-quarters of CVD deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. intermediate".

BY Melvin Tarlue