News

Overheating Cooking Oil Can Cause Hypertension, Stroke – Nutritionist

Published

3 years ago

February 12, 2023

A Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Ignatius Onimawo, has said that it is dangerous to overheat cooking oils, warning that eating foods cooked with such oil increases the risk of heart attack, hypertension, and stroke.

Prof. Onimawo, a former Vice-Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, said overheating vegetable oil converts it to trans fat, warning that trans fat is injurious to health.

According to him, trans fats are the worst type of fat that an individual can eat, stressing that trans fats have no known health benefits and are a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke worldwide.

Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the nutritionist noted that when vegetable oils are overheated continuously, they get converted into trans fatty acids and cause inflammation.

The former Nutrition Society of Nigeria President explained, “When you reuse vegetable oil or any cooking oil for that matter, and you do it more than twice, the tendency is that, if you are continuously heating the oil, the fatty acid composition of the oil can be transformed into trans fatty acid.

“When you are frying, the temperature of the oil is high. Then after that the same oil, you use it again and the temperature is high.

“By the time you are using it the third or the fourth time, there is going to be a transformation of the fatty acid. They will be converted into what we call trans fatty acids.

“These trans fatty acids are responsible for cardiovascular diseases. They even cause cardiovascular diseases more than saturated fats.

“That is why we normally advise, that if you have used oil more than once or twice, it is better to discard it.”

Mayo Clinic – a medical centre focused on integrated health care, education, and research, says trans fat is considered the worst type of fat to eat.

“Unlike other dietary fats, trans fats — also called trans-fatty acids — raise “bad” cholesterol and also lowers “good” cholesterol.

“A diet laden with trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, the leading killer of adults. The more trans fats eaten, the greater the risk of heart and blood vessel disease,” the clinic noted.

Continuing, the don said, “Because the body cannot handle them, they are the ones that normally form plagues or deposits along the arteries.

“Sometimes, they form these plagues along some of the organs. So, you find out that these trans fats are more deadly than saturated fatty acids.

“Most of the saturated acids themselves lead to deposition of fats in the tissues. This leads to a build-up of pressure on the arteries and veins.

“They deposit fats inside the arteries where blood passes through and sometimes, outside the arteries. “

Prof. Onimawo said that the build of fats around and inside the blood vessels could lead to hypertension.

“They (trans fatty acids) hardened the arteries which are supposed to be flexible. So, when the plagues are there, that particular blood vessel becomes non-flexible.”

“And therefore, when it is not flexible, it cannot expand to accommodate pressure and if that happens continuously, the blood pressure begins to increase and sometimes, that is the origin of high blood pressure.

“If this continues, you know that high blood pressure is a precursor to a lot of things that have to do with heart disease,” the nutritionist noted.

The World Health Organisation says there is evidence that heating and frying oil at high temperatures leads to an increase in trans fat concentrations.

According to the WHO, trans fat increases the risk of heart disease and death from heart disease by 28 per cent.

“On average, the level of trans fat has been found to increase by 3.67 g/100g after heating, and by 3.57 g/100g after frying.

“Approximately 540,000 deaths each year can be attributed to the intake of industrially produced trans-fatty acids.

“High trans fat intake increases the risk of death from any cause by 34 per cent, coronary heart disease deaths by 28 per cent and coronary heart disease by 21 per cent.

“This is likely due to the effect on lipid levels: trans fat increases LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels while lowering HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. Trans fat has no known health benefits,” WHO said.

News

Why We Shut Chinese Supermarkets —NAFDAC

Published

15 minutes ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut two Chinese supermarkets located in the Jabi District and eight cosmetics shops at Wuse Market, Abuja, for selling and distributing regulated products in the country.

NAFDAC disclosed this in a press statement on Friday, signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations/Protocol, Adegboyega Osiyemi.

The agency said, “Acting on the directive of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the enforcement team confiscated and evacuated offending products worth over N170m.”

It noted that the enforcement exercise was carried out by the NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate and members of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Abuja, led by the Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Musa Embugushiki.

“The supermarkets, situated on Mike Akhigbe Way and Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi District, Abuja, were sealed following credible consumer complaints and subsequent surveillance by the NAFDAC Enforcement Team, which revealed that the operators were engaged in the sale of unregistered food items and products labelled exclusively in the Chinese language, contrary to NAFDAC’s mandatory labelling policy requiring English translations for the Nigerian market and regulatory understanding.

“Despite initial resistance and denials by the foreign national at Ebitu Street that the supermarket had yet to commence operation, the enforcement team confirmed that the outlet was in full operation and selling unregistered regulated products.

“In a related operation, eight cosmetics shops within Wuse Market were also sealed for the sale of banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines. Investigations revealed that certain individuals had been illegally presenting themselves as dermatologists and pharmacists, prescribing and selling harmful products to unsuspecting consumers under the guise of body enhancement, skin whitening, aesthetic improvement for women, and manpower for men,” it stated.

NAFDAC highlighted that some of the cosmetics products seized include Wenicks Capsules, Maxman Capsules, Boobs Enlargement, Curvy Weight Gain, Skin Whitening Vitamin Gummies, Collagen, Royal Jelly, Glutathione and Whitening Gummies.

News

What I Found Out About Boko Haram — Obasanjo

Published

23 minutes ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed what he found out about the Boko Haram insurgents, and why the problem continues to persist years after the terrorist group’s major attack in the country.

The former President said this on Friday while giving remarks as the Chairman at the launch of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’, a book by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor (rtd.) in Abuja.

According to Obasanjo, the insurgent group came to be not because they were interested in political power or serious religious issues, but rather a better life.

“I found, yes, there was Boko Haram. I found they were not really aiming for anything political or anything seriously religious. But in short, they were looking for a better life. And any other thing attached to that is a better life for them,” he said.

Continuing, the former Nigerian head of state and two-term civilian president questioned steps taken by Nigeria as a nation in addressing the challenges, adding that if the country had taken the right steps, Boko Haram would not have been a part of its daily life.

“Have we understood that? If we have, have we taken the steps that we should take? If we have, why are we, after fifteen years, Boko Haram is not virtually becoming part of our life? Should we accept that? If we should not accept, what should we do? How much do we know?” He asked.

According to Nigerian Tribune, Obasanjo further questioned the country’s proactiveness, across the divides, in dealing with the insurgency problem, which he said is becoming a monster within the country.

“I think we have to ask ourselves the necessary questions to be able to deal with this thing that is now becoming a monster within our country,” he added.

The event had in attendance other prominent Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Minister of Defense, Abubakar Bagudu; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; Bishop Hassan Kukah, among others.

News

Six Signs You May Soon Be Sacked From Your Job

Published

24 minutes ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

Bored male worker has tired facial expression, looks in displeasure, works long hours on project task, has dark healthy skin, sticks notes in notepad, tries not to forget everything, isolated
Bored male worker has tired facial expression, looks in displeasure, works long hours on project task, has dark healthy skin, sticks notes in notepad, tries not to forget everything, isolated

Losing a job rarely comes without warning signs. While organisations may not always openly communicate their plans, there are usually subtle changes in the workplace that can serve as early indicators that you may soon be sacked from your job.

Recognising these signs early is crucial, as it gives you room to make adjustments, improve performance, or start preparing for alternative opportunities and life after the job. Also, it saves you from being caught off guard.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at six signs you may soon be sacked from your job.

1. Constant negative feedback

One of the first signs you may soon be sacked from your job is receiving repeated negative feedback from your boss or supervisor. Occasional criticism is normal, but when it becomes frequent, unusually detailed, and overly focused on your shortcomings, it could be a red flag.

Employers often document such issues carefully before making termination decisions, so ignoring these warnings can worsen the situation. Acting on feedback promptly may be the only way to turn things around.

2. Exclusion from important projects

This is another subtle sign that your work might no longer be safe. If you suddenly find yourself left out of meetings, projects, or key assignments that you once handled, it may be a signal that your role is losing value.

Being sidelined in this way might mean management is testing others to take over your responsibilities. If not addressed, this isolation could mean you are gradually being phased out.

3. Noticeable change in your workload

If there is a sudden and drastic shift in workload, either too little or too much, it might be a sign to watch. If your tasks are significantly reduced, it may be because the company is preparing for your absence or redistributing your role to others.

On the other hand, being overloaded with unrealistic expectations might also be a deliberate way to set you up for failure. Both extremes are signals that your position may no longer be secure.

4. Strained relationship with your boss

The relationship between an employee and their manager often plays a big role in job security. If your boss begins to avoid interactions, limit conversations, or openly show frustration, it could be an early sign of lost trust.

When communication with your boss breaks down and the bond weakens, it may be one of the strongest indicators that you could soon be sacked if things don’t improve.

5. Organisational restructuring

At times, being sacked from your job has little or nothing to do with your performance but rather with changes in the organisational structure. If your workplace is undergoing restructuring, downsizing, or sudden budget cuts, your role may be among those considered redundant. Employees in such positions are often the first to be let go, regardless of individual contributions.

6. Being asked to train a colleague on your role

Last but not least on this list is when you are suddenly instructed to train a junior colleague or someone new on the tasks you handle daily. While this can sometimes be a routine activity in most organisations, in some cases, it signals that the organisation is preparing another person to take over your duties.

(NIGERIAN TRIBUNE)