A dietician, Mrs Alice Johnson, has cautioned Nigeria to desist from consuming a high quantity of fried foods as it leads to high-calorie intake and accumulation of trans fats, which are not too good enough for the body.
While speaking with our correspondent, Johnson stated that excess calorie and trans fats lead to heart diseases, diabetes and other health complications.
“Fried foods contain more calories than their non-fried counterparts. Eating a lot of them can significantly increase your calorie intake,” she explained.
Johnson said when foods are fried in oil, they lose water and absorb fats, which further increases their calorie content and trans fats.
She said when heated, oils can form trans fats, which are associated with a number of health problems such as cancer, diabetes and obesity.
The dietician explained that food manufacturers often hydrogenate fats, using high pressure and hydrogen gas to increase their shelf life.
She added that hydrogenation occurs when oil is heated to a very high temperature during cooking.
“This process changes the chemical structure of fats, making it difficult for our bodies to break them down. This can ultimately lead to negative health effects,” Johnson said.
