Feb 15, 2023 | Healthy Foods
OVERHEATING COOKING OIL CAN CAUSE HYPERTENSION, STROKE – NUTRITIONIST
By Angela Onwuzoo
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.
Jul 16, 2022 | Healthy Products
USING BMI CALCULATOR TO GAIN MORE INSIGHTS ON HOW HEALTHY YOU ARE
The number on your scale is just one of the many indicators for general health. Calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) to gain more insights on how healthy your weight is for your height. This BMI calculator generates results for women, men, teenagers, and children.
Why We Use BMI
Body Mass Index or BMI can help you understand if you’re a healthy body weight for your height. There’s no “perfect” body weight – and there’s no perfect calculation for a healthy body weight, either – but knowing your BMI can be a useful indicator of whether you’re at risk from weight-related health problems.
It works by calculating a number based on your weight and how tall you are. From this number, you can get an idea of whether you are considered underweight, “normal” weight, overweight, or obese on the BMI scale.
While BMI measurements are imperfect, they’re still widely used for several reasons.
First, BMI is quick and affordable to measure (our tool is completely free) and you can work it out at home with just bathroom scales and a tape measure.
There’s also a strong, proven correlation between BMI and body fat and hundreds of studies that show links between BMI and general health, so it can be a useful place to start to learn more about your body and health.
Understanding BMI Results: Ages 20+
Underweight: Below 18.5
A BMI below 18.5 suggests you could be underweight. There’s a risk that you may not be eating enough, or in some cases, it could be a sign of illness.
Prolonged malnutrition can lead to osteoporosis, fertility issues, anemia, hair and tooth loss, and other problems. A low BMI doesn’t necessarily mean a medical emergency, but you might want to pay a visit to your doctor to understand if there’s an underlying cause.
Normal: 18.5 to 24.9
BMI readings between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered within a healthy range. Those on the lower end of the spectrum may want to make sure they’re getting enough nutrients, while those at the top might take a look at their processed sugar and junk food consumption.
While these numbers are not associated with significantly elevated medical risks, there are other factors to consider. A slim person carrying belly fat may have a “normal” BMI but be at a greater health risk than a fit, muscular person with an “overweight” BMI. Find out more about BMI limitations.
Overweight: 25 to 30
If your BMI is above 25, it could mean that you’re overweight and carrying excess body fat. However, because BMI is a measure of body weight and not body fat, you could also have a high BMI if you’re very muscular.
If you’re not very active, a BMI within this range is a sign you should consider losing weight through a combination of a healthy diet and exercise. For those who are active and lead a healthy lifestyle, a high BMI result may not be a cause for concern.
Obese: Above 30
If your BMI is above 30, you’re almost certainly carrying extra weight. A BMI over 30 has been linked to type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, arthritis, joint inflammation, depression, sleep apnea, and an elevated risk of cancer.
These dangers are especially elevated for those with a BMI over 40, which is known as “severely obese”. Obesity can lead to serious health and quality-of-life issues. You should visit your doctor to understand the underlying cause and start taking steps to improve your health.
Understanding BMI Results: Ages 2-19
Severely Underweight: Below the 3rd Percentile
A BMI below the 3rd percentile almost certainly means that a child or teen is severely underweight. A medical professional should be consulted on how to support healthy weight gain, while considering possible underlying causes.
Studies on children and young adults in this percentile show that many suffer from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), which is linked with higher rates of mortality and further illness.
Underweight: From the 3rd to 5th Percentile
A BMI below the 5th percentile suggests a child or teenager could be underweight . It is possible that they simply have a smaller build, so it’s important to clarify this with a doctor or pediatrician.
If a child or teen is underweight for their build, there’s a risk that they’re not eating enough nutritious foods, or in some cases, it could be a symptom of an underlying illness.
Studies show that under nutrition in kids can lead to metabolic disorders, low energy levels, behavioral issues, and learning disabilities.
Normal: From the 5th to the 85th Percentile
BMI readings between the 5th and 85th percentile are within a healthy range. If a teenager or child is on the lower or higher end of the spectrum, confirm with a medical expert to make sure they’re getting enough nutrition and exercise.
In any case, it’s recommended that a child or teen with a healthy BMI still gets support on how to keep their processed sugar and junk food consumption to a minimum for optimal development.
Continuously tracking BMI, especially during puberty, is a helpful way to make sure a child is on track with their weight.
BMI calculations do have their limitations, so it’s best to receive ongoing guidance from a doctor or pediatrician.
Overweight: From the 85th to 95th Percentile
If a child or teenager’s BMI percentile is above 90, it could mean that they are overweight and carrying excess body fat. However, because BMI is a measure of body weight and not body fat, they could also have a high BMI if they have more muscle.
In the case where this child or teenager is not very active, a BMI above the healthy percentile range for their age and gender means they need support in losing weight through a combination of a healthy diet and exercise. Additional guidance from a pediatrician or doctor is recommended for getting a child or teen’s health on track.
Being overweight in childhood often continues on into adulthood, due to genetics and behavioral patterns. This can be detrimental to an individual’s emotional health, as well as physical, with increased risks of childhood diabetes in the short term. Long-term effects include varying degrees of illness, so it’s ideal for a child or teen with this result to start getting help now.
For those who are active and lead a healthy lifestyle, a high BMI result may not be a cause for concern, but you should confirm this with a medical expert.
Severely Overweight: Above the 95 Percentile
A BMI above the 95th percentile almost certainly indicates that a child or teenager is carrying more weight than what’s considered healthy. The CDC states that unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and inconsistent sleeping habits are just some of the factors that contribute to childhood and teenage obesity.
Childhood obesity often leads to obesity in adulthood. An adult BMI over 30 is considered obese, and has been linked to type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, arthritis, depression, and other serious health and quality-of-life issues.
A child or teen with this result should be assessed by a physician to discover any underlying causes, and clarify what steps to take to improve their health.
How BMI is Calculated
BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. If you use imperial measurements you can calculate BMI with the equation:
(Weight in pounds ÷ height2 in inches) x 703 = BMI
BMI measurements are taken the same way for men and women. But there are differences in the way this information is interpreted.
BMI for Women
Often due to social stigma, women with higher BMIs report more psychological stress and a lower quality of life than men with high BMIs. Those pressures also cause a higher rate of eating disorders among women.
Women can experience fertility issues and amenorrhea if their BMI goes too far in either direction. Note that if you’re pregnant or nursing, BMI isn’t accurate and shouldn’t be used.
BMI is also not an accurate way to determine the distribution of body fat, in particular, identifying high-risk abdominal body fat. Additional waistline measurements are particularly important for women, who tend to have more body fat than men of the same BMI. Studies show there’s a link between larger BMI and waistline measurements and coronary heart disease in women.
Relying on BMI as the sole indicator for overall health should also be avoided after menopause. This is because the proportions of muscle, fat, and bone change as you age. See more about the limitations of BMI for post-menopausal women.
BMI for Men
Currently, the average BMI for males is 28. You might think that the healthy weight for a man of the same height as a woman would be higher. But this isn’t the case.
As BMI increases (over 25), so does ill health. A BMI of 28 makes you more than 1,500% more likely to develop diabetes than if your BMI was 23 or lower.
Fortunately, you’ll benefit from dropping even just a few pounds.
BMI for Children and Teenagers
A slightly different method is used to calculate the BMI of children and teenagers aged 2-19 years old.
BMI is still calculated using height and weight but the results are interpreted and measured by percentile. This is where the child or teen’s BMI is compared to others of the same age and sex using data from national surveys.
The CDC is just one of the organizations that monitors the results of these surveys and maintains updated charts of BMI percentiles for boys and girls.
Limitations of BMI Measurements
Body Fat Distribution
BMI fails to take fat distribution into account. This is an issue because some areas are far more harmful to health than others. Excess abdominal fat has been linked to numerous health issues, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Yet a slim person who carries belly fat might still have a “normal” BMI. You should take your waistline into account, as well as your BMI.
To work out your body fat percentage, ask your health practitioner to do skinfold testing instead.
Athletes and Bodybuilders
BMI is a measurement of body weight, but it can’t differentiate between muscle, fat, or bone mass. Because of this, a bodybuilder with very little body fat but a lot of muscle might still receive a BMI rating of “overweight” or even “obese”, which would be an inaccurate representation of their actual health.
If you consider yourself to be a fit person with a large muscle mass, your BMI won’t be a relevant indicator of your health, so reach out to a medical practitioner for guidance.
Ethnicity
Race and ethnicity factor into BMI readings, as well. The ranges and cut-off points in most general tools are considered international guidelines, although there are some significant variations.
A 20-year study found that at the same BMI, Asian people were twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to white people. It found that Black, Hispanic, and other ethnic minority groups were also more at risk of diabetes.
Those of Asian origin are also more prone to belly fat than Caucasians. This means they may start to see health problems at a much lower BMI. The World Health Organisation looked into this and suggested that Asian people should class a BMI of 22-25 as overweight (observed risk) and 26-31 as obese (high risk).
Age
BMI calculations are a less accurate indication of a healthy weight for babies and toddlers aged 0 to 2, and for individuals over the age of 60 to 65.
When it comes to infants aged 0 to 2, there are many more factors that contribute to weight. Medical experts trained in this area take measurements such as height and head circumference, and compare those to growth percentiles of children the same age, gender, and height, but they’ll also base their assessment on far more nuanced information.
This is largely based on information you provide, such as general diet, energy, and overall health before determining whether your baby or toddler is at a healthy weight.
As for the limitations in older adults, muscle mass decreases as you get older, while body fat often increases. This means that some older people may fall into a healthy BMI category, while still having a high level of body fat.
If you’re over the age of 60-65, BMI may be an even more unreliable indicator of body fat.
Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women
Given your baby’s weight, and the natural increase in your body fat to accommodate and nurture your baby, BMI is not an accurate tool for you while pregnant or nursing. Instead, the CDC recommends monitoring your weight gain throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
If you know what your BMI was pre-pregnancy, you can compare your current weight with CDC’s recommended weight gain for that BMI. There are separate charts for pregnancy with one baby and pregnancy with twins.
Post-Menopausal Women
BMI can be particularly misleading for postmenopausal women where studies show bone density decreases and body fat increases.
This is means that the Underweight to Obese categories would have to be shifted down to lower weights in order to more accurately determine whether you’re potentially at risk for weight-related health complications. So, whereas a BMI of 30 is the cut off for obesity, studies show that the cut off should be lower for post-menopausal women.
Sep 20, 2020 | News
ROHSI CREATES AWARENESS ON SALIENT ILLNESSES
By Canice Opara
The Rays of Hope Support Initiative (ROHSI) has been creating awareness on salient sicknesses in the country, such as hypertension and diabetes through education on their health implications.
According to Mr. Benjamin Olorunfemi, founder of the organization, these ailments have been causing a lot of problems in the country, and unfortunately people are not always taking them seriously, hence his organization has embarked on an awareness campaign to education citizens.
Olorunfemi, who narrated how he almost died through these sickness, said he later researched on them only to discover that high blood pressure and diabetes are among other non-communicable diseases millions of Nigerians are battling with without knowing what they are, that this has led to his desire to raise awareness, provide health education, get people screened for hypertension and diabetes with the vision to reducing the untimely death resulting from complications caused by these ailments. Hence, Rays of Hope Support Initiative (ROHSI) was born in March 2017.
“We found out that if people had access to information and medical services early, deaths and other health complications arising from these ailments could be prevented. Then we decided to fight against these diseases with one-on-one talk Initiative, which was later extended to our communities because of the increasing number of people who need information and treatment”, he said.
Olorunfemi, quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), said hypertension and diabetes are responsible for an estimated 45 percent of adults’ death due to heart diseases, and 51 percent of deaths due to stroke globally, with studies blaming the increasing prevalence of the condition on lifestyle and dietary factors such as physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco use, and a diet high in sodium usually from processed and fatty foods. That unfortunately, the control of hypertension and diabetes has become a priority in many countries of the world, but remains a crisis in Nigeria in terms of awareness and management as the condition continues unabated.
He stated that studies continue to show from experts that more Nigerians are daily battling with these ailments without laid down measures, and asked why?
The ROHSI founder believes that economic downturn and the astronomical increase in managing these ailments are forcing many people to go on compulsory “drug holiday’’, as they found it hard to get funds in getting medical screening and medication on real-time. And that it could be why today people are seeking an alternative to orthodox drugs and treatment, as the economic situation has not allowed the majority of them to be able to cope with continuing medication.
He wondered why government, whose responsibility it is to create awareness and help pharmaceutical companies in curbing these sicknesses, is not doing much in that regard.
“Our government that was supposed to help in terms of awareness, providing relief and subsidies to pharmaceutical companies and the people with hypertension and diabetes to ameliorates their health conditions are not doing much even; our primary healthcare centres that supposed to be the first point of call for screening, detecting and helping in alleviating these ailments are not functioning to their name. Today, many of these patients are going back to alternative medicine or ‘’drug holiday’’ as I have said earlier, which often worsens the condition resulting in more health complications”, Olorunfemi lamented.
He said based on this, they are coming in to bridge that gap by coming in today as an organization to provide means by which more of people with these ailments could be reached through programmes like community outreaches, where they have provided free screening and medication to over 3,000 Nigerians.
“We all know there are significant health and economic gains attached to early detection, adequate treatment and good control of hypertension and diabetes than treating the complications of these ailments”, he reminded.
While saying that his organisation has the vision of supporting the health and well-being of people through health education and enlightenment, Olorunfemi said “but it’s not what we can do alone as an organisation; we need like minded people like you to help us with your time, network, resources among others in achieving the following:
“To create awareness on the effects and management of hypertension and diabetes among our people with special interest among the low income and the less privileged members of our society.
“To help increase the understanding among the communities, especially the less privileged members of the communities battling with these ailments about its impact on their health.
“To reduce the percentage of people with these diseases significantly through our awareness, health education and community outreaches respectively with follow-up on a great percentage of the people.
“To provide people living with hypertension or diabetes with comprehensive information on the causes and management.
“To provide our targeted audience with ongoing follow-up information on hypertension and diabetes.
“To reach a larger number of the communities with pamphlets, handbill, lecture in local dialects for clear and better understanding of what hypertension and diabetes are all about, and how deadly they could become if not discovered and managed on time”.
Olorunfemi advised that Nigerians should discourage people from resorting to self – medication, but instead seek for proper medical attention.
He added that all of the above cannot be achieved without Nigerians’ efforts and contributions, and that is why his organisation is asking people to join them with all that they have in achieving these.
First Published By Dispatch News Online http://dispatchnews.com.ng/2020/09/19/rohsi-creates-awareness-on-salient-illnesses/
Sep 17, 2020 | Healthy Tips
MANAGING HIGH BLOOD SUGAR IS KEY TO REDUCING COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS: STUDY
By: Kara-Marie Hall, RN, BSN, CCRN
Key Takeaways:
- Researchers at Michigan Medicine are using a targeted algorithm to help manage blood sugar levels in COVID-19 patients.
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is linked to severe illness in those with COVID-19.
- Having a severe case of COVID-19 can also cause high blood sugar in people who do not have diabetes.
- Aggressive management of high blood sugar in patients with COVID-19 appears to reduce their risk of long-term health consequences associated with the virus.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine have created a management tool that could improve outcomes for patients with high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and COVID-19. The research, which was published ahead of print on August 11 in the journal Diabetes, shows a two-way relationship between blood sugar levels and COVID-19.
According to the researchers, having high blood sugar can put patients at risk for more severe illness if they contract COVID-19. The reverse also appears to be true: patients with COVID-19 also are at risk for high blood sugar levels, even if they do not have diabetes.1
“Based on current evidence, it’s fair to say that the COVID-19 virus, particularly in its most severe forms, leads to much higher blood glucose levels,” study senior author Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, tells Verywell. Pop-Busui adds that having high blood glucose levels can also lead to worse outcomes for patients with COVID-19.
If left uncontrolled, the inflammation from COVID-19—often called a “cytokine storm”—can cause complications when coupled with inflammation caused by hyperglycemia.1 It also increases the likelihood of needing mechanical ventilation.
What Is Hyperglycemia?
Sugar (glucose) is necessary for proper organ function. Glucose enters your organs’ cells through a hormone called insulin. If the amount of glucose in your body exceeds the amount of insulin available, the glucose builds up in your blood and causes high blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia.
Hyperglycemia is typically defined as a blood sugar level of at least 180 mg/dl or greater when measured one to two hours after eating.2 However, the defined range varies among health organizations. Diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2, and gestational) is the most common cause.
Michigan Medicine Introduces Hyperglycemia Management Teams
The researchers at Michigan Medicine designed a personalized, targeted clinical algorithm—a set of guidelines that helps healthcare providers make decisions—to help frontline healthcare workers without adding to their already heavy workload.
To put the guidelines into practice, the researchers launched several hyperglycemia management teams that were tasked with:
- Checking patients’ glucose values through venous and arterial blood specimens rather than bedside glucose checks (because it’s more convenient)
- Creating timely insulin dose adjustments multiple times a day
- Reducing the number of glucose checks for most patients to every six hours
Not only did the algorithm lower patients’ glucose levels to an acceptable target range (generally 150-180 mg/dL), it also lessened the burden on frontline health care workers.
“We developed this early in the course of the pandemic, and we have continued to adapt and improve it based on lessons learned daily on the frontlines,” Pop-Busui says. “Others have started to use variations of this algorithm as well.”
What This Means For You:
If you have diabetes or even prediabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels well-controlled can help you reduce the risk of complications if you contract COVID-19.
COVID-19 Can Trigger Hyperglycemia
The Michigan Medicine researchers also found that some of the COVID-19 patients who had been referred to them for treatment developed high blood sugar levels even though they did not have diabetes.
“The severe inflammatory reaction triggers insulin resistance and high blood sugar even in people who may not have had known diabetes, but could have been in a prediabetic state,” Pop-Busui says.
A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Virology corroborates this idea, showing that out of 184 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, about 24% of patients were prediabetic.3
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes. Over 84% of people with prediabetes are unaware that they have it.4
However, factors beyond diabetes and prediabetes can contribute to high blood sugar.
“[Patients with hyperglycemia] may also simply have stress hyperglycemia, which can occur from the stress of illness,” Roma Gianchandani, MD, another author of the Michigan Medicine study, tells Verywell,
Regardless of whether patients have prediabetes, diabetes, or stress hyperglycemia, Pop-Busui says their high blood sugar levels need immediate and sustained treatment.
Risks of Untreated Hyperglycemia
Romy Block, MD, an endocrinologist and co-founder of Vous Vitamin, tells Verywell that long-term, high blood sugars can directly injure blood vessels. Several health problems can result from this damage, including:
“In many medical conditions, tightly controlled sugars can decrease the duration of illness and decrease the [number of] days spent in the hospital,” Block says.
Treatment for hyperglycemia usually includes the administration of insulin—either given intravenously (directly into your vein) or under the skin—to bring down high blood sugar levels.
