NIGERIAN FOOD, HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND YOUR HEART.

[Nige...@aol.com]

This was originally posted as a response to a remark made by Jellili and it is
being reposted for those who might have missed the first one.

Jelili,
It is a well known fact that high cholesterol diets lead to atherosclerosis
(clogging of arteries) which could lead to stroke (brain attack), gangrene of
the legs (leg attack), myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertension,
etc.
The food items with the highest cholesterol includes RED MEAT (BEEF, CHOPS,
RIBS, PORK), BUTTER, EGGS, WHOLE FAT DAIRY PRODUCTS but excludes FISH, CHICKEN
or so called WHITE MEAT.
Actually POLYUNSATURATED FAT is VERY GOOD and therefore SAFFLOWER, SUNFLOWER
or CORN OIL is very good also most MARGARINE.
Monounsaturated fat is also very good like from OLIVE and CANOLA OIL.
It is SATURATED FAT like BUTTER that is REALLY BAD; PALM OIL and COCONUT OIL
are saturated.
Our ancestors were lucky not to eat too much redmeat (actually it was bad for
a kid to eat meat) or eggs and also EXERCISED very well by a lifetime of hard
work on the farm.
As a medical student at UCH Ibadan, I never say a patient with heart attack
and it was very rare to see a patient with heart attack.
But in the present era, people eat more meat/eggs and exercise less, walk less
and use less of PALM-OIL and more of vegetable oil.
Our diet is like the diet of the western world about 40-50 years ago.
My advise:-
* Exercise at least 15-30 minutes a day(do more if you can) but check with
your doctor first before starting any exercise program. Let your exercise
include a bit of aerobics and a bit of weight-training.

* Change your BUTTER/DAIRY PRODUCTS to LOW-FAT products.

* Check your cholesterol level regularly and there are cholesterol-lowering
drugs (this does not replace exercise and sensible eating but is an adjunct ).

* Limit your use of EGGS, FATTY MEAT like red meat (replace with white meat)
and ORGAN MEAT(e.g liver, kidneys, etc.)

* Eat more fibers e.g OATS, BEANS, FRUITS

* Drink less ALCOHOL, limit yourself to no more than 2 alcoholic beverages a
day. Some people advise a glass of red wine.

* Eat more starches such as grains and root vegetables like YAM, CARROTS,
CASSAVA.

* Eat less BREAD
you can always check the labels for information on cholesterol/fat content..
In UK there are no such labels but a general advise as stated above should be
followed.
In US the labels are on every food item.
Also EAT LESS SALT.
Regards.

Segun Toyin DAWODU, MD