A veterinarian, Dr Mari Dawuda, said yesterday in
Jos that many researches had disproved the erroneous notion that
cholesterol was not good for the human body.
Dawuda, the Chief Executive Officer, Nannang GZ Veterinary Services, Jos, was reacting to the impression that eggs were not very healthy for humans of a particular age group due to its cholesterol content.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy lipid (fat) found in the bloodstream and in all body cells transported to and from the cells by special proteins carriers called ‘lipoproteins’.
An article entitled “Fixing the Broken Cholesterol Paradigm’’ by Dr. J. E. Williams, explained that there are two main types of lipoproteins — low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
According to the article, LDL is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood.
“If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can clog your arteries. About one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL, and is referred to as “good cholesterol” (and LDL as “bad cholesterol”) because high HDL levels seem to protect against a heart attack.
“We need cholesterol in every part of our body for brain and nerve cells, Vitamin D and steroid hormone synthesis, for healthy cell membranes, and many other structures and functions in the body.
“Too little cholesterol over time can lead to hearing and vision loss, and is associated with chronic constipation and megacolon, liver failure, and spontaneous miscarriages.’’
Corroborating Williams’ view, Dawuda said:“The body produces cholesterol and if the egg is not taken, the body has to produce its own, and the one the body produces is more harmful.
“It is a low density ‘lipoprotein’ which is more dangerous to health than the one from the egg which is the high density ‘lipoprotein’.
“In fact, in developed countries, medical practitioners no longer discuss eggs as a medical issue.
“Eggs are very much needed by the old and the young alike and we do know that nutrients from the egg help build our health, our memories and are of enormous benefits to man.’’
Besides, the doctor said that the human body rather than reject cholesterol, needed it for the body to function well.
He said that egg was one of the cheapest sources of protein and therefore, encouraged Nigerians not to be afraid of consuming eggs.
According to him, because of the fear of side effects, many Nigerians are not eating enough eggs as required by their bodies.
In a separate interview, the Managing Director of Grand Cereals Limited, Mr Layi Oyatoki, suggested adequate awareness creation to enhance the consumption of eggs and other poultry products.
Oyatoki also told newsmen in Jos that many Nigerians were not eating eggs because of the high price and erroneous impression that eggs were harmful to body.
“For those who can afford eggs, they don’t buy it because there is this belief that if you eat much of eggs it would give you cholesterol.
“Consumers must be informed that eggs are not hazardous as scientists have recently proven.
“Take for instance, South Africa, which is like one-third of Nigeria’s population, consumes eggs three times more than Nigeria.
“One of the reasons is that our people cannot afford the eggs we produce in Nigeria because they are too expensive.
“And we cannot blame the sellers because the cost of the feeds is very high and that is equally because the raw materials used in producing feeds are very expensive as well.’’
Dawuda, the Chief Executive Officer, Nannang GZ Veterinary Services, Jos, was reacting to the impression that eggs were not very healthy for humans of a particular age group due to its cholesterol content.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy lipid (fat) found in the bloodstream and in all body cells transported to and from the cells by special proteins carriers called ‘lipoproteins’.
An article entitled “Fixing the Broken Cholesterol Paradigm’’ by Dr. J. E. Williams, explained that there are two main types of lipoproteins — low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
According to the article, LDL is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood.
“If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can clog your arteries. About one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL, and is referred to as “good cholesterol” (and LDL as “bad cholesterol”) because high HDL levels seem to protect against a heart attack.
“We need cholesterol in every part of our body for brain and nerve cells, Vitamin D and steroid hormone synthesis, for healthy cell membranes, and many other structures and functions in the body.
“Too little cholesterol over time can lead to hearing and vision loss, and is associated with chronic constipation and megacolon, liver failure, and spontaneous miscarriages.’’
Corroborating Williams’ view, Dawuda said:“The body produces cholesterol and if the egg is not taken, the body has to produce its own, and the one the body produces is more harmful.
“It is a low density ‘lipoprotein’ which is more dangerous to health than the one from the egg which is the high density ‘lipoprotein’.
“In fact, in developed countries, medical practitioners no longer discuss eggs as a medical issue.
“Eggs are very much needed by the old and the young alike and we do know that nutrients from the egg help build our health, our memories and are of enormous benefits to man.’’
Besides, the doctor said that the human body rather than reject cholesterol, needed it for the body to function well.
He said that egg was one of the cheapest sources of protein and therefore, encouraged Nigerians not to be afraid of consuming eggs.
According to him, because of the fear of side effects, many Nigerians are not eating enough eggs as required by their bodies.
In a separate interview, the Managing Director of Grand Cereals Limited, Mr Layi Oyatoki, suggested adequate awareness creation to enhance the consumption of eggs and other poultry products.
Oyatoki also told newsmen in Jos that many Nigerians were not eating eggs because of the high price and erroneous impression that eggs were harmful to body.
“For those who can afford eggs, they don’t buy it because there is this belief that if you eat much of eggs it would give you cholesterol.
“Consumers must be informed that eggs are not hazardous as scientists have recently proven.
“Take for instance, South Africa, which is like one-third of Nigeria’s population, consumes eggs three times more than Nigeria.
“One of the reasons is that our people cannot afford the eggs we produce in Nigeria because they are too expensive.
“And we cannot blame the sellers because the cost of the feeds is very high and that is equally because the raw materials used in producing feeds are very expensive as well.’’
No comments:
Post a Comment