Promoting healthy heart for Nigerians

There is a popular belief that consuming heart-friendly meals that will keep one’s heart strong and healthy should be the concern of older people who are the most susceptible to coronary heart diseases.

But this is a misconception that may lead to a carefree attitude when it comes to the choice of healthy edible oil for cooking for younger people. Ensuring a healthy heart should be a priority for people of all ages.

Standing in the kitchen, Funlola Rhodes, a Lagos-based housewife, was shocked at her mother-in-law’s reaction. In her eight years of marriage, she had never heard the typically playful Mama Gbolahan raise her voice. Not even to scold any of her grandchildren.

Funlola had just poured a few centilitres of soybean oil into the pot of sizzling vegetable soup when her husband’s mother reprimanded her. “What are you doing?” Mama Gbolahan asked. “Soyabean oil in everyone’s food?” she asked again.

For a brief moment, Funlola wondered if this was one of the septuagenarian’s pranks as she was one to take the pressure off big family events with practical jokes. But any doubts Funlola may have had about Mama Gbolahan’s seriousness quickly disappeared with her next words, “Don’t you know soyabean oil is only for the aged?”

Funlola and the other family members in the kitchen could not help but burst into laughter. “Mama, that’s just a myth,” she said. “Soya bean oil is great for everyone, even children!”

Mama Gbolahan’s erroneous sentiment on Soya bean oil seems to be gaining ground but it is important to reiterate that Soya bean oil is essential for everyone despite their age. However, given the increased risk of heart disease with age, it is easy to see how Soya bean oil has slowly gained a reputation as a “geriatric” cooking oil.

The journey to a healthy heart begins in childhood; therefore starting early with the right choice of edible oil is critical for growth, development, and long-term heart health.