Abstract: Lipids are an essential part of the human diet affecting biological processes and reducing disease development. Plant-based oils, specifically sterols, are essential compounds for cellular composition and proliferation. As vegetarians refrain from consuming animal products, although many versions of this lifestyle exist, plant oils are their only source of fat intake. Extracted plant oils are an essential source of fats and fatty acids; hence this study aims to address vegetarians knowledge and pessimistic perceptions of fats and plant oils to understand the vegetarian consumer choice through the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Despite extensive research on the vegetarian lifestyle, a pessimistic approach to understanding consumer choice in plant-based oils has been less than satisfactory. A qualitative research design was selected to conduct one-to-one in-depth interviews with seventeen vegetarian participants that met the eligibility criteria. Recruitment was based on a purposive sampling drawn from social media groups to provide an insight into the pessimistic views of vegetarians on plant-based oils. A thematic analysis was conducted using the computer-assisted software package NVivo 12 Plus. Pessimistic views and lack of knowledge on the functionality of fats and fatty acids may lead to nutrient deficiencies. The study has identified three major themes related to vegetarians pessimistic views towards plant oils: 1) pessimistic misconceptions of fats and plant-based oils, 2) pessimistic views on plant-based oil harvesting and manufacturing, and 3) plant-based oil challenges and pessimistic health claims. These conflicts are affecting the nutritional status of vegetarians by either avoiding or lessening extracted plant oils in their diet due to a lack of misinformation and uninformative nutritional labelling. The present study highlights the vegetarians’ pessimistic perceptions of extracted plant oils. It argues that vegetarians’ are more prone to nutritional deficiencies due to a lack of knowledge on the functionality of fats and fatty acids and highlights the need for informative food labelling to enable consumers to make comprehensive food choices.Abstract: Lipids are an essential part of the human diet affecting biological processes and reducing disease development. Plant-based oils, specifically sterols, are essential compounds for cellular composition and proliferation. As vegetarians refrain from consuming animal products, although many versions of this lifestyle exist, plant oils are their only s...Show More
Abstract: Bonbax Buonoponzense popularly known as red flower cotton silk tree found in Adamawa and Taraba was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of 120 respondent 60 each from the two-study area, this was based on the availability of the red flower cotton tree found in the study area. The study adopted an experimental designed with an oral interview. The material used was the red cotton flower which was picked, dried, and grounded to obtained a powder which was used for the proximate analysis at the department of biochemistry, University of Jos. For the purpose of determining its nutritional content, the nutritional components of the plant (leaves) was determined using proximate analytical procedures. The analysis unraveled the presence of six nutrients which comprises of the following: moisture content, crude fibre, crude lipids, crude protein, NFE, and ash. Nitrogen free extracts consisting of carbohydrates, sugars and starches was found to be the highest with 18.48 followed by crude fibre with 5%, crude lipids having 3.8%. crude protein with 2.8% The least of them all was found to be moisture with a value of 2%. It was concluded that, Carbohydrates hydrolyzed the body to yield glucose, Proteins as body builders, they replace worn out tissues, and proteins are also immune booster and can help in cell division as well as growth, Fats which are important in energy production and help to regulate blood pressure of vital cell parts, and fibres which are parts of fruits and vegetable. It could be deduced therefore that Bombax buonopozense leaves could be of great health benefit if well harnessed.Abstract: Bonbax Buonoponzense popularly known as red flower cotton silk tree found in Adamawa and Taraba was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of 120 respondent 60 each from the two-study area, this was based on the availability of the red flower cotton tree found in the study area. The study adopted an experimental designed with an ...Show More