Breakin' it Down: All About Palm Oil (Uncensored, Unfiltered, and Unapologetic)
Is palm oil detrimental to health or does it offer positive health effects?
Palm oil comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, and it's a hot topic, especially due to its fatty goodness. Some people worry that it might raise their cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But fear not, there's not much science to back up these concerns.
You got two main players in the palm oil world: red and white. White palm oil has been refined, bleached, and deodorized, resulting in fewer micronutrients like beta-carotenes and vitamin E. Red palm oil, on the other hand, is the healthier option, containing more antioxidants and goodies like vitamins, plant sterols, and squalene.
So, is palm oil bad for health? The 2020 review suggests that, when enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, it doesn't present any known health risks. People might freak out about its saturated fat content, but here's the twist: research shows that palm oil might have some benefits when it comes to cholesterol levels.
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty. A 2021 review discovered that palmitic acid from palm oil and other veggie sources has less of an impact on blood cholesterol levels and "bad cholesterol" (LDL) than the palmitic acid from animal sources. This same review also dropped a knowledge bomb, stating that a chemical compound in palm oil called tocotrienols can lower blood cholesterol levels by 7-38%.
Going way back to 2019, another review found no link between palm oil consumption and CVD. While they acknowledged that it wasn't easy to quantify the true association between these two variables, they did call for more research in the area.
Health Benefits of Palm Oil, baby!
Red palm oil, the healthier choice, contains more antioxidants and micronutrients. Beneficial goodies include:
- Carotenoids, which the body converts into vitamin A
- Tocopherols and tocotrienols, various types of vitamin E
- Plant sterols, which help lower cholesterol
- Phospholipids, essential for cell structure and function
- Squalene, great for your skin
Refined, bleached, deodorized (RBD) palm oil lacks these nutritional bonuses.
Nutrition Facts, straight up!
A 13.6g tablespoon of palm oil offers:
- 120 calories
- 503 kilojoules of energy
- 13.6g of fat, divided into:
- 6.7g saturated fat
- 5.03g monounsaturated fat
- 1.26g polyunsaturated fat
- 2.16mg vitamin E
- 1.09μg vitamin K
Environmental Considerations
The palm oil industry is on a destructive spree, causing massive deforestation, endangering species, and contributing to global climate change. The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) encourages you to make thoughtful choices when purchasing palm oil and palm oil products.
They suggest seeking palm oil and palm oil products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. This global certification ensures that the palm oil growers and manufacturers follow robust environmental and human rights practices.
FAQs
- What's the deal with palm oil being a seed oil? Palm oil is not a seed oil. It comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree and is not the same as palm kernel oil, which comes from the kernel or "stone" inside the fruit.
Long Story Short
Palm oil comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, and though it's high in saturated fat, science isn't all that worried about it. Red palm oil contains more micronutrients, but both types can be part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation. Keep in mind the environmental impact while choosing palm oil products, and consult a doctor to ensure it won't interfere with your medications or supplements.
- The oil palm tree produces palm oil, which is a significant topic in various fields like nutrition, medical-conditions, and environmental-science.
- Science generally does not support the concern that palm oil might increase cholesterol levels and CVD risk.
- In the palm oil world, red and white palm oil represent the two main players, with red oil being the healthier option due to its higher antioxidant content.
- White palm oil is refined, bleached, and deodorized, resulting in fewer micronutrients compared to red palm oil.
- Tocotrienols, a chemical compound in palm oil, can lower blood cholesterol levels by 7-38%.
- Research indicates that palm oil might have benefits for cholesterol levels compared to other vegetable sources.
- A 2019 review found no link between palm oil consumption and CVD.
- Palm oil contains carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, plant sterols, phospholipids, and squalene, which have various health benefits.
- RBD palm oil lacks these nutritional advantages.
- A 13.6g tablespoon of palm oil offers 120 calories, 503 kilojoules of energy, and 13.6g of fat.
- The palm oil industry has been criticized for causing deforestation, endangering species, and contributing to climate change.
- To promote sustainability, the WWF advises consumers to choose palm oil and palm oil products with the RSPO certification.
- It's important to consider the environmental impact when purchasing palm oil products.
- Palm oil is often categorized as a seed oil, but it is actually derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree and is not the same as palm kernel oil.
- Consumers must be aware of and consult healthcare professionals when using palm oil to avoid possible conflicts with medications or supplements.
- The palm oil industry is part of the retail, manufacturing, and business sectors, which also encompass finance, energy, transportation, and home-and-garden.
- Palm oil consumption can affect cardiovascular-health, nutrition, and lifestyle choices, particularly when it comes to food-and-drink, personal-finance, and banking-and-insurance. Additionally, data-and-cloud-computing and technology play a role in understanding the impact of palm oil consumption on health and the environment. The travel, shopping, sports, and weather sectors may also influence people's decisions regarding palm oil consumption.
