Is palm oil detrimental to health and, conversely, does it offer nutritional advantages?

Is palm oil detrimental to health and, conversely, does it offer nutritional advantages?

Palm oil, sourced from the fruit of the oil palm tree, has been the subject of health concerns due to its high saturated fat content, supposedly raising cholesterol levels and Increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But let's dissect this folklore:

The oil palm's juice of life has two varieties: Red and White. The refined, bleached, deodorized (RBD) White palm oil undergoes a process that strips off nutrients, like beta carotenes and vitamin E, making Red palm oil healthier due to its higher concentrations of antioxidants and micronutrients.

So, is palm oil the devil on our plates, or can it boast any health benefits? Here's the scoop:

A 2020 review suggests that consuming palm oil in moderation as part of a balanced diet poses no known health risks. The anxiety surrounding palm oil's saturated fat content is no laughing matter. A 13.6g tablespoon of palm oil carries 13.6g of fat, with 6.7g being saturated fat, though recent research hints that palm oil may have some benefits.

A 2021 review delved into the effect of palmitic acid on cholesterol levels. Palmitic acid, you guessed it, is a saturated fatty acid lurking in both vegetable and animal sources. The review concluded that palmitic acid from palm oil and other vegetable sources had less impact on blood cholesterol levels and LDL ("bad cholesterol") than its animal counterpart.

And here's an interesting tidbit: a chemical compound in palm oil called tocotrienols actually slashes blood cholesterol levels by 7% - 38%. Now, isn't that something?

To top it off, an earlier review found no evidence linking palm oil consumption with CVD. However, they emphasized issues in quantifying the true association between the two variables and called for further research in this area.

With the nuances out of the way, let's talk health benefits. As a 2021 review points out, we've got Red and White palm oil. The former, no-nonsense Red oil, packs more micronutrients, such as:

• Carotenoids, needed to synthesize vitamin A
• Tocopherols and tocotrienols, types of vitamin E
• Plant sterols, cholesterol-lowering wonders
• Phospholipids, vital for cell structure and function
• Squalene, a superhero for your skin

The refinement process turns White palm oil into a pale imitation, lacking the nutrients and health benefits of its robust twin sibling.

Here's some nutritional info on palm oil as per authorities: one 13.6g tablespoon of palm oil contains:

• 120 calories
• 503 kilojoules (KJ) of energy
• 13.6g fat, including
  • 6.7g saturated fat
  • 5.03g monounsaturated fat
  • 1.26g polyunsaturated fat
• 2.16 mg of vitamin E
• 1.09 micrograms (μg) vitamin K

When weighing the environmental impact of this oil, the palm oil industry causes vast deforestation, threatening the habitats of endangered species and contributing to climate change. The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) encourages eco-conscious choices when purchasing palm oil products, such as looking out for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, an emblem of adherence to sustainable practices like transparency, strict environmental policies, and responsible sourcing.

Now, for the disclaimer: Palm oil ain't a seed oil. It comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, not the kernel (palm kernel oil).

In conclusion, consuming palm oil in moderation as part of a balanced diet, particularly Red palm oil, may confer benefits due to its antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering properties. Still, environmental concerns call for making sustainable purchasing decisions. So, enjoy, but remember: Moderation and balance are key!

1. Despite concerns regarding its saturated fat content, a 2020 review suggests that consuming palm oil in moderation as part of a balanced diet poses no known health risks.
2. Recent research hints that palm oil may have some benefits, and a 2021 review concluded that palmitic acid from palm oil had less impact on blood cholesterol levels and LDL ("bad cholesterol") than its animal counterpart.
3. A chemical compound in palm oil called tocotrienols actually slashes blood cholesterol levels by 7% - 38%.
4. An earlier review found no evidence linking palm oil consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but they emphasized issues in quantifying the true association between the two variables and called for further research.
5. Red palm oil, richer in nutrients and antioxidants, contains carotenoids, types of vitamin E, plant sterols, phospholipids, and squalene, which have various health benefits.
6. The refinement process removes many of these nutrients from White palm oil, making it a pale imitation of the Red oil's health benefits.
7. When weighing the environmental impact, the palm oil industry's deforestation threatens endangered species and contributes to climate change, making it crucial to choose sustainable products certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
8. It's essential to remember that palm oil isn't a seed oil; it comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, not the kernel (palm kernel oil). Additionally, nutrition and health benefits should not be overlooked when considering other factors like medical-conditions, chronic-diseases such as chronic-kidney-disease, environmental-science, science, fitness-and-exercise, and cbd in maintaining overall health-and-wellness. Therapies-and-treatments may also play a role in managing health conditions while making informed choices about diet, nutrition, and climate-change implications.

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