Red
palm oil is healthier than olive oil and coconut oil and has been
proven to reverse the symptoms of heart disease and protect against
certain cancers
Move over olive and coconut—there’s a new oil in
town proven even more effective at cutting the risk of heart disease and
degenerative illnesses: red palm oil.
Red palm oil has been
celebrated as a healing tonic among ancient civilizations, but has been
overlooked by modern health practitioners due to its mistaken
similarities to palm kernel oil. Both palm kernel and red palm oil
originate from the oil palm Elaeis guineesis. But palm kernel oil is
derived from the seed, while red palm oil is extracted from the fruit.
Recent
research suggests that the two aren’t as alike as previously thought,
as red palm oil has shown superior health benefits to not only palm
kernel oil, but to virtually every other edible oil on the planet! In
fact, Dr. Oz claims, “none compare to the powerful nutritional virtues
of red palm oil.”
A Nutritional PowerhouseRich in
phytonutrients, red palm oil owes the majority of its antioxidant super
powers to its high concentration of carotenes and tocotrienols. You’ve
probably heard about carotenes such as lycopene and beta-carotene, which
lend the bright red and orange hues—and powerful health benefits—to
tomatoes and carrots. Red palm oil significantly contains more potent
levels of these phytonutrients.
Tocotrienols are a superior form
of vitamin E (40 to 60 times more powerful than tocopherols) that
control free radicals and inflammation (the primary cause of heart
disease). Tocotrienols are also powerful anti-cancer agents that help
ward off cancers of the skin, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung, colon,
prostate and bosom.
Over 700 published studies have shown that
tocotrienols have an unprecedented number of health benefits when
combined with the other super nutrients in red palm oil, which include: a
unique complex of phytosterolsplant squaleneco-enzyme Q10carotenes
Unprecedented Health BenefitsRed
palm oil is an overall immune system tonic that improves liver
detoxification and can help treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NFLAD). It protects against osteoporosis and arthritis. Both
tocotrienols and mixed carotenes naturally accumulate in the outermost
layer of the epidermis, thereby shielding hair and skin from harmful
ultraviolet rays.
However, the most well-documented and
scientifically validated nutritional benefit of red palm oil relates to
heart health. Even though red palm oil is high in saturated fat, it
actually helps prevent and reverse heart disease. Studies have shown
that the oil breaks down plague buildup in the arteries and prevents
blockages from forming.
Red palm oil is a potent natural
anti-inflammatory, and as such helps to prevent inflammation in the
artery lining. Science has now confirmed that inflammation in the
arterial linings is the major cause of cholesterol buildup! Red palm oil
naturally improves cholesterol and lowers high blood pressure.
A
study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that red palm
oil reduces your risk of stroke by 50% due to its protective effects on
brain cells. The super vitamin E in red palm oil stimulates blood flow
to the brain and also defends against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia!
Sustainable Red Palm OilUnfortunately,
red palm oil is the subject of much controversy. Production and demand
of red palm oil have led to deforestation and the demise of the
orangutan population. In 2004, a nonprofit organization called the
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was founded to partner
conservation groups with palm oil firms in order to create more
sustainable manufacturing practices. When looking for palm oil, make
sure it carries the RSPO stamp of approval.
Red palm oil should
also carry the labels “virgin” and “organic.” When processed and
refined, red palm oil loses not only its dark color… but also all of its
nutritional benefits. If ever you see red palm oil listed as an
ingredient in processed snack food, you can be sure it’s not the heart
healthy kind.
Experts recommend that to treat a chronic health
condition or for a dose of extra protection, supplement with one to two
tablespoons of virgin organic RSPO-approved red palm oil daily.
This is such a revelation and a relief from all the
myths. I have really been wondering how it didn’t affect our fathers who
lived so long in great health yet had palm oil completely as part of
their life.
One main delicacy - white yam and palm oil
One main delicacy – white yam and palm oilI
had believed that cold pressed Palm oil is the best as most of the
nutrients are destroyed from cooking, surprisingly & interestingly I
read from Abeng News Magazine, that unlike many other foods that lose
their nutrients when heated, much of the nutrients of palm oil remains
intact after extensive boiling of the fruit to extract the oil.
According
to Dr. Gourmet ‘Palm oil is taken from the fruit of the palm, however
Palm kernel oil is pressed from the seeds (kernels) of the fruit and is
much higher in saturated fat – at about 80% vs. only 50% in palm oil.
Palm oil also has a higher ratio of “good fats” though and early
research shows that palm oil has similar effects on cholesterol profiles
(total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol) as olive oil’.
Abeng
News Magazine explained further that It is high in Vitamin E
(tocotrienols and tocopherols), which maintains healthy, supple skin.
Palm oil’s potent Vitamin E tocotrienols is described as a
super-antioxidant that neutralizes disease causing free radicals—it has
the highest level of tocotrienols among all vegetable oils. Could palm
oil be secret behind Africans’ radiant complexion and renowned ageless
features?
Palm oil is also an excellent source for combating
Vitamin A deficiency to prevent night blindness and vision loss. It has
16 times more beta-carotene — the source of its red colour — than
carrots. This high level of carotene is a powerful anti-carcinogenic.
The unremitting health pleas of the West for avoidance of saturated
fats, such as palm oil, due to their supposed link to heart disease are
now viewed as unjustified particularly regarding palm oil.
The
health benefits of palm oil are said to far out weigh the health risks,
especially when blended with other healthy oils. In addition, no health
statistic has revealed West Africans, whose diet for the past 5,000
years has included palm oil, are more susceptible to high levels of
cholesterol or heart disease than any other population.
