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PALM OLEIN
Palm olein, the liquid fraction of Palm Oil, averages 42-53% of its composition as the same oleic acid that is found in olive oil and other monounsaturated oils. According to several studies, the ability of olive oil and palm olein to regulate plasma cholesterol levels in humans is essentially identical, despite the lower content of monounsaturated oleic acid in palm olein.
Humans fed diets predominating either as olive oil or palm olein showed identical plasma cholesterol response which augers well for the beneficial effects of these oils against Coronary Heart Disease risk.
On top of this, palm olein is also much richer in vitamin E, providing additional nutrition and goodness. A stark contrast between these two oils is the price. Since the oil palm is a much more productive crop, it is much cheaper to produce palm olein and other palm products, thus sending the benefits back to the consumer.
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Question : Is palm oil and palm olein oils “good” or “bad” for health?
Answer : Palm Oil is Good. Infact Palm Oils Are Healthy.
The fact that palm oil is solid at room temperature, has a neutral taste and can be extracted without the use of solvents has made organic palm oil a very useful ingredient in organic food processing. The only other organic fats which are solid at room temperature are butter and coconut oil, both of which are highly saturated.
Is Palm Oil Highly Saturated?
Palm oil is frequently confused with palm kernel oil, which is highly saturated. In contrast palm oil contains a balance of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. In addition palm oil contains essential substances such as linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid which the body cannot manufacture) and tocopherols and tocotrienols, which act as natural anti-oxidants against damaging free-radicals.
What about Cholesterol?
Like other vegetable fats, palm oil is free from cholesterol. Because palm oil is solid at room temperature hence there is not needed to use hydrogenation, a technique which hardens liquid oil but also produces damaging trans fatty acids and raises cholesterol levels in the process. Human feeding studies has shown that palm oil does not ordinarily raise blood cholesterol levels and in some cases has been found to lower harmful LDL-cholesterol.
Any other health benefits?
Rats fed on a palm-oil enriched diet had a reduced tendency to form blood clots. Unrefined palm olein (which is bright red in colour) is a major source of carotenoids which inhibit some types of cancer. The unrefined oil is also a major source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor to Vitamin A.
So why does palm oil have such a bad reputation?
In the 1980's the American Soya Oil processors were worried about losing domestic sales to imports of palm oil from Malaysia. They set up organisations with names like American Heartsavers which purported to promote good health to consumers but in reality these organisations were a front for attacking "tropical" oils such as palm oil. The campaign culminated in full page newspaper advertisements carrying headlines such as "Stop The Poisoning Of America". Some of this misinformation trickled across the Atlantic and has left residual doubts in the minds of UK consumers and industry figures even today.