Top 5 Myths busted about Palm oil
12:29:00 PMHello Chicsters!
Palm oil has been one of the most controversial topics since the 1980s. Over the years, Palm oil has been in the centre of the debate between good vs bad. In today’s article, we will be shedding light and busting some myths about palm oil.
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Top 5 Myths busted about Palm oil Image credit -www.nationalgeographic.com |
Palm oil is a trans-fat free vegetable oil that composes of 50% unsaturated fatty acids and 50% saturated fatty acids. It’s true that Palm oil contains a high level of saturated fats but since they contain even polysaturated fats aka good fats, scientists consider Palm oil to have a neutral effect on the body. There are two types of palm oil available currently- red palm fruit oil and fractionated palm oil. According to Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), “Palm oil is different from palm kernel oil, which contains about 80% of saturated fats. Palm oil is mainly used for edible purposes, while palm kernel oil is used for non-edible purposes such as making soaps, cosmetics and detergents.”
Myth #2: When palm oil is used to fry food, it can become toxic.
Palm oil is one of the few oils that has a very high smoke point value ie. 235°C. The high smoke point value of palm oil makes it stable at high temperatures which in turn makes it much more suitable for cooking, baking and frying. A balanced palm oil is resistant to oxidisation as compared to its counterparts high-polyunsaturated vegetable oils. On the contrary, palm oil has recently been increasingly incorporated in the food industry as it remains stable at very high temperatures along with the high levels of natural antioxidants.
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| MPOC webinar on debunking myths on Palm oil |
Myth #3: Palm oil is not nutritious because it’s just fatty acids.
Palm oil does contain fatty acids but it also contains carotenoids and Vitamin E. Palm consists of a natural dietary supply of Vitamin A which is 15 to 30 times much more than that of carrots and tomatoes. Palm oil contains high levels of alpha and beta carotene which is converted by our body into Vitamin A. Palm oil is considered as one of the few vegetable oils that reduces the bad cholesterol in the blood. Palm oil is also considered as a rich source of Vitamin E and antioxidants.
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Top 5 Myths busted about Palm oil |
Palm oil is a versatile product that is used not only in the food industry but it is also used in many other products such as lipsticks, candles, soap, shampoo, biodiesel etc. Even though you may not consume palm oil directly but there is a very high chance you are using products indirectly use palm oil in their production.
Myth #5: Palm oil is responsible for worldwide deforestation
According to National Geographic, forests cover 30% of our planets land. Deforestation can be caused both due to natural and human reasons. Some of the common reasons for deforestation are mining, livestock ranching, agriculture, paper production, wildfire etc. As per a survey in 2018 by the European Commission, Palm oil accounted for 2.3% of deforestation as compared to beef/meat/ leather production, soy production and maize production.
18 comments
I always look for the smoking point in any oil Indian cooking need that high point. So far I have used Avocado Oil as it also has a high smoking point. But good to know that palm oil is also one of those oils.
ReplyDeleteThis is great info. Honestly I always thought that palm oil is unhealthy and we should avoid it's use because of high fat content. Thanks for sharing insight. It is really helpful.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see all the myths busted with this webinar with Ms Bhavna Shah. And happy that you are spreading awareness like me.
ReplyDeleteSo true, infact most common belief is that palm oil is not nutritious. But in reality its has higher amount of nutrition than carrot. And that too by multiples.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried or heard anything bad about palm oil. Bit seeing all the benefits I would like to give it a try. Thanks for such an informative post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I too had my doubts about palm oil and stopped using products that have palm oil...like nutella.... but glad to have read this and get some of my doubts cleared.
ReplyDeletethank you for breaking so many myths on palm oil.. seeing all the benefits.. I guess I need to get pal oil back in my life
ReplyDeleteAlong with soy and maize, agricultural lands are also responsible for deforestation. I haven't really heard any myths about palm oil because we used to use rice bran oil before olive oil.
ReplyDeleteYour post helped bust quite a few myths around palm oil. It has its own benefits and one must make an informed choice about its uses.
ReplyDeleteTrust me I always have in mind so many myths and thought palm oil is unhealthy!! Glad you have busted these myths!!
ReplyDeleteThis post is such a eye opener. You have busted a few myths for me. I will definitely give palm oil a try again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing information about palm oil. I never knew we can use it for cooking as well.
ReplyDeleteI am compelled to try palm oil now. Its benefits have been known since long. Also it is adviced to keep on changing the oil you use, once in every three months.. A healthy lifestyle change for a healthy heart.
ReplyDeleteA learning experience indeed..I had a sketchy know-how about palm oil. My mom used to make detergent soap with the ration palm oil we got but never used it to cook. The soap made with palm oil used to look like white chunks of paneer.
ReplyDeleteI have had my own inhibitions about the palm oil due to its not so great effects on human body and as you mention its neutral oil there is no harm in trying at once
ReplyDeleteThis post is very much informative. Honestly I was not aware of these benefits of palm oil as I am not much familiar with palm oil.
ReplyDeleteI too used to believe strongly in this myth. I used to vehemently oppose the use of palm oil except in diyas. Thanks for this informative post
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