Scientific facts about the harm and benefits of palm oil for humans

Palm oil has become one of the most common products in recent years. It is actively used by manufacturers of food and cosmetics in order to reduce the cost of final products.

However, the safety of palm oil is being questioned, and the studies conducted are contradictory. The article discusses in detail the areas of use of the product and its impact on health.

What kind of oil is this?

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is produced from the fleshy part of an oil palm. Oil has been used by mankind since the time of Ancient Egypt for various food and household purposes.

Currently, Malaysia and Indonesia produce up to 80% of the world's palm oil. In 2016, the export of palm oil exceeded the supply of other oils (including sunflower, rapeseed and soybean). It accounts for over 35% of the global production of vegetable oils.

Palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature, melts at 35 degrees Celsius.

Palm oil should not be confused with palm kernel oil. The latter is made from palm seeds and is considered more valuable because it contains more biologically active substances.

Where is it used?

Palm oil is widely used in the food industry. It is a part of margarine, processed cheeses, baby food mixes, ice cream. The addition of this product leads to lower production costs and an increase in the manufacturer's profit.

Butter can also be found in mayonnaise, soup mixes, confectionery fats and glazes, chocolate, sweets and confectionery products, any bakery products.

It is used for the production of some dairy products: yoghurts, cottage cheese, milkshakes.

In many countries, the addition of oil is allowed by all legislative technical standards, since the content of hazardous chemicals in it does not exceed the maximum permissible values.

In addition to the food industry, palm oil has found application in the creation of cosmetics and creams for skin and hair care. Palm oil deodorization products have been actively introduced in recent years for the manufacture of soap.

Is it harmful and why?

The effect of palm oil on human health is controversial and is the subject of intense scientific debate.

Selected scientific research show that it is harmful to the heart and blood vessels, as it contributes to the increase of &171;bad &187; cholesterol and the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the arteries.

Scientists from Thailand discovered a similar pattern. At the same time, they did not note an increase in bad cholesterol when taking other vegetable oils (rapeseed and soy).

Experts from Malaysia claim that palm oil should never be heated, especially repeatedly. The scientists gave the rodents oil that was heated 10 times. As a result, large plaques formed on the vascular walls and other cardiovascular disorders developed in rodents within 6 months.

However, the harm of palm oil to the cardiovascular system is being questioned. The main saturated fat of the product is palmitic acid. It has a health effect similar to monounsaturated (healthy) fats.

Separately, it should be noted that the oil is rich in linoleic acid, vitamin E – powerful antioxidants that inhibit cholesterol synthesis. Also, according to the data Swedish scientists, the saturated fat content in palm oil is 1.5 times lower than in milk fat.

Partially hydrogenated oil is especially harmful

Hydrogenation is a process in which liquid unsaturated fat is converted into solid fat by adding hydrogen. In the process of hydrogenation, a large amount of trans fats is formed.

Food companies have started using partially hydrogenated palm oil to increase the shelf life of products and reduce costs.

While some foods naturally contain small amounts of solid fats, most trans fats in the human diet are precisely processed hydrogenated fats.

Partially hydrogenated oils increase the level of "harmful" cholesterol in the blood – LDL and, as a result, the concentration of total cholesterol. High levels of total cholesterol and LDL lead to the formation of atherosclerotic overlays on the walls of blood vessels and the development of diseases such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke.

Fully hydrogenated oil, on the other hand, contains very few trans fats and a lot of saturated fats, it does not pose a significant health hazard.

Nevertheless, food manufacturers continue to use partially hydrogenated oils in order to:

• Save money;
• Extend the shelf life of products;
• Improve texture;
• Increase stability.

4 useful properties

The conducted studies have revealed certain benefits from natural palm oil (not hydrogenated and not refined). Let's look at them in more detail.

1. Contains nutrients

Palm Oil possesses has a fairly high energy value (884 calories per 100 grams), but is abundant in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A and E.

These substances have antioxidant activity and can prevent the development of malignant tumors and some chronic diseases.

However, not all oil is useful. For industrial needs, the oil is often modified (crystallized and filtered), which leads to a decrease in the volume of unsaturated fats.

2. Reduces the risk of developing brain diseases

Palm oil is a valuable source of tocotrienols, a special form of vitamin E with powerful antioxidant activity.

Experiments on rodents demonstrate that tocotrienols can reduce the risk of stroke.

Research conducted at the Ohio State University (USA) installed that palm oil reduces the activity of neurodegenerative processes (which occur in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease), and also slows down atrophic changes after a stroke.

Oil may benefit older age groups when neurodegenerative diseases and disorders of the cognitive sphere are making themselves felt.

3. Improves heart health

Despite the described negative effects of oil on the cardiovascular system, let's focus on larger studies.

Large meta-analysis based on 51 papers conducted by Italian specialists, showed that natural palm oil can reduce the level of total cholesterol and LDL in the blood.

According to the data of the scientific community, consuming only 2 tablespoons of the product for several weeks leads to a decrease in LDL concentration by 15%.

American scientists compared effect on the lipid profile with placebo. As a result, a negative trend was recorded among those who did not receive palm oil.

4. Saturates the body with vitamin A

Vitamin A improves the functioning of the visual apparatus, and also has powerful antioxidant activity.

It is especially necessary for women during pregnancy (for the proper development of the fetal nervous system), as well as for children of the first years of life (in particular, newborns and infants).

Numerous works by scientists show that palm oil is a rich source of vitamin A.

According to the information scientists, the drug increases the content of vitamin A in the blood of people with cystic fibrosis. This disease disrupts the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Special attention deserve the works of Indian experts. They found that taking vitamin A through palm oil leads to a higher increase in the concentration of this substance than using medicinal vitamin complexes.

The ethical side of the issue

Palm oil production has a negative impact on the environment. In recent years, the demand for the product has led to a large-scale expansion of production in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Tropical forests and peatlands are being destroyed for the placement of oil palm plantations. Almost half of the current plantings were planted with green forest 30 years ago.

Environmentalists predict that such deforestation will accelerate global warming, as trees play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, changing the natural landscape leads to changes in the wild and the disappearance of some animal species. Orangutans were threatened with extinction.

There are some concerns about the working conditions on palm plantations. The workers are in unsafe working conditions, live in uninhabitable barracks and receive low wages.

In order to prevent an environmental disaster, the RSPO organization was created – a round table on sustainable palm oil production.

Experts have found that planting new palm trees in areas without forests and with low carbon reserves can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by 60%. The organization issues certificates only to those producers who follow certain recommendations:

• Do not destroy forests;
• Reduce the use of pesticides;
• Respect the rights of employees;
• Take into account the opinion of local residents before planting new palm trees.

Conclusion

1. Palm oil is the most widespread vegetable oil in the world.
2. The main field of application is cosmetics and food production. The oil helps to reduce the cost of production costs.
3. Natural oil is rather useful for humans. It contains a lot of nutrients (especially vitamin A), improves brain function and, presumably, provides prevention of vascular catastrophes associated with the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
4. Partially hydrogenated oil, namely, it is most often added to products to save money and increase shelf life, is extremely harmful to health, especially for the cardiovascular system.
5. Massive planting of oil palms harms the environment and wildlife, accelerates global warming.