PALM OIL

 

Palm oil is now the world’s leading fruit crop. Derived from the oil palm, it is grown primarily in tropical climates where it has become the building block of several developing world economies. Although it is produced throughout Asia, Africa, and South America, a whopping 90% of global exports come from just two countries: Malaysia and Indonesia.Once harvested, palm oil is extracted from both the fruit (palm oil) and the seeds (palm kernel oil).

 

Extracted oils are then used in a broad range of commercial applications including cooking oil, margarine, soaps, shampoos, detergents, lipstick, waxes, polishes, and even as a lubricant in industrial manufacturing.

 

The use of palm oil as a biofuel is gaining momentum, mainly because it represents a sustainable source of cheap energy. Scientists have developed generators that run exclusively on palm oil, which burns cleaner than coal or petroleum for approximately half the price. However, a more widely accepted energy application is the use of crude palm in the creation of biodiesel, a fuel source that may hold the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Given its cost and yield advantages over soybean and corn, palm oil seems to be an ideal solution for the world’s energy problems, even though it is difficult to predict where the supply will come from since 93% of the global supply is already in use as a food source.

 

The growing demand for palm oil in Asia can be largely attributed to the improving economic condition of China and other Asian nations. As incomes rise, billions of Asian consumers have more disposable income for fried and processed foods – all of which depend on palm oil as a key ingredient.

 

Since China imports the overwhelming majority of the palm oil it consumes, its geographic proximity to exporters like Malaysia and Indonesia would seem to present a convenient fix for its ever-growing demand. Yet with western food manufacturers becoming increasingly dependent on palm oil, the issue will likely be decided by the highest bidder.

 

 

Advantages of Palm Oil.

 

Healthier Hearts 

 

More people get hospitalized or die an early death due to heart attacks than road accidents!

 

Heart disease happens when cholesterol (a white, fatty substance in the blood) seeps into the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, the blood vessels thicken and harden. Eventually, the inside surface may rupture or tear, causing blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart.

 

Cholesterol starts seeping into the blood vessel walls as early as adolescence. It is a natural thing to happen in your body.

 

The rate of cholesterol entering your blood vessel walls depends on many factors. Among these are exercise, diet, weight and smoking. Numerous studies have shown that palm oil in the diet lowers total blood cholesterol and 'bad' LDL cholesterol and increases the 'good' HDL cholesterol. It contains little to no trans-fats that raise LDL cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease.

 

Palm oil also does not promote the formation of plaques in the arteries and has an anti-blood clotting effect, both which helps prevent heart disease.

Beautiful Skin

 

Skincare and Cosmetic Products

 

Hot weather and the sun's ultra-violet rays can damage the skin. That's why people use moisturizing creams and lotions for protection. For added beauty, they also use cosmetics.

 

Believe it or not, most cosmetic products are made of palm oil. As a versatile vegetable oil, palm oil is suitable for making cosmetic products like lipsticks for example. Palm-based cosmetic products have also been proven to be the best in quality in terms of moisturisation properties.

Anti-Ageing Palm Oil 

 

Palm oil is rich in Vitamin E (tocopherols & tocotrienols). In fact, no other vegetable oil has as much Vitamin E compared to Palm Oil. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant, capable of reducing the harmful types of oxygen molecules (free radicals) in the body. This means they may help to protect you from certain chronic diseases, while delaying the body's ageing process. Latest research shows that the tocotrienol form of Vitamin E reacts more effective.

Preventing Cancer 

 

Do you know that Palm Oil contains chemical compounds that are scientifically beneficial towards preventing cancer? 

 

Palm oil and fats made from palm oil serve as good food material that are both safe and free from trans fatty acids found in hydrogenated fats. Recent research has shown that trans fatty acids are very harmful to health. They have been linked to various diseases such as cancer (breasts cancer and colonic cancer) and heart disease.

 

One of the easiest ways to prevent cancer is to avoid consuming hydrogenated fats by selecting food products that use palm oil or fats made from palm oil. Palm oil-based products are free from trans fatty acids because they are produced without having to undergo the hydrogenation process. For more info on Hydrogenated Fats and Trans Fatty Acids.

Excellent Energy

 

 All living organisms need energy to stay alive and to function. Believe it or not, you even need energy just to sleep! Just like a car that can't run if the fuel tank is empty, you need to eat food to get energy. Make palm oil a part of a balanced diet because it is a great source of energy.

 

Energy is measured in terms of calories. It can be confusing because this can be stated in many ways. For example : 1,000 calories = 1 kilocalorie = 1 Kcal = 1 Cal (with a capital 'C', of course!)