But this oil palm where it comes from? What is its history? It 's really a carcinogen? Because it is bad for your health and that damage creates? In what foods is it? And above all, because it is one of the most used oils in the food industry? We try to answer all these questions.
Palm oil: origins and history
Palm oil is derived from the fruit of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Elaeis oleifera and Attalea Maripa); while from the seeds we get the palm kernel oil, both are saturated non-hydrogenated vegetable oils.
It is an oil that has spread from the West African countries where it was used as a cooking oil, were some European merchants to take him to Europe although with many difficulties because Africa was reluctant to trade it. When it spread to the west, the British used it to lubricate the machines and to make soap. In 1910, oil palm spread to Malaysia and plantations were managed largely by Scottish and British. Currently, Malaysia produces nearly 40% of imported oil in the world palm. In 2007, palm oil, becomes the second most popular edible oil, after becoming the main ingredient in soaps, also becomes a food ingredient and if it also uses as fuel. To date, palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world.
Palm oil: the machining process
From the palm fruit oil is obtained; initially this oil is reddish due to the high content of beta-carotene, it is solid at room temperature and hour of violets, also is sweetish. During refining, carotenoids and antioxidants are destroyed by boiling which also provides bleaching and deodorizing, oil becomes whitish-yellow and there are only saturated fats (so originally it is not harmful). At this point it is ready for the food industry.
From the seeds of the palm it is obtained instead of the palm kernel oil: the seeds are separated from the fruit, are dried and ground and then it yields a product from the top of lauric acid rate, of whitish yellow color, which is melted and used in the preparation industrial cakes, icings, etc ... and it's high in saturated fat than palm oil.
Both oils contain:
- Saturated fatty acids;
- glycerol;
- Monounsaturated oleic acid;
- Myristic acid;
- Lauric acid (only the palm kernel oil, saturated fats);
- Caprylic acid;
- Capric acid,
- Pentadecanoic acid;
- Palmitic acid (saturated fats);
- Palmitoleic acid;
- Magarico acid;
- Stearic acid (saturated fats);
- Oleic acid;
- Linoleic acid;
- α-linolenic acid;
- Arachidic acid.
- cosmetics (lauric and myristic acid to the surfactant);
- food industry (confectionery, in particular);
- saponification;
- detergents;
- lubricants for machines;
- fuel;
- feed production.
Before delving into the topic that concerns us, we mark a well-known environmental impact of palm oil. In truth it is a renewable source of energy, particularly as a fuel. The problem lies in the fact that it must be a greater production, which would involve a substantial deforestation, also with the results of a significant carbon emissions. In some areas, before you can cultivate oil palm it had to drain the land and burn hectares of forest with considerable environmental and global warming impact, even causing 80-100% disappearance of animal species that lived .
Palm oil: is bad for health?
Here is the age-old question: palm oil which creates damage to our body? It 's really a carcinogen?
Do you ever read the ingredients of the products you buy? If you do not often time to do it (help with the app Edo which is terrific) and you'll discover that palm oil is found in many sweets, snacks and bakery products.
Because palm oil is used by the food industry? Because it is cheap (given that the price of butter is about 4 times higher), it has excellent flavor, is tasteless, has an 'excellent oxidation resistance, it is a solid fat such as butter and then makes the creamy foods without affecting the flavors, also used to preserve the food longer and gives strength to the product at room temperature.
Thus, the palm oil is bad for health? We will answer you right away saying it is not a poison, from the nutritional point of view is undoubtedly better than the hydrogenated fats, which were previously used very frequently in the food industry. But from there to think that the consumption does not present risks to the health of consumers up is long. Palm oil, just like butter, contains an amount of saturated fatty acids very high compared to other oils, for example, of the fat in 100 grams of palm oil, 47.1 grams are saturated, compared with 48, 8 grams of butter and just 16.3 grams of olive oil. So, if you take in large quantities it is harmful to the health of the heart, arteries and blood circulation. And given that palm oil is virtually everywhere and is easily combinable during the day, the risk that can cause damage to our health is very high. You can also say it is an unnecessary surplus of harmful fats that are best avoided!
Palm oil is carcinogenic? Several sources, including one of the Mario Negri study, show that to date there are no studies proving the link between palm oil and possible carcinogenic effects. The bond to be emphasized is that obesity-onset cancers, because the excessive consumption of saturated fats (palm oil, butter, lard, milk) without burning them with adequate exercise, tends to make you fat, and l ' obesity, as known, is a recognized risk factor of cancer.
As we said before, originally palm oil is red and it is not so harmful indeed, it contains:
- co-enzyme Q10 (ubiquinone);
- Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols);
- betacarotene;
- Vitamin K;
- magnesium;
- phytosterols;
- glycolipids.
With the refining process instead just it keeps fat.
In addition, palm oil unrefined would healing and antimicrobial effects.
Palm oil: contraindications
What are the health risks as regards the refined palm oil consumption?
The refined palm oil would cause:
- cholesterol: Some studies indicate palm oil among those who advised against saturated fat should reduce the level of cholesterol;
- coronary artery disease;
- pancreatitis;
- diabetes ;
- oxidative stress at the cellular level;
- obesity.
Let's say that at most, palm oil may be good for frying, because it stands up well to the temperature but otherwise is totally discouraged.
Where is palm oil?
The palm oil is present in many foods, especially in:
- snacks;
- snacks;
- ice cream;
- cookies;
- confectionery;
- margarine's;
- bakery products;
- and even in many children's foods, such as biscuits for babies and milk powder.
Attention, therefore, always check the ingredients of the products you bought, and avoid those that contain palm oil or otherwise consumers sporadically. They prefer the home-made snacks, avoiding even the butter, and using good fats for health. In any case, the best oil is the extra virgin olive oil.
