Palm oil (also known as dendê oil, from Portuguese [ˈdɛnde]) is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil palms, primarily the African oil palm Elaeis guineensis, and to a lesser extent from the American oil palm Elaeis oleifera and the maripa palm Attalea maripa.
Palm oil is naturally reddish in color because of a high beta-carotene content. It is not to be confused with palm kernel oil derived from the kernel of the same fruit,or coconut oil derived from the kernel of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). The differences are in color (raw palm kernel oil lacks carotenoids and is not red), and in saturated fat content: palm mesocarp oil is 49% saturated, while palm kernel oil and coconut oil are 81% and 86% saturated fats, respectively. However, crude red palm oil that has been refined, bleached and deodorized, a common commodity called RBD palm oil, does not contain carotenoids
Along with coconut oil, palm oil is one of the few highly saturated vegetable fats and is semisolid at room temperature. Palm oil is a common cooking ingredient in the tropical belt of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Brazil. Its use in the commercial food industry in other parts of the world is widespread because of its lower cost and the high oxidative stability (saturation) of the refined product when used for frying. One source reported that humans consumed an average 17 pounds (7.7 kg) of palm oil per person in 2015.
The use of palm oil in food products has attracted the concern of environmental activist groups; the high oil yield of the trees has encouraged wider cultivation, leading to the clearing of forests in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia to make space for oil-palm monoculture. This has resulted in significant acreage losses of the natural habitat of the orangutan, of which both species are endangered; one species in particular, the Sumatran orangutan, has been listed as critically endangered. In 2004, an industry group called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was formed to work with the palm oil industry to address these concerns. Additionally, in 1992, in response to concerns about deforestation, the Government of Malaysia pledged to limit the expansion of palm oil plantations by retaining a minimum of half the nation's land as forest cover.
What Is Palm Oil?
Palm oil is extracted from two types of oil palm fruit: Elaeis guineensis, which is common in African regions, and Elaeis oleifera, whichis found in South America.1 Historical accounts suggest that palm oil was a part of the diet of indigenous populations. At present, it has become the second most traded oil crop in the world, after soy, with Malaysia and Indonesia as its main producers.2Palm oil is not to be confused with palm kernel oil. Both are obtained from the fruit, but the latter is derived from the seeds of the oil palm. Palm kernel oil has a higher amount of saturated fat, which makes it ideal for cooking as well
Palm oil — also known as red palm oil — contains high amounts of saturated fat, vitamins, and antioxidants. If you see palm oil that's colorless (also known as white palm oil), it means that it has been processed. The lack of color means it has been stripped off most of its nutritional properties.
Humans used oil palms as far back as 5,000 years; in the late 1800s, archaeologists discovered a substance that they concluded was originally palm oil in a tomb at Abydos dating back to 3,000 BCE. It is believed that traders brought the oil palm to Egypt.
Palm oil from E. guineensiss has long been recognized in West and Central African countries, and is widely used as a cooking oil. European merchants trading with West Africa occasionally purchased palm oil for use as a cooking oil in Europe.
Palm oil became a highly sought-after commodity by British traders, for use as an industrial lubricant for machinery during Britain's Industrial Revolution.
Palm oil formed the basis of soap products, such as Lever Brothers' (now Unilever) "Sunlight" soap, and the American Palmolive brand.
By around 1870, palm oil constituted the primary export of some West African countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, although this was overtaken by cocoa in the 1880s.
Red palm oil is rich in carotenes, such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lycopene, which give it a characteristic dark red color However, palm oil that has been refined, bleached and deodorized from crude palm oil (called "RDB palm oil") does not contain carotenes.
After milling, various palm oil products are made using refining processes. First is fractionation, with crystallization and separation processes to obtain solid (stearin), and liquid (olein) fractions. Then melting and degumming removes impurities. Then the oil is filtered and bleached. Physical refining[clarification needed] removes smells and coloration to produce "refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil" (RBDPO) and free fatty acids,[clarification needed] which are used in the manufacture of soaps, washing powder and other products. RBDPO is the basic palm oil product sold on the world's commodity markets. Many companies fractionate it further to produce palm olein for cooking oil, or process it into other products.
Uses of Palm Oil
Some of the uses of red palm oil include:
- Cooking oil: Similar to coconut oil, palm oil is
resistant to heat compared to other vegetable oils. Its stability also
makes it easy to store at room temperature for many months.
- Tasty ingredient: Palm oil is used as an ingredient in soups and sauces, or as flavoring in certain dishes.
- Dietary supplement: Palm oil has a superior nutrient profile that makes it useful for supplementation.4
- Personal care and household products: Palm oil is added to soaps and detergents, cosmetics, and other household products.5
- Skin moisturizer: Due to its nutrient-dense profile, palm oil is beneficial for skin health. It is added to a number of skin care products.
- "Sunblock": With its high levels of carotenes, red
palm oil provides protection as a commercial sunblock with SPF15, but
without the dangerous components.6
- Biofuel: Palm oil is fast becoming a resource for biodiesel and as a fuel in electrical stations.
Composition of Palm Oil
Palm oil contains about 50 percent saturated fat (majority of which is oleic acid), 40 percent monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and 10 percent polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs).Palm oil gets its reddish color from the carotenes beta-carotene and lycopene, the same nutrients that give color to carrots and tomatoes. Its carotene levels are 15 times higher than carrots and 300 times higher than tomatoes. This is why palm oil is hailed as the best source of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, both of which are precursors to vitamin A.
Palm oil also contains 20 other carotenes, as well as the following nutrients:
- Vitamin E, particularly tocotrienol
- Vitamin K
- CoQ10
- Squalene
- Phytosterols
- Flavonoids
- Phenolic acids
- Glycolipids
The organic waste matter that is produced when processing oil palm, including oil palm shells and oil palm fruit bunches, can also be used to produce energy. This waste material can be converted into pellets that can be used as a biofuel. Additionally, palm oil that has been used to fry foods can be converted into methyl esters for biodiesel. The used cooking oil is chemically treated to create a biodiesel similar to petroleum diesel.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, surpassing Malaysia in 2006, producing more than 20.9 million tonnes. Indonesia expects to double production by the end of 2030. At the end of 2010, 60 percent of the output was exported in the form of crude palm oil. FAO data show production increased by over 400% between 1994 and 2004, to over 8.66 million metric tonnes.
In 2012, Malaysia, the world's second largest producer of palm oil, produced 18.79 million tonnes of crude palm oil on roughly 5,000,000 hectares (19,000 sq mi) of land. Though Indonesia produces more palm oil, Malaysia is the world's largest exporter of palm oil having exported 18 million tonnes of palm oil products in 2011. China, Pakistan, the European Union, India and the United States are the primary importers of Malaysian palm oil products.
Nigeria
As of 2011, Nigeria was the third-largest producer, with approximately 2.3 million hectares (5.7×106 acres) under cultivation. Until 1934, Nigeria had been the world's largest producer. Both small- and large-scale producers participated in the industry.Thailand
In 2013, Thailand produced 2.0 million tonnes of crude palm oil on roughly 626 thousand hectares. Thailand expects to produce 11 million tonnes of fresh palm nuts in 2016, down from more than 12 million in 2015, the shortfall due to Thailand's drought.Colombia
In the 1960s, about 18,000 hectares (69 sq mi) were planted with palm. Colombia has now become the largest palm oil producer in the Americas, and 35% of its product is exported as biofuel. In 2006, the Colombian plantation owners' association, Fedepalma, reported that oil palm cultivation was expanding to 1,000,000 hectares (3,900 sq mi). This expansion is being funded, in part, by the United States Agency for International Development to resettle disarmed paramilitary members on arable land, and by the Colombian government, which proposes to expand land use for exportable cash crops to 7,000,000 hectares (27,000 sq mi) by 2020, including oil palms. Fedepalma states that its members are following sustainable guidelinesSome Afro-Colombians claim that some of these new plantations have been expropriated from them after they had been driven away through poverty and civil war, while armed guards intimidate the remaining people to further depopulate the land, with coca production and trafficking following in their wake.
Benin
Palm is native to the wetlands of western Africa, and south Benin already hosts many palm plantations. Its 'Agricultural Revival Programme' has identified many thousands of hectares of land as suitable for new oil palm export plantations. In spite of the economic benefits, Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Nature Tropicale, claim biofuels will compete with domestic food production in some existing prime agricultural sites. Other areas comprise peat land, whose drainage would have a deleterious environmental impact. They are also concerned genetically modified plants will be introduced into the region, jeopardizing the current premium paid for their non-GM crops.Cameroon
Cameroon had a production project underway initiated by Herakles Farms in the US.However, the project was halted under the pressure of civil society organizations in Cameroon. Before the project was halted, Herakles left the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil early in negotiations. The project has been controversial due to opposition from villagers and the location of the project in a sensitive region for biodiversity.Kenya
Kenya's domestic production of edible oils covers about a third of its annual demand, estimated at around 380,000 metric tonnes. The rest is imported at a cost of around US$140 million a year, making edible oil the country's second most important import after petroleum. Since 1993 a new hybrid variety of cold-tolerant, high-yielding oil palm has been promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in western Kenya. As well as alleviating the country's deficit of edible oils while providing an important cash crop, it is claimed to have environmental benefits in the region, because it does not compete against food crops or native vegetation and it provides stabilisation for the soil.Ghana
Ghana has a lot of palm nut species, which may become an important contributor to the agriculture of the region. Although Ghana has multiple palm species, ranging from local palm nuts to other species locally called agric, it was only marketed locally and to neighboring countries. Production is now expanding as major investment funds are purchasing plantations, because Ghana is considered a major growth area for palm oil.
Benefits of Palm Oil
Studies have found that unrefined palm oil plays a role in promoting
your cardiovascular health. In one study published in the British
Journal of Biomedical Science, it was reported that despite the high
levels of saturated fat in palm oil, the oil did not contribute to
atherosclerosis and/or arterial thrombosis.8
Researchers suggested that this is due to the ratio of saturated to
unsaturated fats in the oil, as well as its rich nutrient profile.
The tocotrienols found in palm oil also help support the heart against stress, suggesting its protective properties against heart disease. Other cardiovascular benefits associated with palm oil consumption include:
- Improved blood circulation
- Regulated cholesterol levels
- Reduced free radical damage and inflammation
- Reduced blood pressure
Studies suggest that palm oil's antioxidant properties help prevent
various types of cancers. According to findings, tocotrienols exhibit
their potent antioxidant properties and aid in inhibiting the
development of skin, stomach, pancreas, lung, liver, breast, prostate,
colon, and other cancers. Regular vitamin E cannot perform this.
Palm oil's antioxidant supply is also found to help prevent
neurological degeneration by stopping free radicals that damage brain
and nerve tissues, and promoting circulation, which increases your
protection against diseases like dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's,
and other mental conditions.
Additional evidence also states that palm oil can help strengthen
immune function and promote bone, eye, oral, lung, skin, and liver
health. As a fat-rich oil, palm oil helps provide energy and enhance
the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, and E.
|
|
How to Make Palm Oil
In small and large operations, the four main steps followed in order to create palm oil are:- Separation of the fruit from its bunch (Palm fruits grow in clusters)
- Softening of the fruit flesh
- Extraction of the oil from the fruit
- Oil purification
How Does Palm Oil Work?
Palm oil is first and foremost an edible oil. I suggest using unrefined red palm oil to ensure that you experience its nutritional benefits. However, it has a strong taste, which some people do not find to their liking. Applying palm oil directly to your skin is also beneficial. Injuries like bruises, sunburn, and cuts also heal faster when palm oil is applied.Is Palm Oil Safe?
While the health community is celebrating palm oil as a superfood, many environmentalists rally against it. Due to the increase in demand, rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia are cut down and are replaced with African oil palm plantations. Palm oil production has become associated with deforestation and has endangered wildlife like orangutans, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, and certain species of birds.9To counter the damage to the environment, nonprofit environmental groups and palm oil manufacturers gathered in 2004 and established the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a global certification body.10 They have created eight ecological principles with 39 criteria. to prevent the negative environmental impacts of palm oil production. Manufacturers must follow all of these criteria to be eligible for certification.
Side Effects of Palm Oil
Consumption of red palm oil is safe, even in large amounts. It does not have any side effect similar to those induced by drugs. Because of palm oil's composition, it metabolizes more effectively with food, so there is less risk of having abdominal discomfort or bowel problems.One minor caveat, however, is when you consume large amounts of the oil, a yellowing of your skin may occur. This is due to the high levels of carotenes in the oil. On the bright side, this slight change means that your protection against harmful UV rays is enhanced.
Topical application of red palm oil can cause also your skin to turn yellowish-orange. Although this can be removed by washing, palm oil stains on clothes is more challenging to wash off. One solution would be to apply palm kernel oil, which is found to be absorbed more effectively by the skin than palm oil.
Good One
ReplyDelete