Palm oil: description, properties, application features, benefits and harm

Today in all media actively discussing palm oil. Who is trying to prove his harm, who is good. But first you need to understand that two varieties of this oil are produced. Because of the place of growth of palm trees - Africa - both varieties are called tropical. Palm kernel oil and palm kernel oil differ in the way they are produced. Let's talk about them in more detail.

How to get

Palm oil is distinguished by a high level of resistance to oxidation and rancidity. It contains the same amount of unsaturated fatty acids and saturated. Produce it from the soft part of the fruit of the oil palm.

The wealth of this oil consists of carotenoids and palmitic acid. It melts at temperatures above 30 ° C. Local people use it in cooking.

Palm-kernel oil is obtained from the fruits of the same palm, only from nuclei, by pressing. In our country, such a product is actively used for soap making (for good foaming and elasticity), in the production of cosmetics, medical ointments and perfumes.

Where grow palm trees?

Oil-bearing palms grow about 20 m in height and with fruit brushes very similar to plums. One brush is about 800 fruits, weighing up to 50 kg. One hectare of palm plantations produces eight times more vegetable oil than one hectare of land under sunflower. They grow them on special plantations in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Africa and other countries. The largest exporter of palm kernel oil to date is Malaysia.

Archaeological finds confirm the guesses of researchers that this oil was used by our distant ancestors about five thousand years ago. It is still used today in the preparation of many national dishes of the inhabitants of West African countries.

Description

Palm oil is not a very hard substance of a yellowish white hue. It contains 20% unsaturated fatty acids and 80% saturated. Therefore, it is not particularly useful for the body.

Palm oil is a part of many products, such as chocolate, ice cream, margarine, a variety of creams. From its percentage content in every hundred grams of the product, its effect on the organism

Palm oil: is it harmful or not?

This oil is considered environmentally friendly. Nutritionists say that it should be included in the diet of an adult every day. African walnut palms have never been treated with insecticides or pesticides.

Despite many controversial situations around the benefits and harm of palm kernel oil, no one refutes the information that it contains only 20% unsaturated fat, and the remaining 80% are saturated triglycerides that are easily exposed to the metabolism process and are precisely involved in reducing "bad" lipids , Coming from food. As a consequence, when you use it:

- overall well-being improves;

- improving the quality of skin and hair;

- Strength of bone tissue of the body increases.

Palm oil. Properties

It is an indispensable source of antioxidants. Palm oil is the leader in the content of tocotrienol, the main source of vitamin E. For example, a small amount of palm kernel oil in the daily diet provides excellent protection against ultraviolet rays. Also, tocotrienols do not give rise to atherosclerotic plaques, especially in the arteries, and in particular in the carotid, which reduces the risk of stroke.

A little-known, but well-studied property of oil is the suspension of aging of the body. Participating in this beta-carotene gives the palm kernel oil a bright red color. And carotenes, everyone knows, improve visual acuity, positively influence the work of the immune system and metabolic processes in the skin and the body as a whole, slowing their aging.

Palm oil contains a large percentage of vitamin K. This is a positive effect on blood clotting.

And the wonderful news of the latest research - in this oil there are no trans fats. Therefore, dieticians almost always recommend it for nutrition of those who struggle with excess weight.

Today it is often possible to hear that palm kernel oil only does harm, because it is hydrogenated. This process is invented in order to obtain a solid product from the vegetable oil of a liquid consistency. And this oil melts at a temperature just above room temperature. Therefore, he does not need the hydrogenation process.

Many believe that palm kernel oil harms. Ostensibly in the stomach it turns into plasticine. This, of course, is an incorrect statement. Salo, hard cheeses also do not melt in the stomach. Digestion of food occurs under the influence of acid, not temperature.

There is a rumor that palm kernel oil is prohibited in developed countries. In fact, it is these countries that buy oil by thousands of tons. Only the US accounts for more than 10% of the global consumption of this tropical product.

Application in food industry

Where is palm kernel oil used? Application in the food industry is especially common.

The benefits or harm of palm kernel oil in children's nutrition have been debated for a long time. Most researchers and nutritionists agree on that, in such a dairy diet this tropical component should not be. For palm-ligating children's gastrointestinal tract palm kernel oil is very dangerous. Frequent intake of food with milk mixtures of this product threatens with such possible consequences:

- Colic in the stomach;

- unreasonable regurgitation;

- heavy constipation;

- washing away calcium from a child's body;

- perhaps even the appearance of addiction (a detrimental effect on the nervous system of the baby).

Such a tropical oil is recommended, first of all, for replenishing vitamin A in the body. Especially in children and women in the situation.

Palm oil in the food industry is used for:

- production of oil-based products (table oils, spreads, margarines);

- for the production of processed cheese;

- increase in the period of sale (storage) of products.

Other applications of oil

It is also used for the production of cosmetic products (soaps, creams, lotions), in dietary nutrition, is prescribed to control blood pressure, prevent cancer, in the case of combating obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Often apply palm kernel oil in salons or make massages with it at home. It is used as an independent means for massage or in a proportion of 1:10 with other fatty components.

Sometimes it is included in the aroma composition, adding to it the essential oils recommended by the attending physician.

For many women, cosmetologists recommend this tropical oil for face and body skin care. It is desirable to buy it in pharmacies or specialty stores, so as not to run into a fake. To restore the elasticity, moisturizing and nourishing the skin of any part of the body, after a shower or a bath, a small amount of oil is applied by point and circular movements, rubbed into the skin. For these purposes, you can use both the agent itself and make the mixture based on it, adding, for example, almond, peach, coconut or avocado oil and grape seeds.

Cosmetologists welcome appliques and masks with compositions based on palm kernel oil. Impregnated with a mixture of oil napkins to put on a problem place for 15-20 minutes. To conduct a course of such procedures.

Also good for this tropical oil are the ringlets. In the hair balm (1:10), you must mix the oil. Gently rub the movements in the hair and scalp, rinse well. Sometimes it is recommended to rub this tool into the nail plate.

Innocentness of palm kernel oil

Tropical African palm oil is considered safe when administered at recommended doses and taking no more than six months. It is also perfectly safe palm kernel oil in the products (ice cream, margarine, spread, chocolate).

It can become harmful in several cases. For example, in the case of frying on it or using it for filling salads.