Palm Oil is the most important and adaptable oil which has been used as a raw material for food and non-food industries. Palm oil is not needed in cooking like olive oil or canola oil. But researchers are taking another look at the health benefits. It is on the ingredient list in many processed foods, and it’s used in many prepared dishes thanks to its high smoke point.

As to go ahead, firstly we have to understand; what is palm oil? What are the benefits of this oil? And so on!

What is Palm Oil?

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil high in saturated fats i.e. (that fat which mainly comes from animal sources food like meat and eggs) and free of Trans fats i.e. (this type of fat which is harmful to us). It comes from the fruit of a tree, and it is mainly found in the area of warm climates like Africa and so on. But, somewhere it creates a big question in all people’s minds because the trees grow in rainforest regions. It is in the semi-solid form at room temperature.

Nowadays, it is in greater demand.

History behind Palm Oil

Palm oil was found back more than 5000 years ago. Palm oil was long recognized in West African countries. It is used widely among West African peoples as cooking oil. In the 17th century, European merchants trading with West Africa and then buy it for use in Europe occasionally, because the oil was bulky and cheap, and due to the much higher profits, palm oil remained rare outside West Africa.

By 1870, palm oil becomes the primary export of some West African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. As palm oil was first introduced as an ornamental plant in Malaysia after that in Malaya in 1870, then it is used as a crop when the first plantation was established which was developed in 1917 and like this, the palm oil production grows faster and faster.

Palm Oil Health Benefits

Palm oil helps in preventing many of the diseases which are given below:

Vitamin A deficiency
Cancer
Brain disease
Aging,

Also treats-

Malaria,
High blood pressure,
High cholesterol and poisoning.
Weight loss
Increases the body’s metabolism.

Industrially, palm oil is used for manufacturing cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste, waxes, lubricants, and ink.

How Much Nutrition do We Get from It?

A one-tablespoon of palm oil contains:

Calories: 120
Fat: 14 grams
Vitamin E: 11% of RDI (reference daily intake)

Whereas, Palm oil is a great source of VITAMIN E;

VITAMIN E is that type of vitamin that protects cells from harmful bacteria. It also helps your body to fight foreign germs and keeps your blood vessels open and no clots will happen.

Safety Concerns about Intake of Palm Oil

Palm oils somewhere safe when consumed in the proper amount not with food not in a high amount as we all know that high intake of anything will lead to a severe problem.

It is safe when taken as medicine by-

Children or adults for up to 6 months.
In pregnancy and breastfeeding, this should be taken as medicine for up to six months only.

Pros and Cons of Palm Oil

As we know it is produced from the fruits of oil palm. And the production is somewhere attractive from a financial point of view for the farmers (mainly in the poor developing countries where there are fewer jobs of opportunity to people or who is unable to lie life properly).

All things have some advantages and disadvantages too. That’s why both pros and cons are given below:

Basic Facts about Palm Oil

Palm oil trees can grow up to 20 meters tall with an average life span of 25 years.
Palm oil grows across 10 degrees north/south of the equator.
The tree starts to bear fresh fruit bunches after 3 years.
Each piece of fruit contains 50% oil.
The nut is at the center of each fruit from where oil is extracted.
Palm oil can be harvested 12 months of the year.
Each tree can produce 10 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare.
It requires 10 times less land than other oil-producing crops.
It is entirely genetically modified free.

Palm oil is the most preferable vegetable oil in food manufacturing, and also an integral component of the food supply chain. While the direct taking effects of this oil remain contested whereas indirect intake of this oil is many health effects.