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Benefits of Palm Oil
MEDICAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PALM OIL
BY: DR. PAUL FALLAH WANDALACHI NABIEU
Palm oil use goes back at least 5,000 years to ancient Egypt. It was regarded as sacred healing oil by the ancient Egyptians because of its tremendous health benefits.
It only became a truly global commodity over a century ago when its production took off in other parts of the world. Between 80% and 90% of palm oil production is destined for human food consumption either as frying and cooking oil or as an ingredient in a wide range of food products. The remaining 10% is consumed by various industries, from biodiesel to cosmetics and pharmaceutical products (soaps, toothpaste, waxes, lubricants, and ink).
In France and elsewhere, the use of palm oil in food preparation has been criticized because it contains saturated fatty acids which can increase unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels. However, palm oil is a healthier source of solid fats than hydrogenated vegetable oils
Economic Advantages
In 2011/12 palm oil contributed 32.7% of the world vegetable oil supply, the bulk of which (above 85%) was produced in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia palm oil generated $7.9 billion in exports in 2007, accounting for 13 percent of agricultural output, second only to rice. In Malaysia in 2008, palm oil exports accounted for $19.6 billion.
Chemical 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.
It also contains 20 other carotenes, as well as the following nutrients:
Vitamin E, particularly tocotrienol Vitamin K
CoQ10 Squalene
Phytosterols Flavonoids
Phenolic acids Glycolipids
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PALM OIL
First, by virtue of its anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties, it prevents and/or reverses plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the blood vessels of the brain which reduces the incidence of ischaemic stroke.
Apart from that, red palm oil has been shown to be the most important source of tocotrienol, an antioxidant which confers significant neuroprotection on the brain which is the reason why it's employed in the treatment of stroke patients.
Fortunately, the vast array of protective anti-inflammatory phytonutrients in red palm oil not only block but can also reverse the process of atherosclerosis and thereby offer protection from hypertension and heart attack.
So what's next?
Avail yourself of this cheap yet very valuable oil and enjoy the aforementioned benefits.
However, ensure that you opt for fresh Red Palm Oil and not the processed, halogenated oil that has lost most of its nutritional value and can only endanger your health.
BY: DR. PAUL FALLAH WANDALACHI NABIEU
Palm oil use goes back at least 5,000 years to ancient Egypt. It was regarded as sacred healing oil by the ancient Egyptians because of its tremendous health benefits.
It only became a truly global commodity over a century ago when its production took off in other parts of the world. Between 80% and 90% of palm oil production is destined for human food consumption either as frying and cooking oil or as an ingredient in a wide range of food products. The remaining 10% is consumed by various industries, from biodiesel to cosmetics and pharmaceutical products (soaps, toothpaste, waxes, lubricants, and ink).
In France and elsewhere, the use of palm oil in food preparation has been criticized because it contains saturated fatty acids which can increase unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels. However, palm oil is a healthier source of solid fats than hydrogenated vegetable oils
Economic Advantages
In 2011/12 palm oil contributed 32.7% of the world vegetable oil supply, the bulk of which (above 85%) was produced in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia palm oil generated $7.9 billion in exports in 2007, accounting for 13 percent of agricultural output, second only to rice. In Malaysia in 2008, palm oil exports accounted for $19.6 billion.
Chemical 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.
It also contains 20 other carotenes, as well as the following nutrients:
Vitamin E, particularly tocotrienol Vitamin K
CoQ10 Squalene
Phytosterols Flavonoids
Phenolic acids Glycolipids
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PALM OIL
- Lessens Risk of Stroke
First, by virtue of its anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties, it prevents and/or reverses plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the blood vessels of the brain which reduces the incidence of ischaemic stroke.
Apart from that, red palm oil has been shown to be the most important source of tocotrienol, an antioxidant which confers significant neuroprotection on the brain which is the reason why it's employed in the treatment of stroke patients.
- Improves Heart Health
Fortunately, the vast array of protective anti-inflammatory phytonutrients in red palm oil not only block but can also reverse the process of atherosclerosis and thereby offer protection from hypertension and heart attack.
- Decreases Cancer Risk
- Improves Vision
- Protects from Degenerative Brain Disease
- Improves Skin Health
So what's next?
Avail yourself of this cheap yet very valuable oil and enjoy the aforementioned benefits.
However, ensure that you opt for fresh Red Palm Oil and not the processed, halogenated oil that has lost most of its nutritional value and can only endanger your health.
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www.sane.org.uk/
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https://www.rethink.org/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
Free health posters downloads
https://www.africare.org/country/sierra-leone/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sierra-leone/health
NATIONAL HEALTH SECTOR STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 – 2021
Sierra Leone Health System
List of medical facilities/practitioners in Sierra Leone
https://www.usaid.gov/sierra-leone/global-health
reliefweb.int/report/sierra-leone/winning-people-s-trust-healthcare
https://www.gov.uk/world/sierra-leone#/world/living-in-sierra-leone
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Sierra_Leone
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pages/hub.aspx
https://patient.info/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-care-and-health-information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Contents/Health_and_fitness
https://www.girlshealth.gov
kidshealth.org
www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
www.zerotothree.org
https://www.womenshealth.gov
www.medilexicon.com
www.drugs.com
www.choosemyplate.gov
health.gov
www.cdc.gov
healthfinder.gov
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/
medlineplus.gov
www.cdc.gov
www.healthypeople.gov
www.nutrition.gov
www.sane.org.uk/
https://www.mind.org.uk/
https://www.rethink.org/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/