Tuesday 22 December 2015
BENEFITS OF RED PALM OIL
Red palm oil has been revered as both a nutritious food and
a valuable medicine for generations. Even now, scientists are beginning to recognise
the value of the prized plant in the treatment and prevention of several diseases.
It was prized by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt as a sacred food. The oil was so
highly valued that it was entombed with the Pharaohs so that they would have
access to it in the afterlife. Indeed, throughout history, palm oil has served
as the primary source of dietary fat for countless people. Its nutritional and
healing
properties have been recognised for generations. Until modern medicine arrived, red palm oil was the remedy of choice for nearly every illness in many parts of Africa. When someone was sick, downing a cup full of palm oil was common. Even today, many people in the villages rely on this age-old method of treatment. Palm oil is regarded among many as essential in the diet for pregnant and nursing women in order to assure good health for the mother and child.
Scientifically known as Elaeis Guineensis, palm oil is
believed to originate from West Africa. However, archaeological evidence on
palm oil consumption was found in Egypt over 5000 years ago. Essentially, it
contains rich, balanced mixture of saturated, monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fats, providing a higher level of bioavailable nutrients than
any other vegetable source. Like coconut oil, palm oil is also rich in medium chain
triglycerides (MCTs), which mobilise body fat stores, increase the metabolic
rate and are a great source of energy.
Palm oil is a rich source of antioxidants, especially
Vitamin E. While the health benefits of Vitamin E are widely known, less widely
known is the fact that Vitamin E is a complex of many constituents broken into
two groups: tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and tocotrienols (alpha,
beta, gamma and delta). And while alpha tocopherol is the form most commonly
marketed as Vitamin E, the full spectrum of both tocoperols and tocotrienols
are required for optimal assimilation.
The super-antioxidant tocotrienols are particularly important
for optimal health. These natural antioxidants act as free radical scavengers
and are believed to play a protective role in cellular aging, atherosclerosis,
cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers now believe that the
tocopherols and tocotrienols together provide constituents that help limit
damage during a heart attack. Red palm oil not only supplies fatty acids essential
for proper growth and development, but it is packed with an assortment of
vitamins, antioxidants and other phytonutrients important for good health. For
instance, the red colour comes from carotenes such as beta-carotene and
lycopene - the same nutrients that give tomatoes and carrots and other fruits
and vegetables their rich red and orange colours. Carotenes are valuable
nutrients and powerful antioxidants. They are also important because the body
can convert them into Vitamin A, an essential nutrient.
Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness, weaken bones, lower
immunity and adversely affect learning ability and mental function. "Vitamin
A is only found in animal foods. Such foods are too expensive for many people. Carotenes
in fruits and vegetables can supply the needed Vitamin A if an adequate amount
of fat is also consumed. Carotenes require fat for conversion into Vitamin A.
Unfortunately those who cannot afford animal products often do not eat much fat
either. Populations with ample carotene-rich foods available often suffer from
vitamin A deficiency because they don't get enough fat in their diet,
"Just one teaspoon a day of red palm oil supplies children with the daily
recommend amount of Vitamin A. Nursing mothers are encouraged to supplement
their diet with palm oil to enrich their milk with the vitamin, however, adding
red palm oil into the diet can double or triple the amount of Vitamin A in
mother's milk. The children are not only getting the Vitamin A they need but
other important nutrients as well. Red palm oil is a virtual powerhouse of
nutrition. It contains by far, more nutrients than any other dietary oil. In addition
to beta-carotene, alpha- carotene, and lycopene it contains at least 20 other
carotenes along with Vitamin E, Vitamin K, CoQ10, squalene, phytosterols,
flavonoids, phenolic acids, and glycolipids. Red palm oil is loaded with so
many nutrients and antioxidants; it's like a natural dietary supplement. In
fact, it is currently being encapsulated and sold as a vitamin supplement. The
depletion of antioxidants including antioxidant enzymes is known to increase the
risk of complications in conditions such as CVD, diabetes and cancer.
Health Benefits of Palm Oil
Palm oil is commonly used as cooking oil in Africa,
Southeast Asia, and certain countries in South America. It has become more
popular in other parts of the world in recent years because of the health concerns
of having too many Trans fats in the diet. For people who have too much bad
cholesterol in their body (LDL cholesterol), switching to using palm oil is a
very good health choice. There are a number of other health benefits associated
with palm oil, which is explained below.
Energy Levels: Beta-carotene
is one of the prime components of palm oil, which is why it has an orange-red
color. Beta-carotene is very good for improving energy levels and boosting
hormonal balance in the body.
Vision: Beta-carotene
is extremely important for improving vision. A great deal of antioxidants can be
found in palm oil, which are the powerful defensive mechanisms of the body.
They are the beneficial byproducts of cellular metabolism and can protect the
body from free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for a lot of cellular breakdown
and mutation, including the damage that can cause vision issues. Using palm oil
as a replacement for other types of oil can prevent macular degeneration and
cataracts.
Cardiovascular Issues:
Palm oil has a high content of HDL and LDL cholesterol, but even though one
is good (HDL) and the other is bad (LDL), it can still create a healthier
balance in your body. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your chances
of atherosclerosis , which can cause strokes and heart attacks. By maintaining
a healthy balance of cholesterol (both of which you need in your body), you can
ensure a healthier cardiovascular system.
Prevents Cancer: Tocopherols,
which are types of vitamin A, are natural antioxidants. Antioxidants, as
mentioned above, are powerful defensive compounds that can prevent cancer by
neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous
cells, so high levels of tocopherol and palm oil are necessary.
Pregnant Women and
Nursing mother: Vitamin deficiencies are some of the most dangerous conditions
that can face pregnant women and their unborn children. Vitamin A, D, and E are
found in considerable quantities in palm oil, and since the body cannot naturally
retain these vitamins, it is necessary to consume them in our diets. Ensuring
that pregnant women and their children do not face any vitamin deficiencies is
one of the best aspects of adding palm oil to your diet.
Brain: Researchers
have found correlations between oxidative stress and reduced blood flow to the
brain to senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
Huntington's disease, and even schizophrenia. All of these conditions involve
brain cell death. Tocotrienols aid the brain by reducing oxidative stress and improving
blood flow.
SOURCE:
Organic Facts
Better Health News
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