Myth No.1: Palm Oil is Unhealthy
Fact: Countless readers are being misled to believe that palm oil is detrimental to heart health. There are many myths about palm oil, which is not valid. There are publications which were stating how past research pointed to the ill effects on the population. But, these kinds of statements are wildly inaccurate and baseless, mainly because there are many journals publishing of the endless benefits of palm oil.
Benefit Of Palm Oil
Many studies show how palm oil and its natural nutrients can be a huge factor in helping people with heart diseases or strokes. Palm oil is trans-fat-free vegetable oil with a balance of 50% saturation and 50% unsaturation of fatty acids. The oil contains high beta-carotene content, which gives it a reddish-orange presence. Moreover, the oil is rich in the supply of vitamin A content. The content amount is around 30 times higher than that of carrots or tomatoes.
Not only that, this is a unique oil very few naturally saturated vegetable fats decreasing bad cholesterol in your blood and also contributes to keeping your heart healthy as it has the low-density lipoprotein. The oil consists of nutritional ingredients like vitamin E tocotrienols, which are natural antioxidants. These antioxidants help prevent chronic diseases and is also very beneficial to other parts of the body as it supports brain health.
Myth No.2: Saturated fat in palm oil is harmful to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health
Fact: Over the years, researchers have intensely studied red palm oil’s effect on cardiovascular health, and the results initially baffled scientists on how the oil can be so beneficial to the heart. Despite the content of saturated fat present in the oil, it protects against heart disease.
But studies show that adding palm oil into the diet can remove plaque build-up in arteries and, instead, reverse the process of plaque and prevent blockages. Then eventually, after years of study on the effect of palm oil, the world started to believe that saturated fat consumption did not contribute to heart disease.
Palm Oil reduces the risk of heart diseases.
Continuos study designed to see the effects of palm oil showed that saturated fat intake is not linked with a high risk of heart diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, or cardiovascular disease but instead that some saturated fats are anti-atherogenic, i.e., protect against vascular disease. Thus, it’s crucial to learn that palm oil containing a balance of saturated fatty acids, monosaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are all anti-atherogenic, i.e., protects against pathologic cardiovascular disease. It’s not only a beneficial type of antioxidant but also potent cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. It means that it reduces the cholesterol found in blood a lot more than other oils like coconut oil, dairy, and animal fats.
Myth No.3: The high saturated fat content of palm oil boosts “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
Fact: Firstly, there is insufficient scientific evidence to use such statements as a general guideline for the whole world. A study was conducted to find out in-depth analysis by a group of researchers. The results showed how palm oil could instead have an effect of reducing total blood cholesterol along with ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol. It also showed results of increasing the level of ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol.
Another study states that the total amount of blood cholesterol, HDL – cholesterol levels among young Australian adults who took palm olein and olive oil for consumption. The results were promising as it shows how the total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol levels of those who had on palm oil (palm olein) and olive oil were lower than those had the usual Australian diet. Thus, this myth about palm oil is a misconception.
Myth No.4: Increased palm oil consumption worsen stroke.
Fact: Studies show that vitamin E called alpha tocotrienol present in palm oil helps reduce the effects of stroke by 50% by protecting your brain’s nerve cells. So, this myth about palm oil is easily false from the factual study proving otherwise.
Not only that, but a two-year human clinical study also found that same “vitamin E tocotrienols support the brain’s white matter health by slowing the progression of white matter lesions. This helps the brain experience less damage due to stroke and recover more quickly.” The benefit is not only with reducing stroke risk but also helps reduce the development of other neurodegenerative diseases. Examples include: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Myth No.5: There is no such thing as sustainable palm oil.
Fact: This is a prevalent misconception or myth about palm oil. Sustainability is the core of harvesting palm oil. It’s essential to create a better acceptance of palm oil through awareness and debunk the misinformation plaguing the industry. There are certifications available for sustainable palm oil harvesting, such as RSPO.
Myth No.6: Palm oil consumption is extremely harmful to the environment
Fact: Malaysia is one of the world’s leading palm oil producers that does not contribute to greenhouse gases. Malaysian palm oil has been produced sustainably and responsibly for more than a decade with certifications. They commit to transparency, comply with rules and regulations, use best practices for growers, conserves natural sources and biodiversity, and are always striving to improving key areas where necessary.
With Palm Kernel Shells and fibers, Malaysia conserves energy by using it as fuel to generate steam. This in turn gives power to the palm oil extraction process. The steam then helps to conduct electricity for staff and workers. Not only that, but the Malaysian palm oil industry has also lifted countless families out of poverty.
Myth No.7: Palm oil only produced on large-scale plantations?
Fact: In small-scale family farms and large-scale plantations, palm trees grow sustainably. By smallholders worldwide, about 40% of palm oil production is by them. In the countries of the biggest producers of palm oil – Indonesia and Malaysia have about 3.5 million smallholders. Lifting off poverty and improving economic growth, palm oil contributes significantly.
Myth No.8: Palm oil responsible for worldwide deforestation
Fact: According to National Geographic, forests constitute nearly 30 percent of the landmass of our planet, and desertification could be both from human and natural. The contributors include livestock ranching, agricultural expansion, logging, paper production, mining, urban sprawl, wildfire, and climate change.
As quoted by the European Commission in January 2018, “the global share and amount of engendered deforestation (1990-2008) demonstrate that palm oil contributed to 2.3 percent as opposed to beef/meat/leather production (24.0 percent), soy (5.4 percent) and maize (3.2 percent)”
Myth No.9: Palm oil only used in foods
Fact: Palm oil’s versatility certainly extends beyond edible oil. As a lipstick, cosmetics, candles, soap, shampoo, detergent, biodiesel are among the inedible products containing this essential natural ingredient. Thus, this myth about palm oil is entirely baseless. The majority of the products in the grocery comes from palm oil. So maybe you don’t cook with it, but you eat or use palm oil undoubtedly. Palm oil can be on production responsibly, respecting the environment and the communities. Even the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) advocates for the cause.
Myth No.10: Palm oil is bad for frying.
Fact: Palm oil has a high smoke point of 235°C, making it steady at elevated temperatures , making it ideal for frying and even baking. Thus, it is vital to match the heat tolerance of the oil with the temperature when selecting a cooking oil, and deep-frying temperatures are commonly in the range of 170–190 ° C.
The balanced palm oil is also oxidation-resistant in comparison with highly polyunsaturated vegetable oils. In recent history, the global commercial food industry has increasingly incorporated palm oil into food. Because it remains stable in deep frying or baking at very elevated temperatures and high levels of natural antioxidants. Thus, these myths about palm oil are thoroughly misconceptions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, demonizing palm oil and perpetuating fear of its consumption, responsible media ought to check the facts first. Then realize how the myths about palm oil can be debunked with factual studies. Thus, people should dig deeper and will discover there’s an entirely different story to tell. When the public becomes better aware, the defamation will reduce by accurate understanding.