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In a 2-year study involving 121 people with brain lesions, the group who took palm oil-derived tocotrienols twice a day remained stable, whereas the group who received a placebo experienced lesion growth ( 9).Īdditionally, a 2020 review of 18 animal and test-tube studies noted that palm oil and palm oil tocotrienols appear to provide neuroprotective effects against cognitive decline. Palm oil is an excellent source of tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E with strong antioxidant properties that may support brain health.Īnimal and human studies suggest that the tocotrienols in palm oil may help protect the delicate polyunsaturated fats in the brain, slow dementia progression, reduce the risk of stroke, and prevent the growth of brain lesions ( 8, 9). Palm oil has been linked to several health benefits, including: It’s also found in certain foods, products, and fuels. Palm oil is used in cooking, especially in West African cuisines and curries. In addition, it can be used to produce biodiesel fuel, which serves as an alternative energy source ( 5). This oil is also found in many nonfood products, such as toothpaste, soap, and cosmetics. baked goods like bread, cookies, and muffins.In addition to nut butters, refined palm oil can be found in several other foods, including: Refined palm oil is often used for sautéing or frying because it has a high smoke point of 450☏ (232☌) and remains stable under high heat ( 4).Īdditionally, palm oil is sometimes added to peanut butter and other nut butters as a stabilizer to prevent the oil from separating and settling at the top of the jar. Some people describe its flavor as being similar to carrot or pumpkin. Unrefined palm oil is a traditional staple in Nigerian and Congolese cuisines, and it’s especially well suited for curries and other spicy dishes. Its taste is considered savory and earthy. Palm oil is used for cooking and is also added to many ready-to-eat foods in your grocery store. It’s semi-solid at room temperature and differs from palm kernel oil in nutritional composition. Palm oil comes from palm trees native to coastal West and Southwest Africa, where it’s been consumed for thousands of years. It is used more widely in food manufacturing or for frying mass-produced foods. On the other hand, refined palm oil goes through a number of processing steps to give it a neutral color and flavor. This type is more often used in traditional cooking in West African countries such as Nigeria. It’s reddish in color, with a distinct odor and flavor. Unrefined palm oil is raw oil that is pressed directly from the palm plant. While both originate from the same plant, palm kernel oil is extracted from the seed of the fruit. However, it’s important to note that palm oil should not be confused with palm kernel oil. Palm oil is now one of the least expensive and most popular oils worldwide, accounting for one-third of global plant oil production ( 3). These two countries currently produce more than 80% of the world’s palm oil supply ( 3). In recent years, oil palm growth has expanded to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia. However, a hybrid of the two plants is sometimes used in palm oil production ( 2). It has a long history of use in these regions ( 1).Ī similar oil palm known as Elaeis oleifera is found in South America, but it’s rarely grown commercially. The main source of palm oil is the Elaeis guineensis tree, which is native to the coastal countries of West and Southwest Africa, including Angola, Gabon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and others. Unrefined palm oil is sometimes referred to as red palm oil because of its reddish-orange color.
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Palm oil comes from the fleshy fruit of oil palms.