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Palm oil

Raw red palm oil (RRPO) comes from the fleshy part of the palm fruit. Palm kernel oil comes from the nut and has a similar composition to coconut oil. RRPO receives a bad press partly because of the misconceptions surrounding saturated fat and partly because of the lack of understanding that the raw red fruit has vastly different properties to the refined, bleached and deodorised version used in cake, biscuits and peanut butter.

I like to call RRPO red gold because of the myriad of wonderful health benefits. My ancestors in Africa have always used RRPO for cooking. Once saturated fat got a bad name, all tropical oils including coconut oil and palm oil were suddenly demonised. We now know that saturated fat in its natural state is beneficial for health.

The rich orange-red colour of RRPO comes from the alpha and beta carotene content. RRPO contains 15 times more carotene than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes. The vitamin A in RRPO is also said to have equivalent effects to that of Vitamin A found in cod liver oil.

Other pigment containing molecules that have healthful effects are Lycopene, which has diverse effects for the heart and connective tissues e.g. for lupus, prostate, cholesterol lowering and xanthophyll, which amongst other things is important for eye health and brain function. Although masked by the red/orange colour, chlorophyll (a green pigment also found in green plants such as seaweed) is also found in RRPO. Chlorophyll is used in tumour sensitisation therapy, where it is given either orally or intravenously. It attaches itself to the tumour. Light therapy is then given, [also called photodynamic therapy], which hones in on the green chlorophyll to cause maximum damage to the tumour.

RRPO also contains phospholipids that are essential for healthy cell membranes. Vitamin A in RRPO is in a form that is readily absorbed and transported around the body. Vitamin E is needed for metabolism and storage of Vitamin A. Fortuitous then that RRPO is rich in Vitamin E, in the form of tocopherols and tocotrienols.

RRPO has a near 1:1 ratio of saturated:unsaturated fats. Oleic acid (omega 9), is also present in high quantities with almost 40% which compares with around 60% in Olive oil.

Older research studies frequently stated that palm oil causes raised cholesterol levels. With a newer understanding of cholesterol there are many factors that mean the old studies are difficult to interpret including:

  • The older studies often did not state what type of palm oil/saturated fat is used e.g. refined versus RRPO
  • Many of the older studies gave artificially high amounts of fats
  • Many of the older studies did not analyse cholesterol with the understanding that we now have showing that a raised total cholesterol may not be all bad (see Dr Ese Talks – Understanding your cholesterol)
  • Newer studies clearly show that eating unrefined good fats are good for you

Many studies show that RRPO has definite anti-cancer effects for many types of cancer, and that it may also have antiviral properties. With such a huge number of health benefits – what’s not to love. How could this Red Gold have been sidelined for so long?

Conclusion

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Antioxidants
  • Omega 9
  • Anti-cancer

Watch the video!