One of the most superior benefits of palm oil is the use of palm oil for frying food. But besides having benefits, palm oil also has risks to health that you need to know.
Palm oil is a vegetable (vegetable) oil that contains saturated and unsaturated fats, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and is thought to have antioxidant effects. Actually, the benefits of palm oil can not only be used as oil, but can also be used as ingredients for cosmetics, soap, toothpaste, wax, lubricants, and ink.
Benefits of Palm Oil
There are various benefits of palm oil, especially palm oil, but some still require further research. Here are some of the health benefits of palm oil:
- Overcoming vitamin A deficiencyAccording to several studies, adding palm oil to the diet of children and pregnant women can reduce the risk of vitamin A deficiency. But give it in certain doses, namely 2 tablespoons per day for children younger than 5 years, 3 tablespoons per day. day for adults and children over 5 years old, and 4 tablespoons per day for pregnant women.
- Brain protectionIn one study, researchers found that palm oil contains tocotrienol, which is a type of vitamin E with strong antioxidants as a supporter of brain health. Tocotrienol very useful in protecting the brain from polyunsaturated fats and dementia, reducing the risk of stroke, and preventing the growth of brain tumors.
Understanding the Dangers of Palm Oil
Although there are many benefits of palm oil from its processed oil, palm oil is also often suspected of being the culprit of rising cholesterol levels in the blood, so that it can increase the risk of heart disease.
This is because palm oil is closely related to high saturated fat. Eating foods high in saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels in the blood. Too much bad LDL cholesterol can cause a buildup of fat in the arteries. As a result, blood flow to the heart and brain is blocked, thereby increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease.
According to one study, an increase in palm oil consumption in developing countries has something to do with mortality rates from coronary heart disease. In addition, another study revealed that replacing palm oil with vegetable oil polyunsaturated nonhydrogenated, thought to reduce the risk of having a heart attack.
Therefore, it is recommended to avoid or limit the use and consumption of fat sources from palm oil. It is recommended that only about 7% saturated fat of the total daily calories that can enter the body, or less than 14 grams of saturated fat per 2,000 calories per day.
There are various benefits of palm oil that can support body health. However, the use of palm oil needs to be limited because it can also cause health problems if consumed in excess.
