Published on: December 13, 2022
When it comes to palm oil, a lot of what people know is the negative side. Frequently, what comes to mind for many is the ways palm oil has negatively impacted the environment. However, amid these concerns, people often forget the flip side of the situation that makes palm oil so valuable. Although it is true that some of the practices within the industry have contributed to sustainability issues, the reality is that palm oil itself has countless irreplaceable characteristics that set it apart from other oils of its kind. For a wide array of reasons, rather than eradicating the usage of palm oil, the best course of action is to improve the standards along the supply chain so we can continue to use this amazing product – instead in a way that is better for our earth. Interested in discovering why palm oil is so important as an ingredient? Keep reading and find out more about its benefits!
Perhaps most notably, palm oil possesses various perks for one’s health. Through a diet rich in palm oil, the human body can receive useful advantages that can overall improve wellbeing. First, this oil is rich in vitamin E, which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals that can cause damage to the cells. In particular, vitamin E can help with heart disease and the immune system. Additionally, it can aid with brain health through a form of vitamin E called tocotrienol. Another benefit is that palm oil provides a great source of vitamin A, which can contribute to the health of the eyes. It can reduce the risk of macular degeneration and general deterioration of vision over time. Vitamin A can really help the ocular surface to be stronger and healthier.
Another positive health aspect with organic palm oil is the effect it can have on good and bad cholesterol. Studies have found that palm oil may be able to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol). This is a huge perk as it can help to protect the body from heart disease, making it a great alternative to other oils which can have an adverse effect when it comes to cholesterol.
When you walk through the grocery store or even through the cosmetics section of a drugstore, you may be surprised to know that many of the products around you contain palm oil. If you were to take a look at the ingredients list, palm oil in one of its forms would likely be listed there. Why is its presence so ubiquitous? That can be attributed to the palm versatility. Palm oil holds various qualities that can have a very desirable outcome on the formulations it is added to. This valuable oil provides a smooth, creamy texture to various products. It also can be added without changing the taste or smell of the product. For soaps, it adds a desirable fluffy lather. It also adds moisturizing properties to items like shampoo, conditioner, and lipstick. Palm oil has a long shelf life, meaning that it won’t turn bad quickly – which makes it excellent for packaged food products. Overall, its versatile qualities allow it to be a staple in countless commodities.
Finally, one aspect that sets palm oil apart from other oils is its high yield. What does this mean? The high yield means that a high amount of palm oil is being produced per hectare of land. This crop is able to produce much more oil than other oil crops using much less land. On average, you can produce about 3 tons of palm oil on each hectare of land, which is about 10 to 15 times higher than the amount of coconut oil and about four times higher than sunflower oil. This is valuable because it makes better use of the land and is more efficient than other crops.
When palm oil is produced in an ethical and sustainable fashion, the benefits heavily outweigh the negatives. With all of these positive characteristics, palm oil provides an excellent source of desirable attributes to the products it is added to. As the industry moves in a hopeful direction with improved practices, we can see the advantages of this product becoming more and more prevalent. If you’re interested in discovering more about how palm oil can be grown for good, take a look at the work being done by Palm Done Right. We commit ourselves to building a partner network that nurtures animals, people, communities, and the environment so we can continue using palm oil without continuing the destruction.
Palm can be grown for good, bringing benefits to:
Together, we can influence change for:
