Good or Bad: Refined Palm Olein from Pericarp?

[Water Buffalo]

Hello all and Happy New Year!

I hear palm oil getting a bad rap. Even my partner says it's the worst (because its cheap here in Thailand). She insists we use the slightly more expensive soi bean oil at home becuase it "not as bad". However, for her resraurant she uses the cheap palm oil.

After doing a bit of research, I found an article from Dr. Ben Kim who claims it's the 2nd best oil to use for cooking (after coconut oil). He claims that when choosing a cooking oil, we should choose one that remains most stable when exposed to heat.

By his calculation they go in this order:

1. Coconut
2. Palm
3. Olive
4. Avocado
5. Peanut
6. Sesame
7. Canola
8. Corn, Sunflower, Safflower, and Cottonseed
9. Hemp and Flaxseed
10. Grapeseed

Here's the link to the article: http://drbenkim.com/articles-oils.html

He also further explains fats and oils in this article http://drbenkim.com/articles-lipid.html

Here he states, "If you must cook with vegetable oils other than coconut or red palm, the order of preference is olive, peanut, and sesame."

So why does palm oil get such a bad rap? Just cos its cheap and therefor assumed bad?

Here's a pic below of the palm oil we buy. It claims, "zero cholesterol and no trans fats" on the bottle - which surprised me.

I am interested to hear your thoughts, also regarding soi bean oil commonly used in Thailand, which some people seem to think is healthier, perhaps because it costs more.

Edited January 1, 2015 by Water Buffalo

[Kitsune]

1/ Any oil consumption especially fried will lead to cardiovascular diseases.

2/Palm oil is not only bad for you, but it destroys the last remaining tropical forests killing last endangered animals to be replaced by palm trees.

So your GF is right if you have to use oil, use something else than palm.

[Issangeorge]

1/ Any oil consumption especially fried will lead to cardiovascular diseases.

2/Palm oil is not only bad for you, but it destroys the last remaining tropical forests killing last endangered animals to be replaced by palm trees.

So your GF is right if you have to use oil, use something else than palm.

There are regions in the world that are being destroyed to plant Palm Oil trees. However there are also areas that the land was vacant land not being used for anything and Palm Oil trees have been planted there, thus supplying jobs to the locals and scrubbing the CO2 out of the air. There are two sides to every story.

[h90]

1/ Any oil consumption especially fried will lead to cardiovascular diseases.

2/Palm oil is not only bad for you, but it destroys the last remaining tropical forests killing last endangered animals to be replaced by palm trees.

So your GF is right if you have to use oil, use something else than palm.

At 2) While I complete agree: When the oil price is higher palm oil is used as bio-diesel.....You put a 50 liter into ONE pickup, with 50 liter you can fry food the next 10 years.

The other oils also need farming. if more is needed tropical forest is killed. Problem is that humans breed like rats, we are too many and specially for our lifestyle.

[Kitsune]

1/ Any oil consumption especially fried will lead to cardiovascular diseases.

2/Palm oil is not only bad for you, but it destroys the last remaining tropical forests killing last endangered animals to be replaced by palm trees.

So your GF is right if you have to use oil, use something else than palm.

There are regions in the world that are being destroyed to plant Palm Oil trees. However there are also areas that the land was vacant land not being used for anything and Palm Oil trees have been planted there, thus supplying jobs to the locals and scrubbing the CO2 out of the air. There are two sides to every story.

Not in Thailand, in Malaysia, Indonesia, S.America

Land is being destroyed by intensive monoculture.

This creates pollution

And kills animals

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/environmental_impacts/forest_conversion/

Edited January 3, 2015 by Kitsune

[Issangeorge]

From what I have read palm oil is good for you, if it has not been processed or hydrogenated. All the labeling here is of course in Thai, so does anyone know a brand that is raw non processed non hydrogenated palm oil. Thank you.

[ravip]

palm oil = crap

[BigBadGeordie]

palm oil = crap

I respect the engine in my Kubota, I would not even run it on that sh1t

[h90]

palm oil = crap

I respect the engine in my Kubota, I would not even run it on that sh1t

A simple diesel can run almost any plant oil.

[Issangeorge]

palm oil = crap

Everybody has their own opinion, mine is that if I can find some cold pressed palm oil, I'll use it. Cold pressed coconut oil is the best, but at ฿500 a litre is out of my price range.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I am back in the States now and they sell this unrefined Nutiva red palm oil.

http://nutiva.com/introducing-new-red-palm-products/

It's loaded with carotenoids like carrots. Tastes great and only $6 for 15oz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotenoid

This is interesting quote from the wiki.

"Crude palm oil, however, is the richest source of carotenoids in nature in terms of retinol (provitamin A) equivalent."

Love the stuff and great alternative to coconut oil which can boring from taste perspective.

https://operagirlcooks.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/nutiva-red-palm-dende-oil-3.jpg

Edited January 25, 2015 by CobraSnakeNecktie

[faraday]

1/ Any oil consumption especially fried will lead to cardiovascular diseases.

2/Palm oil is not only bad for you, but it destroys the last remaining tropical forests killing last endangered animals to be replaced by palm trees.

So your GF is right if you have to use oil, use something else than palm.

Really...even Fish Oil?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217043/

Edited January 25, 2015 by faraday

[papa al]

OP

I think Dr. Kim is essentially correct.

Heating vegetable oils is dicey.

Yummy trans-FAs/ hydrogenated oils are the worst, health wise.

Contrary to current beliefs, maybe lard or butter, is better.

[Depending on how the live stock is raised.]

Edited January 26, 2015 by papa al

[yeeowww]

"Palm Oil = <deleted>"?

Really? Based on what substantiated source?

 

I suppose it depends who you ask.

https://www.palmoilhealth.org/what-is-palm-oil/

[uhuh]

Lol

Don't forget to look at www.arsenichealth.org to learn about the health benefits of arsenic