How to remove palm oil from vessels. Palm oil is dangerous

Palm oil began to be widely used in the food industry relatively recently, but debate about whether it is harmful or beneficial has not subsided since then. On TV screens they often talk about its harmful properties; the media unanimously claim that it is the main cause of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

But what is the situation really like and is palm oil really so harmful or does it also have properties beneficial to human health? Let's look at this issue in detail.

How is palm oil made?

According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund), palm oil is found in more than 50% of food products. It is produced from the soft part of the oil palm fruit - this is what distinguishes it from flaxseed or sunflower oil, which are obtained from plant seeds. The product made from oil palm seeds is called palm kernel (it resembles coconut in its structural composition and properties).

The oil palm grows in Malaysia, Indonesia and African countries. Such localization of plantations, low labor costs and relatively cheap transportation significantly reduce the cost of finished products. In addition, one hectare of oil palm plantation can produce eight times more finished product than sunflower.

Raw butter is a very thick orange or red liquid with a pleasant nutty taste and smell, reminiscent of dairy cream; its chemical composition largely duplicates the usual butter.

Applications

Depending on the fraction (melting point), the product is used in various fields:

1. Stearine is a solid substance with a melting point of approximately 47-52 degrees, similar in appearance to margarine;
2. Actually, oil is a semi-liquid product that melts at 40-43 degrees Celsius;
3. Palm olein is an oily liquid with a melting point of about 18-21 degrees Celsius, looks like a cosmetic hand cream.

Use in the food industry

The use of palm oil in the food industry began after American scientists studied the composition of the product in 1985. They also examined its properties in detail - up to this point it had been used exclusively for technical purposes.

Today, vegetable fat is used to make products with a long shelf life: confectionery, curd desserts, processed cheese, condensed milk, waffles, cakes and creams. In addition, it has the ability to improve the taste and appearance of products and reduce their cost.

Often it is used to replace milk fat, which is especially important for people who suffer from intolerance to certain components of milk.

There is no ban on the use of palm oil in any country in the world, but in the Russian Federation some time ago a bill appeared banning the use of the unrefined substance in the food industry. The ban was not adopted, but most manufacturers already “dilute” it with other vegetable fats, and on the product packaging they indicate that it contains a “milk fat substitute.”

Palm oil is also found in baked goods and confectionery products, sweet spreads, chocolate, processed meats, chips and French fries - this list is very extensive. Much controversy has flared up around the use of the product in nutritious milk formulas for infants, although its harm when used in baby food has not been proven.

Chemical industry, cosmetology and medicine

The ability to heal minor skin damage, moisturizing and nourishing properties allow the oil to be used in the production of creams for aging skin, healing ointments, and medications that are used to treat a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal pathologies, and ophthalmological problems.

Palm oil, in addition to the food and pharmaceutical industries, is used by the chemical industry in the production of soap, detergents, decorative and ordinary white candles, and washing powders.

The effects of palm oil on the body

The benefits and harms of a product for humans depend on what type of product it is - red (unprocessed), refined and technical have different properties and are used in different areas of production.

It is important to take into account that the harm of palm oil to human health is often not determined by its composition, but rather by the chemical processing of raw materials in pursuit of reducing the cost of finished products.

Red oil

It is a natural plant product that is rich in natural red-orange pigment. It undergoes minimal processing, which allows it to retain many beneficial properties:

• it contains vitamins E and A, which allows it to effectively fight free radicals that provoke cancer;
• red palm oil has a positive effect on skin condition, nourishes hair, supports immunity, and also improves visual acuity.

But there are also a number of negative points:

• its consumption in large quantities can provoke diseases of the cardiovascular system or increase the risk of cancer;
• Palm oil (in large quantities) can cause significant weight gain. Due to its high melting point (40 degrees), it is digested somewhat worse than other products and, as a rule, is not completely eliminated from the body. When consumed excessively, most of it settles in the form of waste.

Vegetable fat does not accumulate in the body in such volumes that any special measures are required to remove it. Simply increasing the amount of natural foods in your diet is enough.

Refined and deodorized

In the food industry, as a rule, refined oil is used. It is an order of magnitude cheaper than unprocessed and can be stored longer, which can significantly reduce the cost of finished products and extend their shelf life, but in addition, it is practically devoid of all beneficial properties and is dangerous for the human body:

• A source of large amounts of saturated fat can cause the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system and worsen the condition of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus;
• Another negative impact is that by improving the taste of products, it provokes obesity;
• The harm of palm oil to human health is not limited to the likelihood of weight gain, because In addition, it is a carcinogenic product.

Olein is also used in the production of baby food, but not at all to reduce the cost of the finished product, as is commonly believed.

The source of palimitic acid, which is necessary for a child to fully develop and is contained in the required amount in mother's milk, cannot be cow's or goat's milk and vegetable fats, but palm olein can be brought closer to this substance. It is introduced into infant formula precisely with the goal of bringing the nutritional composition as close as possible to breast milk.

Hydrogenated

Hydrogenation is the process of adding carbon to make an oil solid. Any hydrogenated fat loses almost all of its beneficial properties and becomes an unhealthy product.

The product is hydrogenated for use in margarines and margarine mixtures. In this case, the harm of palm oil to human health is enormous, while hydrogenated products (including hydrogenated olive or vegetable oils) contain very few beneficial substances.

Technical

Industrial palm oil is used in the production of cosmetics, medicines, soaps, candles and washing powders. Its use in the food industry is unacceptable due to the fact that:

• the changed acid-base composition makes olein completely unsuitable for adding to food;
• it significantly impairs digestibility, deprives absolutely all beneficial properties and often provokes the formation of cholesterol plaques or even malignant tumors.

Most myths about palm oil are based on the erroneous claim that the product is banned in many developed countries. In fact, for example, in the USA, the volume of its use is growing year by year, and in the countries of Africa and the Asian region it is used daily by the majority of the population for cooking.

If non-technical oil and edible oil are used in the production of products, then it will cause no more harm than any other.

Palm oil is obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree and is used for cooking throughout the world. However, its production can be harmful to the environment, which is why products labeled “palm oil-free” have begun to appear in Western countries.

In Russia, such a mark also appeared, but for a different reason. Horror stories about palm oil are popular here: you can hear from journalists, State Duma deputies and even representatives of the food industry that palm oil is not digested and is not excreted from the body, prevents children from absorbing calcium, harms blood vessels and even causes cancer.

Let's deal with these myths separately.

"Not digestible"

Palm oil, like any other oil or fat, breaks down in the intestines into glycerol and fatty acids. “If a person is healthy and his pancreas produces enough lipase, digestion and absorption approaches 100 percent,” says gastroenterologist Alexey Paramonov. - If there is little lipase, excess oil will come out in the feces.

An example of oils that are not absorbed in the intestines are petroleum jelly and machine oil. But they are called oils only because of their external similarity, chemically being hydrocarbons. Nature did not expect us to ingest petroleum products, and provided enzymes only for oils and fats of plant and animal origin.”

“Deteriorates the quality of baby food”

Is it harmful for children to eat formula with palm oil? It is not the oil itself that is added to baby food, but palmitic acid isolated from it, and this is done to reproduce the composition of human breast milk, where this acid is also present.

There are studies showing that formula with palmitic acid from palm oil is less digestible than baby food without it. Acid from palm oil forms insoluble compounds with calcium, which are excreted from the child’s body in feces.

But the following position is no longer a myth:

Harmful to the environment

Russian media rarely remember that palm oil production is associated with a serious environmental threat.

To expand oil palm plantations, South Asia is destroying tropical forests that are home to endangered species such as orangutans and Sumatran tigers. People also suffer due to the fault of unscrupulous manufacturers. In Malaysia, while clearing new forest areas, farmers burned trees and drained peat swamps, which ultimately led to terrible fires on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java.

There are real passions surrounding palm oil. The overseas “delicacy” gives rise to the most controversial opinions: its supporters find evidence of its benefits, while its opponents are convinced that it is dangerous to health, so much so that the question of banning it at the legislative level is even being raised. But is the imaginary harm exaggerated? After all, if you delve into the essence of the problem, it will become clear that the reputation of the product is tarnished by those unscrupulous manufacturers who replace milk fats with them, but do not inform the buyer. And this is a direct deception! It was because of him that palm oil suddenly began to have a bad reputation, although in fact it was not to blame for anything!

Food of the Pharaohs

In our country, people started talking about palm oil relatively recently, but humanity has known it for 5 thousand years. The product is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the palm tree Elaeis guineensis, so by its origin it is a common vegetable fat.

During excavations in Egypt, amphorae containing an oily substance were discovered. After careful analysis, it turned out that the ancient vessels were more than three thousand years old, and inside was the same oil pressed from palm fruits. Pharaohs were also treated to it, so this food product is one of the oldest.

At first, the heat-loving tree grew only in Africa, and then spread to other tropical regions, where it is specially cultivated. Most palm oil is now produced in Indonesia and Malaysia.

It is on this palm tree that the fruits from which palm oil is extracted grow.

Types of palm oil

Depending on the raw material and the method of its processing, there are three main types of edible palm oil. They differ significantly from each other in quality, composition and degree of usefulness, so they are actually three different products.

Virgin red palm oil

This variety is extracted from the pulp of oil palm fruits by cold pressing. The prepared raw materials are sorted, the pulp is separated from the seeds and pressed, and the result is palm oil in its original, most natural form. It is often called red because of its characteristic color due to the large amount of carotene.

This product has a sweetish taste and smells like nuts. It is very useful for consumption as food, as well as as a medicinal and cosmetic product - it is not without reason that it can be found more often on the shelves of pharmacies than on store shelves.

Natural virgin oil is considered the best of all varieties. Its value is determined primarily by carotenes, of which it contains a lot. Even carrots lose out - the orange root vegetable contains 15 times less of these nutrients! And they are needed for the body’s production of vitamin A, which, in turn, is necessary for children and adults for good vision, strong bones, and immunity.

It is equally important that red palm oil breaks all records for vitamin E content. This is an antioxidant that prevents cells from aging and degenerating from oxidation, which means it prolongs our youth and maintains health.

There is one more useful substance that red palm oil is unusually rich in. This is Coenzyme Q10. It gives energy so that we do not get tired and are always cheerful. By the way, it also slows down the aging process.

At temperatures above 30 °C the oil becomes liquid

Refined oil

The valuable contents are also extracted from palm fruits by pressing, but most often hot. This allows you to increase the yield of the product, but some of the beneficial substances are destroyed under the influence of temperature. However, this does not matter, since the pressed substance then undergoes complex processing, during which it is refined and deodorized.

As a result, the color, taste, and smell change. Or rather, the taste and smell simply disappear, and the red color changes to light yellow. This happens because during refining most of the carotene is destroyed, and along with it a significant proportion of other vitamins disappears. This product is less healthy and consists mainly of fatty acids, like any other refined vegetable oil.

Reference! It is the refined variety that is used in food production. Requirements for edible palm oil are listed in GOST R 53776–2010.

The oil can be easily separated into liquid (palm olein) and solid (palm stearin) fractions. The first is suitable for frying foods, and the second is used in the confectionery industry as a replacement for margarine.

Palm kernel oil

It is extracted not from the pulp, but from the seeds (kernels) of oil palm fruits. This oil is also edible and is used in the confectionery industry, but its main use is in the production of soap and cosmetics.

What is the difference between palm oil and palm fat?

In some sources you can find mention of palm fat. There is an opinion that this is what they call a hydrogenated product - unfortunately, the exotic oil did not escape the fate of its “brothers” and it is also used in the production of margarine. However, most often this phrase refers to palm oil in any of its varieties.

Reference! Sometimes you can hear the question: what is palm sugar and how is it related to palm oil? Answer: Palm sugar has nothing to do with palm oil. It is extracted from a completely different type of palm - not oil palm, but sugar or date. The product, by the way, is very healthy, as it contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals.

How is palm oil different from others?

The product consists of the same fatty acids that can be found in any other edible oils. There are no substances unsuitable for food or hazardous to health! Of course, the composition of palm oil is not similar to, for example, olive oil, but this does not change the essence.

The main difference is that in most vegetable oils unsaturated fatty acids predominate, while in palm oil almost half are saturated. They can stick together and form hard compounds, so the product hardens at temperatures below 30 degrees.

Saturated fatty acids are considered harmful, especially if consumed in large quantities, so in addition to the advantages, palm oil also has disadvantages that make it similar to butter. Some experts even believe that due to this compositional feature, palm oil can lead to atherosclerosis.

There is also the opposite point of view. Its supporters argue that the product, on the contrary, can be a means of preventing atherosclerosis, because it contains no animal fats, and therefore no cholesterol. And thanks to the unsaturated acids present, the oil can even reduce its level in the blood.

Time will tell which of them is right, since there is no consensus on this matter yet and the debate continues.

When consumed in moderation, saturated fatty acids do not cause much harm and are even beneficial. Without them, fat-soluble vitamins such as A, E, D and K will not be absorbed, and the reproductive system will not be able to function normally. They are necessary for the construction of cell membranes, and the body can most easily obtain thermal energy, which is especially needed in the cold season, from saturated fats.

Table: content of fatty acids in different oils (% of total mass)

What are the benefits of red palm oil?

Palm oil contains many fatty acids, carotene, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, therefore it has remarkable healing and health properties:

• prevents premature aging;
• strengthens the immune system;
• increases endurance and performance;
• has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair, nails;
• improves vision, reduces the risk of eye diseases;
• helps in curing diseases of the joints, bones, spine;
• has a beneficial effect on reproductive function;
• helps with diseases of the female reproductive system;
• heals gastrointestinal diseases.

Palm oil is better than margarine

Now let's talk about the very product that most often becomes a bone of contention - refined palm oil. Unlike red, it is found in many foods.

Why is it needed there? You can often hear that the only advantage of such a supplement is its cheapness, but this is a misconception. Let's remember what was included in products instead of palm oil before its era began in our country. And margarine was included there! People of the older generation say: there was no palm oil, that’s why the food was healthier. This is a big misconception!

Why is margarine harmful and why was it replaced with palm oil?

Now it’s no secret to anyone: margarine is a modified and harmful product. It is obtained from vegetable oils by hydrogenation, that is, the saturation of fatty acid molecules with hydrogen atoms when heated for several hours. As a result, the liquid substance becomes solid, gains greater resistance to oxidation, and therefore is stored much longer. But during processing, harmful compounds are formed - trans fats, which cause atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease and other very serious health problems.

Refined palm oil differs from margarine in that it does not need to be hydrogenated. Due to its composition, it is already hard (hardens at room temperature), and can also be stored for a very long time. This means that the natural product does not contain harmful trans fats, which is why it replaced margarine, and not at all because it was cheap.

Is it possible to recognize modified palm oil in products?

There are manufacturers that hydrogenate palm oil as well. The resulting substance has no pronounced taste or smell, is cheap and has a long shelf life, so some companies cannot resist the temptation and add it to their products. There is nothing wrong with this, because by law, information about the quality of the ingredients must be indicated on the label. However, anyone who cares about their health should definitely refuse to purchase such “delicacies.”

Unfortunately, regulatory authorities often find food on the shelves that contains palm oil secretly. The packaging doesn’t say anything about it, and the product costs more than it should, as if it’s not a cheap supplement, but something much more valuable and useful.

Hydrogenated palm oil can be found in cheese, cottage cheese, butter, ice cream, and is also found in confectionery products instead of cocoa butter. Substitution can only be detected through laboratory analysis, so the only way to protect yourself from dishonest sellers is to buy products from trusted manufacturers who have been on the market for a long time and have a good reputation.

Is there any harm from palm oil in infant formula?

The presence of palm oil in baby food is especially controversial. You can’t feed your baby animal milk, so sometimes you can’t do without formula. The logic of their creators is as follows: one of the main components of palm oil is palmitic acid, and it is also found in breast milk.

Of course, this substance is absorbed better from human milk than from infant formula. There are no miracles - you cannot artificially create a product that is one hundred percent identical to the original. However, it is possible to make it as similar as possible, and, surprisingly, palm oil helps with this.

Reference! Some sources contain the opinion that the exotic product binds calcium and interferes with its absorption by the child’s body, but this point of view has not yet been confirmed by experts.

At what age can it be given to a child?

From six months onwards, babies can be given half a teaspoon of red palm oil once a day as a source of vitamin E and beta-carotene. From three years old, you can increase the dose to one teaspoon, and from seven years to one and a half years - up to two teaspoons per day.

Daily intake

Nutritionists say that a third of all the calories we get per day should be obtained from fat. At the same time, saturated ones can make up only a fifth of the specified norm.

If we assume that the daily norm of kilocalories is approximately 2000, then fat accounts for about 700. Accordingly, 140 kcal should come from saturated calories, and approximately 16 grams of fat provide this amount of energy. But since palm oil is only half composed of saturated fractions, their daily requirement is approximately 32 grams, which corresponds to two tablespoons.

Fortunately, no one eats refined palm oil with spoons or spreads it on sandwiches. Even a whole cake hardly contains at least a third of the daily requirement. If you gobble up baked goods, muffins, ice cream without restrictions, then harm cannot be avoided. However, as well as from the abuse of any other food containing fats.

When taking red palm oil separately, you need to keep in mind the same norm: no more than two tablespoons per day. But do not forget that they already contain all the amount of saturated fat that the body needs per day. This means that you will have to give up any food in which they are present: meat, milk, baked goods.

If you are not ready for such restrictions, reduce your intake of palm oil to at least one tablespoon per day. And at the same time, be sure to control the amount of other fats in your food so as not to exceed the daily norm.

Reference! Palm oil can be kept in both a warm and cool place, the shelf life is no longer than a year. At temperatures below 30 °C it thickens, below 18 °C it hardens. In this case, before use, it must be melted in a water bath, without heating above 55 ° C, so that it does not lose its properties.

How to remove the product from the body

Here is one of the myths about palm oil: it is not digestible because it does not melt at body temperature. Well, cheese has the same property and lard, but no one forbids eating them! Digestion of food does not occur due to melting, but due to the work of digestive enzymes.

The myth that palm oil is not excreted from the body is also unfounded. It is absorbed by 97%, which is a very good indicator. It meets the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO), which has set standards for the absorption of edible oils and fats in the range of 93 to 99 percent. This means that only 3 percent of unprocessed oil remains in the body, and they are eliminated in the same way as other waste products - through natural bowel movements during bowel movements.

Contraindications for use

If you do not exceed the recommended daily allowances, then there are practically no contraindications. But the oil is very high in calories, so it is worth limiting its intake to people with any degree of obesity or even those simply prone to excess weight.

The product should be used with great caution if you have atherosclerosis or are at risk of developing it. There is no direct evidence that it is harmful for such diseases, so it is recommended to monitor blood cholesterol levels when taking the oil.

In very rare cases, palm oil can cause individual intolerance and cause allergies. If you notice rashes, itching, coughing, sneezing or other symptoms, you should immediately take an antihistamine and consult a doctor.

Reviews from doctors and nutritionists

To date, leading Russian and foreign scientists have not proven that consuming palm oil at the recommended level affects the level and metabolism of cholesterol. A diet in which palm oil is the main source of fat does not lead to hypercholesterolemia. But if you use it in an amount greater than 30 percent of the total calorie content, then, of course, this will lead to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, just like the use of any other fat, including vegetable fat.

O.A. Frolova, Doctor of Medical Sciences, food hygiene specialist

http://www.business-gazeta.ru/article/308016

Unlike other industries, highly refined palm oil is used in the production of baby food. It goes through many stages of processing and control, which increases the cost of palm oil in baby food compared to other products, but guarantees its quality and safety.

Vladimir Chikunov, pediatrician

http://www.aif.ru/health/children/1414602

Having studied oils and their healing properties, I can say with confidence that in terms of the content of nutrients, vitamins E, this oil has no analogues. On my own behalf, I would like to add that oil with a unique combination of vitamins A and E, which are the starting material for the formation of sex hormones, miraculously solves the problems of male and female health, helps prevent and slow down the growth of prostate adenoma in men. Without surgical intervention, women get rid of fibroids and mastopathy.

HE. Shashkova, Doctor of Medical Sciences

http://sib-zlatapalma.okis.ru/mnenie.html

Healthy Recipes with Red Palm Oil

Palm oil is not such a terrible beast, as it turns out. Moreover, it is also recommended as a remedy for various diseases.

For gastritis

For gastritis with high acidity, take red palm oil one teaspoon three times a day with meals.

For gastritis with low acidity, take one teaspoon of red palm oil three times a day before meals, mixing it with one teaspoon of lemon juice. You need to swallow slowly, gradually dissolving in your mouth.

For stomach and duodenal ulcers

Take red palm oil heated in a water bath, one dessert spoon twice a day: in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before bed, for three months. When treated with palm oil, the last meal should not be later than 18.00.

For joint diseases

Lightly heat one tablespoon of palm oil in a water bath, add the same amount of olive oil, 5 drops of pine ether, 3 drops each of lavender and lemon. Rub the sore joints with light massaging movements.

For cough, bronchitis, respiratory diseases

Take in the morning, on an empty stomach, an hour before meals, one tablespoon of heated red palm oil (once a day).

For psoriasis and other skin diseases

Take orally a teaspoon of the product heated in a water bath three times a day before meals. At the same time, you should apply the product externally, for which you mix three tablespoons of palm oil, one of walnuts or grape seeds, and 3 grams of birch tar. Apply to affected areas twice daily for two weeks.

For digestive problems

Take 3-4 times a day, one teaspoon with meals.

For eye diseases, to improve vision

Take a tablespoon once a day on an empty stomach for 2.5 months.

For diseases of the nasopharynx

Twice a day, instill 3-4 drops of heated palm oil into each nostril, after which you need to lie on your back for 5 minutes.

During pregnancy

When breastfeeding

Beauty Recipes with Red Palm Oil

Natural palm oil contains three powerful anti-aging ingredients - vitamins A, E and coenzyme Q10, as well as fatty acids that soften and nourish the skin. This set of beneficial substances makes this exotic product an indispensable assistant in skin care: it is used to smooth out wrinkles and get rid of excessive dryness or oiliness. The product improves complexion, gets rid of acne, and can also be used for massage.

Anti-wrinkle

Mix heated red palm and peach oils in equal quantities, apply to clean skin, leave for 15 minutes. Use daily for two weeks.

Another option is to apply pure, warmed red palm oil to your face before going to bed instead of night cream.

For dry skin

Mix red palm and coconut oils in equal parts and apply with massaging movements to skin lightly moistened with water for 15 minutes. Use daily in courses of 14 days with breaks of 10 days.

To strengthen hair

Prepare the following mixture: two tablespoons of red palm oil, one tablespoon of coconut oil, a few drops of clove and grapeseed oil. Heat everything together in a water bath, mix well and apply to hair. Be sure to massage into your scalp as thoroughly as possible. Distribute throughout your hair to the very ends. Put on a shower cap and wrap your head in a towel or scarf. Keep it for half an hour, then wash your hair twice with regular shampoo.

To nourish hair

Prepare the following mixture: one tablespoon of red palm oil, 10 drops of ylang-ylang aromatic oil. Heat in a water bath, stir, apply to hair along the entire length and rub into the scalp. Wear a shower cap and wrap a towel or scarf around your head for warmth. Keep for at least 2 hours. Afterwards, wash your hair well with shampoo.

For brittle nails and cracked feet

Mix two tablespoons of red palm oil, one tablespoon of coconut oil and one teaspoon of grapeseed oil. Heat in a water bath, stir, apply to nails or damaged areas of the feet. You don't have to wash it off.

For massage

Mix slightly heated palm oil equally with peach oil. The quantity will have to be determined by eye, but keep in mind - these products are quickly absorbed, so it is better to make a reserve and store the remaining mixture in the refrigerator. Add suitable esters to the basic massage composition: citrus fruits invigorate, rose and patchouli set you in a romantic mood, lavender and mint soothe, tea tree heals inflammation. Essential oils are added at the rate of 2-3 drops per tablespoon, and this is done before the procedure so that they do not evaporate.

For acne

Carotene and vitamin A have a regenerating effect, so red palm oil helps fight acne. It won’t solve serious problems, but it will save you from minor rashes. For medicinal purposes, the oil is applied pointwise to inflammation 2-3 times a day, and for a stronger effect it is better to use a simple recipe: mix a tablespoon of oil and aloe pulp, add 5 drops of tea tree ether and a teaspoon of rice flour. Apply the paste to your face for 15 minutes. You can make a mask every other day.

Enrichment of finished cosmetics

Some women add healthy palm oil to finished cosmetics: creams, serums, masks, shampoos. In such cases, it is advisable to mix the ingredients in the palm of your hand immediately before use in order to control the effect and abandon the idea if you suddenly don’t like it.

In the article we discuss palm oil in nutrition. We talk about its harms and benefits, contraindications. You will learn why the product is added to food and how to remove oil from the body.

Palm oil is a product made from the berries of the oil palm. It has a red-orange hue and is reminiscent of aroma and taste. It is usually used during cooking.

There is also palm kernel oil, which is often confused with regular palm product. Palm kernel oil is obtained from the kernels of palm berries through pressing.

This product is actively used in soap making, in the production of cosmetics, medicinal ointments and perfumes.

Palm oil contains:

• phytosterol;
• retinol (vitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin D;
• squalene;
• coenzyme Q10;
• palmitic acid;
• other fatty acids and minerals.

There are several types of plant products in the diet:

1. Pericarp oil - made by cold pressing the soft part of palm berries, has a pleasant smell, and is considered a valuable food product.
2. Refined oil - most often used for frying, it is made by introducing certain chemicals into the freshly squeezed product. After this, the active components precipitate, which is removed, and the oil is deodorized to eliminate the taste of the reagent. This product is not useful, since during the processing process most of the beneficial microelements are removed from it.
3. Red oil is the most valuable product, obtained using a certain technology that allows you to preserve the maximum amount of useful components. The product contains a small percentage of stearin, the predominant substances are olein and carotene. The product has a short shelf life and high cost.

Why add

Palm oil is added to food because it is cheap. For comparison, from the same area, palm oil will be collected 8 times more than sunflower oil.

In addition, this crop is completely unpretentious, does not require specific care, and also grows quickly in any soil in the tropics.

This ease of cultivation and high yield ensured a low cost for the product, which manufacturers took advantage of.

Benefits and harms

Useful properties of the oil:

1. Has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels. The product is often used to prevent strokes, inflammation, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
2. Replenishes the lack of vitamin A in the body. The product is useful for eye diseases; it protects the cornea, retina, and lenses. The oil normalizes intraocular pressure and improves blood circulation. Experts advise people with glaucoma, cataracts, and conjunctivitis to take the oil.
3. Has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It prevents inflammation, heals the mucous membrane, prevents fat from accumulating in the liver, and promotes the removal of bile. The product is considered useful for human health in the presence of biliary dyskinesia, enteritis, gastritis, colitis.
4. Improves well-being in diabetes, obesity, and colds. The product is recommended for use by people with bronchial asthma.
5. Has a positive effect on women's health.
6. Participates in the formation of joints, teeth, bone tissue.

Harm from consuming oil occurs only if it is consumed in excess. In such a case, the following conditions occur in the body:

• disruptions in the functioning of the digestive system;
• increased cholesterol levels, which further provokes the formation of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other pathologies of the cardiac system;
• development of serious pathologies in the form of heart attack, infertility, impotence.

If used improperly, palm oil can become a carcinogen and cause the development of cancer.

Consuming oil in unlimited quantities can cause heart disease. But at the same time, its moderate consumption, due to the presence of vitamins in the composition, is an excellent prevention of oncology and heart disease.

It is important to use it in small quantities so as not to provoke the formation of unpleasant consequences.

Palm oil in baby food

Palm oil is actively used in the production of infant formula.

Vegetable oils are the most similar in composition to breast milk: palm, coconut, soybean, sunflower. Manufacturers of baby food use these oils in combination in the process of making infant formula.

Each of these oils contains only certain vitamins and fatty acids, which together provide the greatest benefit to the baby.

Benefits and harms

The benefits of oil lie in its content of vitamins and fatty acids. They have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the baby.

The coenzyme contained in the product is an antioxidant that helps remove cholesterol and other harmful substances from the body.

The harm of the product lies in its high melting point, which interferes with the normal digestion of fat in the intestines of children. In addition to palmitic acid, it also contains other substances that impair the digestion process, as a result of which the child may experience constipation or colic.

The connection between palmitic acid and mineral balance has been scientifically proven. This acid binds calcium, preventing it from being absorbed from the intestines into the blood, and removes it along with the feces.

Systematic intake of infant formula with palm oil provokes a decrease in the strength of bone tissue and inhibition of skeletal growth.

Komarovsky about palm oil

According to Dr. Komarovsky, parents pay too much attention when creating a menu for their child. If the baby is active and enjoys eating exactly when his appetite awakens, then there is nothing wrong with him eating foods containing palm oil.

It is important that the child is systematically examined by a pediatrician and can promptly respond to vitamin deficiency in the child’s body or low hemoglobin.

List of palm oil free baby foods

Manufacturers such as Similac and Nanny have eliminated the addition of palm oil to infant formula.

Manufacturers Nutrilon, Heinz and Kabrita change the structure of palmitic acid, which is the basis of palm fat.

List of baby food manufacturers that do not use palm oil:

• Nanny;
• Similac;
• Heinz;
• Kabrita;
• Nutrilon.

How to remove palm oil from the body

Palm oil accumulates in the body only if it is consumed in excess.

To speed up the elimination of the product, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and also drink hot drinks. This is due to the fact that the oil is destroyed at temperatures above 39 degrees.

Which countries ban palm oil?

There is a myth that palm oil is banned for consumption in many developed countries. In fact, this is not true.

This product is not banned in any country. According to data, more than 55% of the total amount of vegetable oil consumed comes from palm berry oil.

Contraindications

The oil is not suitable for daily use as it may lead to unwanted effects and health problems.

It is necessary to refrain from taking a herbal product even in small quantities in certain situations:

• in the presence of chronic diseases of blood vessels, heart;
• with high cholesterol levels;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• for metabolic disorders.

Palm oil is a vegetable oil, obtained by extracting fatty substances from the fleshy component of the fruit of the oil palm.

This substance is usually produced in a bright red or red-orange color.

The state can be defined as semi-solid due to its presence in various fractions.

The exact melting point cannot be determined either, which is why it is called the sliding melting point.

The main components that are also the most useful are palmitic acid and carotenoids..

Factions

The different properties of palm oil are explained by the fact that the substance consists of many complex chemical components with different melting points.

The melting point is approximately 40 degrees and depends on what fraction it is in.

Depending on the predominance of certain fats by chemical properties may be in the following factions.

Olein

Olein can be called the liquid fraction: in this form it is most often used for preparing various sauces. The melting point of olein is extremely low - only 19-24 degrees Celsius above zero.

Stearin

Stearin is a solid state. Its melting point in this case ranges from 47 to 54 degrees Celsius above zero.

Oil in various manifestations of fractions is called fractionated.

Classification of species

In addition to division into fractions, there are also many varieties based on other properties.

Density, composition, purity, presence of sediment and method of application - this is what distinguishes the varieties of the product. Refined and deodorized palm oil are different types.

The refining process involves a kind of “cleansing” of the mixture from additives and sediments. After the procedure, the product becomes transparent, more liquid, and sometimes loses its taste.

Refining is only one step in complex processing.

When deodorizing, various fragrances are included there - mainly odor enhancers - to achieve the desired aroma.

Red

The only difference between this option and the classic one is that the product acquires a bright red-orange color. The reason is that it is obtained from the red pulp of palm fruit. Regarding fractions, it can be classified as olein.

Technical

This is the name for the type of product that is used for technical purposes. For example, in the production of food products on an industrial scale.

Hydrogenated

The hydrogenation process involves the saturation of a large number of trans fatty acid isomers through the introduction of hydrogen.

Modified

In the process of developing the agricultural industry of growing oil palms, the question of increasing production volumes arose.

Thanks to this, new, modified varieties of palm trees have emerged, the fruits of which meet the different needs of producers.

Extraction method

Thanks to the high productivity of palm trees and the large number of fruits produced, oil production has become one of the most profitable industries.

Conventionally, the manufacturing process can be divided into 3 main stages:

It all starts with harvesting the plantations. The fruits are separated - before production, the pulp (or mesocarp) must be separated from the seeds.

After this, a pressing process is carried out, resulting in unrefined oil. Industrial waste is also used - mesocarp and seeds undergo heat treatment or cooking. This is how food leftovers are obtained.

At the final stage, a pure product is obtained through refining, deodorization and mixing. It should be noted that palm and palm kernel oils are different end products.

You can find out more about what palm oil is made from.

Methods of application

As mentioned above, palm oil is a common element in the composition of food industry products. But due to the presence of many useful substances in it, it is used quite widely in cosmetology.

In the food industry

The use of oil in the food industry is so widespread today that it is easier to list products that do not contain it.

Conventionally, products containing it can be divided into several categories:

• production of edible fats – additives to butter and other edible oils for deep frying;
• preparation of dairy and fermented milk products - cheeses (including processed cheeses), yoghurts;
• production of confectionery products - additive to glaze, filling for sweets;
• production of flour products - breads, muffins, bagels;
• production of semi-finished products - dry soups.

All components of the food industry are required to have a GOST - a CIS international standard number assigned to certain products. GOST indicates in which production this product can be legally used.

For refined deodorized GOST is 31647-2012.

Using this GOST number, you can also easily determine the presence of oil in other products and distinguish them from each other. For example, it is often confused with cream, whose GOST number is 52253-2004, and sunflower, whose GOST is 52465-2005.

You can read more about which products contain palm oil.

Cosmetics industry

The widespread use of this oil in cosmetology is due to its natural origin and, as a consequence, the presence of a large number of useful substances in the composition.

Among the main products containing it are the following::

• skin care cosmetics;
• hair care products;
• soap products.

The popularity of the oil is due to its properties and effect on the skin of the body. For the skin, it has a softening effect on keratinized areas, has a cleansing effect with deodorization, and a moisturizing effect on the skin and hair. But the effect on the human body is a controversial issue.

Thanks to this product, the skin becomes soft and elastic, the hair becomes thick, acquires shine and strength. It is also used for the face, or rather, it is part of creams.

Some of the most well-known products using this ingredient include the following:

• sunscreen L`ElbolarioCremaSolareall`OliodoratodiPalma;
• cream Doctor;
• moisturizing softening hand cream Velvet hands.

Interaction with the body

Despite its widespread use in the food and cosmetics industries, the product has received unflattering reviews from researchers and consumers.

Does it have cholesterol? There are several opinions on this matter.

Some nutritionists believe that its use is harmful to the digestive and other life-supporting systems of the body. For example, the product has a gluing effect on blood vessels, causing the formation of blood clots and cholesterol plaques.

Sometimes its action even leads to the development of cancer due to the large amount of hydrocarbons it contains. Can it be used during pregnancy? Decide for yourself.

Despite all the negative reviews, many people did not feel the harmful effects and continue to calmly use it to this day.

Another group of people believes that it can do no harm. Firstly, the presence of cholesterol attributed to it is false - this element is usually found only in fats of animal origin. Secondly, this product throughout the world is on the same level as olive and sunflower oils in terms of use as deep-frying or as an additive instead of sauces in salads.

The secret of harm to the body lies precisely in the use of a certain fraction. Often, product manufacturers use a technical mixture instead of a food mixture, which should be used specifically in cosmetology.

Technical, as a rule, is much cheaper than food and differs from it in the presence of acids and fats in the composition. A properly prepared product is considered to be one in which the oil is listed as refined, deodorized.

You will find more information about the dangers and benefits of palm oil.

Distinction between related species

Are coconut oil and palm oil the same thing? This question arises more and more often among consumers. As its popularity grows, many are interested in how it differs from coconut? After all, judging by the names, their place of production is the same.

Difference:

Use for different groups

The question of its usefulness also arises when considering nutritional formulas for newborns. The ingredient is added to infant formula for several reasons.

Firstly, it significantly increases shelf life. This allows the mixture to be available on the food market longer, while remaining unaffected by environmental factors on the composition.

Secondly, it contains palmitic acid, a substance that makes up a quarter of the mass of mother’s breast milk.

Perhaps these factors seem favorable for its presence in baby food. But how does it affect the child’s body? Scientists have proven that it inhibits the development and growth of muscle and bone tissue in children.

Therefore, you can get pathological abnormalities leading to serious consequences in adulthood.

For the same reason, it is recommended to limit the use of products containing this ingredient during the period of pregnancy by a woman.

You can learn more about infant formulas with and without palm oil at.

Ban

Palm oil is used in the food industry in almost all countries of the world. It is widely used in European countries, North and South America, and the CIS.

Despite dubious reviews about the composition of the substance and its effect on the human body, no one is trying to introduce a ban on its use on an industrial scale.

The thing is that the product is a good preservative that preserves the properties of the product for a long time. Thus, it increases shelf life, freshness and presentation. But at the same time, it is also a carcinogen.

Is it possible to eat it? In theory, why not? However, there may be undesirable consequences. The value lies primarily in its cheapness. If you are going to use it, then let it be certified oil.

Possibility of allergic reactions

Recently, many consumers are increasingly allergic to this substance.

Children of school, preschool age and newborns are especially susceptible to its manifestation.

Among the irritant elements that can cause allergies are the following::

• myristic acid;
• oleic acid;
• arachidonic acid;
• stearic acid;
• palmitic acid;
• linoleic acid.

Allergic symptoms:

• acute forms of dermatitis;
• redness and itching;
• pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
• vomiting and nausea;
• headaches.

Treatment should not be prescribed without a general examination and recommendations of the attending physician. But if the established cause of the allergy is oil, you should immediately stop eating it.

Very often you can hear the question: how to remove it from the human body? There is no definite answer to this and we have not found any special methods. There is also talk that it will be banned in Europe.

We can say unequivocally that in France it is not used, and in other countries products must be provided with a warning to buyers. There is currently no reliable information about which countries and where it is prohibited or why it will not be banned.

You can often hear that palm oil causes cancer. No studies could be found to confirm this fact.

Watch more on the video: the whole truth about it, what it looks like and why it won’t be banned?