Palm oil is a bit of a mixed bag – it’s a hero and a villain. On the upside, it’s an ingredient in everything from your favourite snacks to beauty products. Its high yield makes it super-efficient and cheap. However, palm oil is about 50% saturated fat, mostly palmitic acid, which can raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
Bassey Duke, a palm oil grower from Cross River State in Southern Nigeria, explains that palm oil is well-known in West Africa, from street food vendors to family dining tables due to its essential role in daily life.
It’s widely used in cosmetics, agro-processing, and kitchens throughout Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
“Palm oil frequently replaces butter in industrial baking due to its affordability and similar melt profile, as well as its health benefits over butter.”
Bassey Duke
Duke says palm oil and its derivatives possess vital cosmetic properties with no viable alternatives. It is known to help with acne and wrinkles and protects skin and hair against environmental toxins like air pollution.
“Palm oil can be processed into products with different characteristics.”
He adds that palm oil is used for frying food, animal feed, and even as fuel. Duke explains that it is also a key ingredient in industries for manufacturing toothpaste, lipstick, shampoo, body lotions, detergents, lubricants, wax, soaps, and many other products, including biscuits and cookies.
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A natural source of nutrition and beauty
According to Kulani Mtileni, a registered dietitian from Limpopo, people use it to prevent and treat vitamin A deficiency. It’s also used for conditions like malaria, heart disease, and cancer, though there isn’t strong scientific evidence to support these other uses.
Mtileni notes that adding red palm oil to the diets of children or pregnant women in developing countries can reduce the risk of low vitamin A levels and help increase vitamin A levels in those already deficient.
“More than 70% of cosmetic products contain palm oil and its derivatives because they provide benefits such as skin hydration, foaming, softening, and texturising.”
Dietitian Kulani Mtileni
He adds that red palm oil is rich in carotenoids and vitamin E, which act as antioxidants to prevent cell damage. Studies suggest that consuming palm oil can lead to better heart health, improved brain health, and support for eye health.
Warnings for consumption
While the vitamin E in red palm oil may offer benefits for heart health, there are other factors to consider that could pose risks. According to Mtileni, compared to other liquid vegetable oils, red palm oil is not as effective at lowering cholesterol and may even raise levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Mtileni highlights another concern: red palm oil is high in saturated fats compared to other oils. For example, olive oil, often praised for its healthy fats, contains less than half the saturated fat found in red palm oil.
“Because saturated fats have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, this puts red palm oil at a disadvantage compared to other vegetable oils.”
He notes, “One of the main arguments against using palm oil for consumption is its high content of palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid that could potentially elevate total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.”
Traditional medicinal uses
According to Azuka Obidi, a media personality from Delta State, Nigeria, palm oil in Nigeria has always been used for traditional purposes.
He says it is known to prevent miscarriage, to help with headaches, and the roots, stem bark, and kernel of the palm are used to control malaria, asthma, measles, and mental disorders.
He explains that palm oil in Nigeria is like a traditional medicine for these uses and more. “Besides its domestic, economic, and environmental value, every part of the oil palm is valuable for medicinal purposes.”
Obidi further notes that the Annang ethnic group of Akwa Ibom State and the Igbo ethnic group are well known for using palm oil to treat cancer and rheumatism.
If you are considering using palm oil for its health benefits, experts advise you to consult a medical professional to ensure it is safe for you to use.
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