Palm Fruits and Oil

The health benefits of palm fruit and oil: Decrease cholesterol levels, reduce oxidative stress, boost brain health, slow the progression of heart disease, increase vitamin A status, and improve skin and hair health. Although originally used as a cooking oil, palm oil had a variety of medicinal uses in Africa. It is used as an antidote for poison, a cure for gonorrhea, a natural laxative, a diuretic, and a treatment for headaches and skin infections. Palm oil is derived from palm fruits. It consists mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fats, with small amounts of polyunsaturates. This makes palm oil a good choice for cooking. Red Palm Oil (the unrefined variety) is best. It is also rich in Vitamins E, Coenzyme Q10 and other nutrients. Do not over heat the oil. Palm oil can cause cancer when processed at high temperatures. All oils can withstand varying levels of heat, but overheating can cause cooking oil hazard. If that level is exceeded, however, the oil not only begins to lose its nutritional value and flavor, it produces toxic fumes and hazardous substances called free radicals.