What are the Disadvantages of Cooking with Palm Oil?
You may have seen palm oil in the kitchen as it is not a new product. For those who are not aware, Palm oil is a form of vegetable oil or cooking oil that is produced from the oil palm tree's fruit.
It is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world that is edible. Squeezing the fleshy fruit of the palm tree or crushing the fruit's kernel - the oil palm is produced.
Besides palm oil itself, there are 200 possible alternate names for this oil. Not enough has been said about it for people are aware of its nutritious value and the benefits it brings along. But there are certain disadvantages of cooking with palm oil that you must keep in mind. So without any further adieu, let's check out all about it and other related topics.
What are the Uses of Palm Oil?
Before knowing the side effects of eating palm oil, let's find out the areas where it is used. Palm oil is a very versatile product and can be found in almost everything. It is almost used in every packaged item that you may come across. Simply because it comes with an adaptable nature and is also used for cooking purposes. Some of the items in which you may find Palm oil are
Pizza
Doughnuts
Ice creams
Ramen
Chocolate
Nutella and more.
Besides the food items containing palm oil, there are other items where you may find it. Some of these commercial goods include toothpaste, deodorant, lipstick, soap, detergent, etc. Even though there are many side effects of palm oil on health, it is still hard to avoid it because it is present in so many items and goes by so many different names.
Disadvantages of Cooking with Palm Oil- Check Out Now
There are many disadvantages of cooking with palm oil which you must know to avoid any health problems in the future.
Increases Cholesterol
One of the first side effects of cooking with palm oil is that there is a type of fat present in them which may raise the cholesterol level. When you find them in meals or eat them orally, it can cause you cholesterol problems besides other problems associated with it. Therefore, the excessive consumption of palm oil must be avoided. As per the healthcare practitioners, short-term usage of palm oil is recommended which should be approximately around 7 to 12 grams every day for up to six months.
Causes Yellow Skin
One of the main side effects of palm oil is on the skin which is why consuming it moderately is recommended. This is because excessive use of it can cause your skin to turn yellow. This happens because palm oil contains a lot of carotenes. Apart from this, if you apply red palm oil on your skin, it can cause your skin to become red and irritated.
Increases Weight
One of the disadvantages of cooking with palm oil is that it leads to increasing one's weight. As palm oil is naturally abundant in palmitic acid, this fatty acid raises the risk of weight gain and obesity. It is also known that any diet that is rich in palmitic acid can cause reduced fat oxidation rates as well as a slowdown in metabolism. This leads to the conclusion that the risk of insulin resistance and obesity has become higher.
Increases Heart Stroke Chances
Palm oil is known to have a very high content of Triglyceride which gives a good reason
why should you not cook with palm oil every day. Its consumption tends to thicken and harden the arteries when done at a frequent or excessive amount. This raises the probability of having a stroke as well as putting danger of acquiring heart disease.
Causes Hair Staining
Usually consuming palm oil comes with multiple benefits for hair health. From fighting off dandruff to helping with frizziness or dry scalp and promoting hair growth - all can be done. However, there are side effects of palm oil on hair when applied as it can cause hair staining.
Contains Cancer-Causing Contaminants
This is one of the major side effects of palm oil cooking. When palm oil is heated to an extremely high temperature like 200 degrees Celsius or 392 degrees Fahrenheit, it can introduce a contaminant that may be carcinogenic. However, this finding only applies to palm oil that has been processed for use in processed food items.
What are the Effects of Palm Oil on Nature?
Palm oil comes with many health disadvantages, but nature is no exception in this case. There are many cons that this type of oil brings along including leading to deforestation. This happens because a large number of forests are cleared which destroys the inhabitants and causes ecological imbalance.
The most affected species of all for palm oil plantations are Orangutans in particular. Apart from this, global warming is a result of the release of carbon dioxide from deforestation brought on by the production of palm oil. In addition to this, intensive farming methods used to produce palm oil can erode soil which may further lower the quality of the land and decrease agricultural productivity. Some other factors that are associated with palm oil production are carbon emissions, water pollution, labour abuses as well as displacing indigenous.
How Much Palm Oil Should be Consumed?
Now that you know the disadvantages of cooking with palm oil and how it is frequently used, you must wonder how much palm oil should be consumed every day. Well, in that case, know that adults can have red palm oil orally for up to 7 to 12 grams per day for up to 6 months. Whereas, children can take around 6 to 9 grams of it orally for up to six months. In case, you are undergoing any health problems, then you must consult with the healthcare professional to avoid any further health issues.