Should i use palm oil

Laws have been set to limit the amount of forested areas that can be removed. In some cases, illegal logging chopping down trees and a method of clearing land called slash-and-burn still take place. Slash-and-burn is the process where forests are logged and then set on fire. As you can imagine, slash-and-burn clearing is really bad for both the environment and the local people, because it results in huge emissions of toxic ash and smoke. When large forest areas are removed by slash-and-burn, something called haze happens.

Haze is when the smoke fills the sky and blocks out sunlight. Haze can last for weeks and affect human health. The most well-known issue of the oil palm industry is its effects on orangutan populations. Orangutans often lose their homes during land clearance and are sometimes killed by farmers who see them as pests. Some reports say that 25 orangutans are killed every day due to palm oil production. But, in reality, over half of all orangutan deaths are caused by local people who hunt orangutans for food [ 2 ].

So, if growing oil palms causes such big problems, why cannot we just use other vegetable oils instead? The main issue here is that oil palm is a very efficient crop compared to alternatives like sunflower and olive. Nearly 10 times more land would be needed if oil palm were replaced with olive, soy, rapeseed also known as canola , or corn crops [ 3 ]. Also, production of other vegetable oils would still impact biodiversity because those crops would need land to be cleared, too.

Other oil crops are also more expensive to grow than palm. Olive oil production costs up to six times more than palm oil. If we were to try to put olive oil in food products like pastries or biscuits, the prices of those foods would also increase! The chemical make-up of olive oil is also very different from palm oil. Olive oil is full of chemicals that give it a strong taste, smell, and color.

Companies who use palm oil choose it because it can be processed to remove its color, taste, and smell. This means palm oil cannot be tasted in the final food product, but it still provides the fat needed as an ingredient in many foods. Olive oil also goes bad a lot faster than palm oil. This can make the food it is added to taste terrible!

Oil palm production does not need much energy input. Oil palm crops need less fertilizers and pesticides than other vegetable oil crops. This means fewer dangerous chemicals leak out into the environment. Oil palm crops also have a very long lifespan. A farmer can profit from selling the fruits for over 25 years. Oil palm fruits can be harvested regularly year-round.

Therefore, these plantations employ people permanently and not just seasonally as they are with other vegetable oil crops. This improves the lives of palm oil farm employees. Scientists are trying to find new ways to improve palm oil production so that it has less impact on the environment. Growers are also taking action to improve their practices. For example, they are following strict rules to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides and selecting better seeds to produce more oil from the same area of land.

Wildlife corridors can also help to make oil palm farming more environmentally friendly. Also, burning rainforest not only causes greenhouse gas emissions but fills the air with dense smoke, causing respiratory problems. How to recognize it? Palm oil can be found in more than half of the products in the regular supermarkets across New Zealand, however it is hard to recognize it. The reason behind that is the absence of law bounding the companies to declare palm oil in their goods.

Palm oil in food and other products most commonly hides under these names:. Cart 0. Back Partners Volunteer Internship Donate. Back News. Back Location Contact. Here is a list of 15 foods that are rich in calcium, many of which…. Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is abundant in most people's diets.

This article explores whether salt is healthy or unhealthy. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is Palm Oil? It is important to note that palm oil should not be confused with palm kernel oil.

Bottom Line: Palm oil comes from palm trees native to Africa, where it has been consumed for thousands of years. How Is It Used? Its taste is considered savory and earthy. Some people describe its flavor as being similar to carrot or pumpkin. In addition to nut butters, palm oil can be found in several other foods, including: Cereals Baked goods like bread, cookies and muffins Protein bars and diet bars Chocolate Coffee creamers Margarine In the s, palm oil was replaced with trans fats in many products due to concerns that consuming tropical oils might jeopardize heart health.

This oil is also found in many non-food products, such as toothpaste, soap and cosmetics. Bottom Line: Palm oil is used in cooking, especially in West African cuisines and curries. Nutrient Composition. Here is the nutritional content of one tablespoon 14 grams of palm oil 4 : Calories: Fat: 14 grams Saturated fat: 7 grams Monounsaturated fat: 5 grams Polyunsaturated fat: 1. It May Have Health Benefits.

Brain Health Palm oil is an excellent source of tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E with strong antioxidant properties that may support brain health. Heart Health Palm oil has been credited with providing protection against heart disease. Improved Vitamin A Status Palm oil can help improve vitamin A status in people who are deficient or at risk of deficiency.

Bottom Line: Palm oil may help protect brain function, reduce heart disease risk factors and increase vitamin A levels in certain people. Potential Health Risks. One study was conducted in women with high cholesterol. Bottom Line: Palm oil may increase certain heart disease risk factors in some people. Controversies Regarding Palm Oil. Fortunately, experts say that there are more ethical and sustainable methods. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil RSPO is an organization committed to making oil production as environmentally friendly, culturally sensitive and sustainable as possible.

They only award RSPO certification to producers who adhere to their standards by following certain guidelines, including: No clearing of forests or areas that contain endangered species, fragile ecosystems or areas critical to meeting basic or traditional community needs. Significantly reduced use of pesticides and fires. Fair treatment of workers, according to local and international labor rights standards.

Informing and consulting with local communities before the development of new oil palm plantations on their land. Take Home Message. Palm oil is one of the most widely used oils in the world. If you want to use palm oil, purchase ethical, RSPO-certified brands. Read this next. Does Palm Oil Cause Cancer? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Freshly: A Dietitian's Honest Comparison. Salt: Is It Healthy or Unhealthy?