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Watch
out for palm oil
May 04, 2006
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
New
food labeling requirements have made it easier to determine
if our favorite foods contain harmful trans fats. But the
demand among food manufacturers now for alternatives to trans
fats may have an unfortunate consequence: Greater use of palm
oil in many popular food products.
What’s palm oil?
Palm oil is cooking oil made from the pulp of palm tree fruits.
Because it’s edible and has many of the same properties
as solid fats such as lard and partially hydrogenated vegetable
oils, it’s a popular ingredient all over the world in
margarine, cookies, crackers and baked goods – the same
products in which trans fat-laden partially hydrogenated oils
have been used in the U.S.
An advantage of palm oil to food manufacturers is that it
doesn’t contain trans fat, and it’s cheaper than
other vegetable oils. Trouble is, it’s not as good for
your health as other vegetable oils.
In fact, though it’s not as damaging as the saturated
fat in lard or the trans fat in partially hydrogenated vegetable
oil, there is consensus among most health organizations that
palm oil increases blood cholesterol levels and raises the
risk of coronary artery disease.
About half of the fat in palm oil is saturated. Although the
American Heart Association concedes that “many questions
remain about how various fatty acids affect blood lipid (fat)
levels,” for now, the organization advises the public
to limit foods containing palm oil.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases also advises, “Cut back on foods high in saturated
fat or cholesterol, such as meats, butter, dairy products
with fat, eggs, shortening, lard, and foods with palm oil
or coconut oil.”
There may be other reasons to steer clear of palm oil, too.
Increasing world and U.S. demand for palm oil – and
the proliferation of plantations in Southeast Asia where oil
palms are grown – is destroying rainforests and endangering
wildlife.
According to a report issued by the Center for Science in
the Public Interest: “Plantations also pollute the soil
and water with pesticides and untreated palm oil-mill effluent,
cause soil erosion and increased sedimentation in rivers,
and cause air pollution due to forest fires.” See the
full report online at http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/palm_oil_final_5-27-05.pdf.
Not all oil palms are grown in ways that harm the environment.
A representative of the company that provides palm oil for
Newman’s Own brand cookies and microwave popcorn told
The New York Times that the company uses palm oil from organically
grown trees in Colombia where the company practices sustainable
harvesting practices.
So what’s the bottom line where palm oil is concerned?
* It’s probably wise to minimize your intake of palm
oil. Nutrition research in the area of saturated fats is continuing,
but most experts who have studied the issue currently believe
that eating palm oil increases bad cholesterol and your risk
of heart damage.
* Read package labels and choose products made with soy, canola,
olive, corn, or sunflower oil rather than those made with
palm oil. Remember: Also scan the nutrition facts label and
aim for as little trans fat and saturated fat as possible.
* If you can’t avoid it, choose products in which the
palm oil is blended with more healthful vegetable oils.
And if you really want to simplify all of this advice, look
at it this way: Since most bad fats are found in foods of
low nutritional value, limit the junk food and you’ll
be most of the way there.
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