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 Ingredient of the month: Red Palm Oil
What is it?
Red palm oil is the second most-consumed
vegetable oil in the world and has been
used for cooking in Asia and Africa for
generations.
Where does it come from?
Red palm oil comes from the African oil
palm tree Elaeis guineensis, native to tropical Africa, from Sierra Leone in the west
through the Democratic Republic of Congo
in eastern West Africa. It has been used
there for more than 5,000 years.
When was it discovered?
European explorers discovered the palm in the
late 1400s, and distributed it throughout the
world. In the early 1800s, the oil was prized
for making soaps, candles, margarine and
industrial oils.
The oil palm didn’t become an industry of its
own in the Americas until the 1960s. It was
introduced to Southeast Asia in the early
1900s, and Malaysia is now the world leader
in exports.
How is it beneficial?
Red palm oil is a rich
source of phytonutrients
such as beta-carotene,
alpha-carotene, lycopene
and other carotenoids. It is
rich in vitamin E
tocotrienols, a powerful
form of vitamin E that acts as a super-antioxidant. Studies have found such health benefits
as: a reduction in arteriosclerosis and blood
cholesterol; a reduction in blood clotting; inhibition of breast cancer cell growth; and a 45
per cent enhancement of the efficiency of
breast cancer drugs, such as Tamoxifen.
What can be done with it?
Trans-fat free, the oil can be used in baking,
shortenings and deep frying, and has a substantial shelf life with a high melting point.
With more than 250 million children under age
5 at risk for vitamin A deficiency, the primary
cause of avoidable blindness, the oil could provide an easy and inexpensive way of supplementing vitamin A into the diet.
—Ashley Canty
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Heart-health supplements sales total $940 million in 2004 |
Co-Q10 |
19% |
Vitamin E |
14% |
Others |
13% |
Fish/animal oils |
12% |
Garlic |
8% |
Plant oils |
8% |
Potassium |
6% |
Psyllium |
5% |
Multivitamins |
4% |
Magnesium |
3% |
Niacin/B3 |
3% |
Soy |
3% |
Hawthorne |
2% |
Source: Nutrition Business Journal survey of 80-plus raw materials and ingredients supply companies in August 2005. Per cents
don’t total 100 per cent due to rounding. ‘NBJ Raw Material & Ingredient Supply Report 2005.’ www.nutritionbusiness.com |
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