This post was sponsored by MomMeet & PalmOilHealth.org. Thank you.
Every few years we rediscover a healthier-for-you cooking oil hit the market. While many people tout coconut or avocado oil for their healthy cooking needs Malaysian palm fruit oil might be an oil you want to try at home as well.
Red palm oil is produced in several areas of the world including Malaysia, West Africa, and Ecuador. It’s derived from the fruit of the oil palm, not to be confused with red palm kernel oil.
What’s great about this oil:
Red palm oil has long been touted for its healing properties. The ancient Egyptians regarded the palm fruit oil as sacred and used it for the treatment of everyday ailments at home. The healing aspect of the palm oil comes from its makeup of dark red oil that is about 50 percent saturated and 40 percent oleic acid, an unsaturated fat.
While a tablespoon of red palm oil is about 130 calories, similar to other oils, it’s also loaded with carotenes, like beta-carotene and lycopene. Good for vision and heart health and may have benefits for patients with breast cancer, fatty liver disease, and more.
Unlike other oils, Malaysian palm fruit oil doesn’t lose its nutritional value when it’s cooked in high heat. It can be cooked at a higher temperature than butter or olive oil. Plus, most oils only keep for four to six months after they’re opened. Whereas Malaysian palm fruit oil can be stored at room temperature for 12 months without going rancid.
The oil is cholesterol-free and added to a heart-healthy diet, palm oil may help remove plaque build-up in arteries. A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shown that a natural form of vitamin E called alpha-tocotrienol, which is the form found in red palm fruit oil, can help reduce the effects of stroke by as much as 50 percent.
Red palm oil is also medicinal for those fighting osteoporosis, asthma, cataracts, macular degeneration, arthritis and premature aging due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Buying sustainable oil
When buying palm oil, you want to look for oils that have a deep reddish color featuring a pungent flowery smell.
You also want to make sure your ped palm oil is rainforest certified. This helps reduce the environmental impact of deforestation by palm-oil producers. Specifically, products sourced from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) organization.
This cooperative started in 2004, works to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products. The group aims to reduce harm to wildlife habitats, especially orangutans and elephants, and improve conditions for migrant workers on palm oil plantations. The sustainability issues swirling around palm oil are big news these days. So making sure your red palm oil is rainforest certified is key!
Which is why I like to buy Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil. Palm oil cultivation that has been credited with reducing poverty, promoting racial harmony in Malaysia, and protecting our rainforest wildlife in Southeast Asia. A company working to promote small organic family farms in Malaysia that are certified organic, rainforest certified, non-GMO, and Fair Trade.
I love to use red palm oil when making organic, vegan snacks at home including popcorn, baking loaves of bread, muffins, energy balls, and more!
Friends, I encourage you to check out this oily superfood at home this season! Now I want to ask, are you currently using red palm oil at home? If so, what’s your favorite way to use it? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts below!
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