Palm oil
- Thread starter punka274
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kathryn
Cathlete
>is stuff really bad for you? According to Tosca Reno's book
>it should be avoided .....but its in my favorite natural
>Peanut butter:-(
I personally don't consider that PB (which contains palm oil AND sugar) very 'natural.' A true "natural PB" contains only peanuts and (optionally) salt.
There are two schools of though on palm oil and other tropical oils (like coconut oil).
One, the more traditional one, says that they are bad because they are high in saturated fats (any plant oil that is solid at about 70 degrees is high in saturated fat).
More recently, some researchers are touting the benefits of tropical oils, saying that their saturated fats are actually beneficial, because they are different from those in animal products, and can actually help the body burn fat, among other claims. (just do a search for 'coconut oil benefits' or something similar, and you can probably find info).
I tend to think they are definitely not as bad as man-made transfats (which were developed to replace them), but should be limited in the diet. (whereas transfats should be completely avoided: many health researchers state that the acceptable level of transfats in the diet is 0%--none).
An occasional something with palm or coconut oil in is fine, IMO. But I wouldn't go overboard and have them every day.
On the other hand, if there are benefits, some of them can be derived from using the oils topically (since the body will absorb many of the nutrients, but not the fat content). Coconut oil, for example, is one of the best things you can use on your skin. (I wouldn't slather that 'natural' PB on, though, LOL!)
>it should be avoided .....but its in my favorite natural
>Peanut butter:-(
I personally don't consider that PB (which contains palm oil AND sugar) very 'natural.' A true "natural PB" contains only peanuts and (optionally) salt.
There are two schools of though on palm oil and other tropical oils (like coconut oil).
One, the more traditional one, says that they are bad because they are high in saturated fats (any plant oil that is solid at about 70 degrees is high in saturated fat).
More recently, some researchers are touting the benefits of tropical oils, saying that their saturated fats are actually beneficial, because they are different from those in animal products, and can actually help the body burn fat, among other claims. (just do a search for 'coconut oil benefits' or something similar, and you can probably find info).
I tend to think they are definitely not as bad as man-made transfats (which were developed to replace them), but should be limited in the diet. (whereas transfats should be completely avoided: many health researchers state that the acceptable level of transfats in the diet is 0%--none).
An occasional something with palm or coconut oil in is fine, IMO. But I wouldn't go overboard and have them every day.
On the other hand, if there are benefits, some of them can be derived from using the oils topically (since the body will absorb many of the nutrients, but not the fat content). Coconut oil, for example, is one of the best things you can use on your skin. (I wouldn't slather that 'natural' PB on, though, LOL!)
