Red Palm Oil Health Benefits

Red palm oil has been a safe and nutritious source of edible oil for humans for thousands of years.

Red palm oil on Amazon

Like other common edible fats and oils, red palm oil is easily digested, absorbed and utilized in normal metabolic processes. It plays a significant role in meeting energy and essential fatty acid needs in many regions of the world.

Red palm oil is a rich source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant and precursor of Vitamin A and tocotrienols, all of which have antioxidant properties. These nutrients are used in the treatment of health problems related to vitamin A deficiency, such as night blindness among children.

When compared to carrots, red palm oil contains 10 to 15 times more carotene.

Red palm oils are naturally occurring sources of the antioxidant vitamin E constituents, tocopherols and tocotrienols. These natural antioxidants act as scavengers of damaging oxygen free radicals and are hypothesized to play a protective role in cellular aging, atherosclerosis and cancer.

Red palm oil is different from either palm kernel oil which is derived from the seed, and from coconut oil, both of which are highly saturated. Red palm oil is from the fruit of the palm is physically and chemically different.

Reference: Malaysian Palm Oil Board