Question by Nathan: Does Palm Oil have the same nutritional benefits as coconut oil?
Best answer:
Answer by odzookers
Yeah–they both are loaded with saturated fat from hydrogenated oil and will clog your arteries.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
no I don’t think so. Coconut oil is extremely good for you, but I don’t think palm oil is.
Actually although I know quite a bit about coconut oil being healthy, I know less about palm oil..apparently there is some controversy as to if it is really bad or really good,
sorry I could not be more help.
The two oils are different from each other, but they have a similarity in that they both have saturated fatty acids that make up around half of their fatty acid content. The palm oil, when refined by pressing, will show a red color. This comes from the beta-carotene and lycopene and if it is not heated much, will carry these healthy molecules into the food and our diets. In some developing countries this source of beta-carotene can supply molecules for the body to make Vitamin A which is needed to avoid blindness in children.
Palmitic acid is the most common fatty acid in palm oil. It has 16 carbon atoms. Lauric acid is the most common in coconut oil, with 12 carbon atoms. Both are saturated, meaning that they have all the hydrogen atoms attached that are possible. This provides a ready source of energy production in the body because when these bonds are broken, the energy released can be stored in the body. These bonds are similar to those found in sugars. So the fatty acid metabolizes in a similar way.
Saturated fatty acids seem to have a stiffer structure. Longer chain saturated fatty acids are found in meats. Studies have shown that eating larger amounts of these fatty acids of the longer type are likely to increase the amount of LDL cholesterol in our western diets. So they are not recommended.
These studies were not done with coconut oil or palm oil, so the conclusion that their shorter chain fatty acids are just as dangerous is not well supported.
Both palm oil and coconut oil can be beneficial to your diet. Personally I find that the coconut oil is great for cooking. We used the palm oil more for salads. It can stain clothes from the red molecules contained.
Palm kernel oil is a third oil used. It has a similar amount of lauric acid, so it more closely resembles the coconut oil in use.
Dog studies indicate the two thirds of the heart’s energy come from fatty acids. So we need to consume them in order to provide energy for our hearts.
Firstly you have to distinguish between palm oil and palm kernel oil as they are different. Palm oil is from the fleshy part of the fruit [mesocarp]. Parm kernel oil is from the seed of the fruit.
Palm oil is is typically [may depend on the origin of the fruit] approximately:
Lauric acid – 0.2% }
Myristic acid – 1.1% } saturated
Palmitic acid – 44.0% } fat
Stearic acid – 4.5% }
Oleic acid – 39.2% || unsaturated fat
Linoleic acid – 10.1% || polyunsaturated fat
Others – 0.9%
[caprylic acid is zero or negligible]
refs:
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jitkangl/Palm%20Oil/Refinery%20of%20Palm%20Oil.htm
http://www.americanpalmoil.com/faq.html
Palm kernel oil is typically [may depend on the origin of the fruit] approximately:
Lauric acid – 48% }
Myristic acid – 16% } saturated fat
Palmitic acid – 8% }
Oleic acid – 15% || unsaturated fat
Linoleic acid – 3% || polyunsaturated fat
**Others – 10%
[ this is for American palm oil:
ref: http://www.americanpalmoil.com/faq.html ]
**Others – Caprylic acid may be about 4%]:
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids1.html
Coconut oil is typically [may depend on the origin of the fruit] approximately::
Lauric acid – 47% }
Myrstic acid – 18% } saturated
Palmitic acid – 9% } fat
Caprylic acid – 6% }
Oleic acid – 6% || monounsatured fat
Linoleic acid – 5% || polyunsaturated fat
Others – 9%
[ ref: http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids1.html ]
It depends on what you are looking to take it for. Palm oil is about 50% saturated fat. Palm kernel oil is about 72% saturated fat. Coconut oil is about 80% saturated fat. But this is an approximation I think as it will depend on the origins of the oil and whether or not it is virgin cold pressed or or has been chemically extracted.
Palm oil has the most monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat compared to palm kernel oil and coconut oil so might be healthier for you. Your vitamin E needs increase with your intake of non-saturated fat – do bare that in mind. And none of these are a source of omega 3 fatty acids and you need omega 3, omega 6 [polyunsatured fat] and omega 9 [monounsaturated fat] in the right proportion. So take fish oil ….or purslane for omega 3 [a vegetarian option].
Bare in mind the origins of the oil if you are going to use an oil from palm sources. And palm oil is used in the cake industry as well as manufacturing industry so you might want to check labels. Some of this palm oil might originate from non-sustainable sources ….contributing to the destruction of valuable rainforests…..ultimately leading to species extinction if that continues. Yes everyone has to make a living ….governmental policies [including internationsl ones] are at fault.
If you are looking to take an oil tfor its anti-fungal properties then coconut oil or palm kernel oil would be the oil of choice….. both have caprylic acid and lauric acid and these are antifungal. If you want to take environmental considerations on board then you might want to opt for coconut oil here if you cannot be sure the palm kernel oil is from sustainable sources.
Hope that heps.