Heart diseases are one of the most serious health problems. If you take care of your food and drinks, you should not bring palm oil and products made from palm oil into your home.
READ LABELS
Palm oil is found in processed foods such as cooking oils, margarines, ice cream, ready meals, confectionery, chocolate, pizza dough, biscuits and cookies. In addition, this oil is found in most detergents, soaps and shampoos, cosmetics and cleaning products such as lipstick, wax and polishes. It’s vital to read product labels to find products that don’t use palm oil.
TRIGGERS HEART DISEASES
One of the biggest threats to the heart is high cholesterol. This is because when cholesterol levels get too high, your body develops fatty deposits that can block blood flow in your blood vessels.
DAMAGES OF PALM OIL
Experts say it can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States.
On the other hand, some researchers state that it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by increasing the cholesterol level due to its high saturated fat content. It is also stated that heated palm oil causes high blood pressure.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that if palm oil is refined at temperatures higher than 200 degrees, it produces more carcinogenic substances than other vegetable oils.
STAY AWAY FROM PALM OIL
Even changing the type of oil you cook with has been found to help manage your cholesterol levels. According to a study by The Journal of Nutrition, palm oil is one of the worst fats for your cholesterol levels, as it’s so high in saturated fat.
A Journal of Nutrition study found that consuming palm oil significantly increased cholesterol levels, compared with vegetable oils that are lower in saturated fat.
According to Harvard Health, saturated fats found in palm oil, coconut oil, red meat, butter, and most ice creams are harmful to your overall health and should always be consumed with caution. While they’re technically not as “bad” as trans fat, they’ve been proven to raise your cholesterol levels.
OILS THAT CAN BE USED IN REPLACE OF PALM OIL
Replacing palm oil with unsaturated fat may help reduce your risk of high cholesterol. In an analysis published in 2018 in the Journal of Lipid Research, researchers found that seed oils such as sunflower, rapeseed, and flaxseed oil were best for lowering cholesterol levels.
While other unsaturated oils such as olive oil did well, seed oils performed better overall. This analysis also confirmed that saturated fats like butter are the worst at lowering cholesterol.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR HEALTH
Whether you’re currently battling high cholesterol or just found out you’re at high risk, choosing which fat to consume regularly can make a significant difference in your heart health.
If possible, try replacing palm oil or butter with healthier oils like sunflower or olive oil when you cook your next meal at home.