• The Source of Palm OilOil Palm Plantation image by fongliew from Fotolia.com
  
  African palm oil provides another option for consumers and food manufacturers looking for alternatives to trans fats and products high in saturated fats. Palm oil has been used in Africa and in Asia for years to fry food, to treat wounds, as skin moisturizers and more. The demand for palm oil in Western countries is growing as its health benefits are becoming more widely known. A 2007 report in "Oil World" put vegetable oil production around the world at 130 million tons. Of those 130 million tons, over 38 million were produced by the oil palm--the greatest amount for a single oil-producing crop.
  
  

High in Beta-Carotene

• African palm oil contains high levels of carotenoids, which give the oil, among other things, its red-orange hue. "Palm Oil: a Nutritional Overview," a study by Wayne State University's Department of Nurtition and Food Science highlights palm oil as one of the richest sources of carotenoids available, above tomatoes and carrots. Carotenoids contain vitamin A, which in turn helps to boost the body's immune system and has been found reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and cataracts. The absence of enough vitamin A in a diet can lead to blindness as well as other medical problems.
  
  

Antioxidant Properties

• A Carnegie Mellon University study titled "Refinery of Palm Oil", cites this oil as being rich in two types of vitamin E, tocopherols and tocotrienols, antioxidants that help the body rid itself of toxins and appear to help people stay younger-looking and healthy longer. According to the study, as these antioxidants fight free radicals in the body, they can prevent chronic disease and keep the skin and other organs in healthier condition.
  
  

Fatty Acids

• While too much fat is not healthy, it must understood that our bodies also require fats and oils to a certain degree. Palm oil is a nutritious oil, not only because of the carotenoids, but also because it supplies our bodies with fatty acids, which are the raw materials required for the construction of cell membranes, as well as vitamins D, E and K.
  
  

High Density Lipoprotein

• The same study from Carnegie Mellon confirmed that African palm oil was found to be one of the best options (in the oil category) for fighting high cholesterol thanks to the presence of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes called the "good cholesterol".