Below are the shares of cardiologist Varun Bansal at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
Nutritional value of palm oil
Palm oil has an almost perfect balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. It contains 44% palmitic acid, 5% stearic acid and 1% myristic acid for saturated fatty acid content, 39% oleic acid and 11% linolenic acid. Therefore, palm oil is a convenient ingredient to use in various food products such as cakes, cookies and chips.
Palm oil and heart health
Palm oil contains saturated fat. However, there is no link between saturated fat consumption and cardiovascular diseases, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
When palm oil is used to replace trans fats in the diet, it helps slightly reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol levels in the body, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
How much palm oil should I use?
Small to moderate amounts of palm oil are beneficial. Therefore, supplementing with palm oil may benefit heart health and help maintain healthy tissues and skin, as well as provide energy when needed.
