Everything connects: How getting rid of trans-fats kills orangutans
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.24.05
We read in ::Phys-org that Orangutan habitats are being destroyed by the expansion of palm plantations for the manufacture of palm oil. Being of a certain age where we watch what we eat, palm oil has been off the menu for years, as it is one of the most highly saturated of all oils and is a true heart killer. Remarkably, the recent panic over trans-fats has led to a dramatic increase in demand for palm oil, so manufacturers of potato chips can say TRANSFAT FREE! on their packaging. Moral of the story: do not just grab the transfat free chips or noodles- check the ingredients for palm oil (and almost all cheap ramen noodles, staple of students and treehuggers, are full of it) and only buy palm oil free. If you are fond of wasabi peas and other Asian delights, you will be shocked at how hard it is. ::Centre for Science in the Public Interest
OTOH, Palm oil -is- the best operational producer per gallon of veggetable oil in the world, which will be very important for the biodiesel market. That could change if algae derived oil ever gets operational.
Hmmm...I'm pretty sure that Hapi Wasabi Peas are made with Rice Bran Oil, but it's been a while since I've had a can. Most Asian snack foods have one or the other, and it's generally not too hard finding a Rice Bran version, except for ramen.
caring hobos across the continent will be quite upset at the loss of ramen, but i imagine we'll do ok without. now the trick of mobilizing, in a wold where people think atkins was a genius, how do we get people to understand what a BALANCED diet is?
There's an interesting study regarding two isolated populations on islands off the coast of New Zealand and Australia in the book: The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil by Bruce Fife, N.D.
The people there consumed 70% of their calories from mainly coconut oil and palm oil. They had no heart disease, cancer or autoimmune disease unless one of them moved to the mainland and consumed a "Western" type diet. The book gives some credible evidence that the vegetable oil industry gave a bad rap to coconut and palm after the war when they had too much on hand and nowhere to sell it.
A few weeks ago I bought a tub of shortening made by Spectrum Organics (www.spectrumorganics.com) which consists of "100% Organic Expeller Pressed Palm Oil." My jaw dropped when I first read the label because as some of us know palm oil contains a very high amount of saturated fat but it contained no trans fat. It was marketed as a healthier alternative since it contained no hydronated oils. I bought it to test it out but was now thoroughly confused about what I had been told about saturated fats and was compelled to learn more.
Mary G. Enig, Ph.D. has been studying trans fat from the late 70's and is a big proponent of healthy saturated fats. My research is far from over so if anyone knows of any other information please speak up.
As to the original point of the post is there ANY palm oil considered ecologically friendly? I find it hard to believe that ALL palm oil is evil.