Red Palm oil could be considered one of Africa’s very first superfoods due to its high concentration of vitamins and anti-oxidants. However let us not ignore its history as a herbal medicine amongst traditional doctors.
Initially, used to cure just about every illness and skin condition under the African Sun, the nutritional benefits of red oil were most prominent when it came to prescribing diets for pregnant and nursing women; the vitamins and antioxidants found in the oil being transmitted alongside the mother’s existing antibodies to the child.
Although it contains numerous vitamins, a significant vitamin to take note of is vitamin E. Not just ordinary vitamin E however but a more concentrated, more potent form of vitamin E called Tocotrienol.
Tocotrienols are special not only because there are only 4 of them (all 4 of which are contained within Red Palm oil), neither are they only special due to their effectiveness against brain degenerative diseases, they are also special because they are, to paraphrase cancer researchers themselves, the most powerful natural anti-Cancer substances known to science being especially successful in preventing the growth of skin, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung, colon, prostate and breast cancers. Tocotrienols are also important in strengthening the heart and combating stress.
The emphasis that this super form of vitamin E has on heart health is also shared by many of other vitamins contained within Red Palm oil, especially vitamin A. Vitamin A, although usually only found within animal products, exists within Red Palm oil due to a rare situation that its chemical infrastructure allows for.
The presence of Vitamin A is more welcome when you consider that a lack of it can cause blindness, weak bones, lower immunity and poor mental and learning capabilities in developing minds. There is also strong evidence to suggest that Vitamin A is effective and essential when it comes to maintaining one’s blood pressure and tackling a wide array of conditions including: Osteoporosis, Asthma, Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Arthritis, and Liver disease.
Red Palm oil is full of an antioxidant called “Beta-Carotenoids”. Beta-Carotenoids are the reason why Red Palm oil is actually red. Other reddish vegetables and fruits like Carrots and Tomatoes also share this antioxidant. However, Beta-Carotenoids alone can’t become vitamin A unless combined with good fat. This is why Carrots and Tomatoes cannot boast the presence of vitamin A by themselves. However, due to the good fat contained within Red Palm oil, it is possible for vitamin A to be formed.
The truth is, like most food groups, moderation is crucial to a healthy lifestyle as is exercise. Indeed, thanks to the Linoleic acid found in Red Palm oil triglycerides, the oil is very easily digested, absorbed, and used by the body. This means that if you maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is one of the better nutritional products to have in your body because energy can also be gained from it almost immediately.