PALM FRUIT VERSATILITY
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is an important and versatile vegetable oil which is used as a raw material for both food and non-food industries.
Oil palm tree, also known as Elaeis Guineensis or African palm oil. The oil palm tree can be harvested all year round. Oil Palm originates from West Africa, however since the late 20th century the majority of palm oil is grown in Southeast Asia.
Palm Oil has been linked to several health benefits, including protecting brain function, reducing heart disease risk factors and improving vitamin A status - Palm Oil is used for preventing and treating vitamin A deficiency. Other uses include cancer and high blood pressure, but there is no good but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Its less saturated and contains no trans fat. It is also an ingredient in many processed foods. Palm Oil is also used for manufacturing cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste, wax, and ink.
As food - Palm Oil extract is used for ofe akwu stew popular among the Igbos, banga soup popular among the Ideltans. Ofe onugbu/oha soup by the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria is an absolutely delicious traditional soup recipe which can be prepared with Palm fruit oil extract.
Banga Soup
Palm Fruits are essential sources of domestic palm oil we use in our individual homes.
Palm Oil processing can be demanding as it goes through varying stages. Women are beloved to be skilful Managers. Hence marjority of Palm Oil centers in Nigeria are owned and run by women.
Every stage is essential. Each result is useful. And End products are not necessarily the end.
Palm Oil's rich content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids has actually been turned into an asset in view of current dietary recommendations aimed at zero trans content in solid fats such as margarine, shortenings, and frying fats. Using Palm Oil in combination with other oils and fats facilitates the development of a new generation of fat products that can be tailored to meet most current dietary recommendations.
CRUDE PALM OIL - CPO
Palm oil is extracted from the orange flesh. The white centre is the kernel or nut. This is crushed to extract the palm kernel oil.
PALM KERNEL OIL - PKO
Palm kernels are sent from the palm oil mill to a kernel crushing plant. The palm kernel oil is extracted and the pulp left over is compacted together to form palm kernel expeller or cake
PALM KERNEL EXPELLER - PKE
Palm kernel expeller or palm kernel cake is used in the animal feed industry. The product is high in energy and fibre and retains a good level of residual oil.
However, Palm vitamin E (30% tocopherols, 70% tocotrienols) has been extensively researched for its nutritional and health properties, including antioxidant activities, cholesterol-lowering, anti-cancer effects, and protection against atherosclerosis. These are attributed largely to its tocotrienol content.
Because of its economic importance as an high-yielding source of edible and technical oils, the Oil Palm is now grown as a plantation crop in most countries with high rainfall (minimum 1 600 mm/yr) in tropical climates within 10° of the equator.
Facts About Palm Oil;
✓ The Oil Palm tree is also know as Elaeis Guineensis.
✓ Each individual piece of fruit on fruit bunch contains 50% oil.
✓ The nut, referred to as a kernel, at the centre of each piece of fruit, is where Palm Kernel Oil is extracted from. Palm Oil can be harvested 12 months of the year.
✓ Each tree can produce 10 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare.
✓ Palm Oil trees can grow up to 20 meter tall with an average life of 25 years.
✓ Palm Oil grows across or 10 degrees North/South of the equator.
✓ The tree starts to bear fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) after three years.
✓ Leftover fibre from the Palm kernel mill process provides a product called palm kernel expeller. This is used in animal feed, but can also be used to make products like paper or fertilizer.
✓ Palm Oil requires 10 times less land than other oil-producing crops.
✓ It is entirely GM (genetically modified) free.
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