While coconut oil is all the rage right now for its health benefits, there is another oil that you might've been overlooking. Created from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), red palm oil is a deep red color due to its high content of carotenes. These are the same antioxidants that give tomatoes their color.
For over 4,000 years, red palm oil has been consumed by those in parts of Africa and South America. And for good reasons too! It's not only great for the heart but also helpful with reducing the risk of a variety of diseases. Adding this healing oil to your diet has been shown to remove plaque build-up in the arteries which in turn may help protect against heart attacks and strokes. It can also help maintain proper blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
Red palm oil can also protect against other diseases such as:
- cataracts
- arthritis
- osteoporosis
- liver disease
- neurological degeneration (can help prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
As if those weren't good enough reasons for you to give red palm oil a try, then how about adding metabolism booster to that list. Fats like margarine and other vegetable oils tend to take a long time to break down for energy whereas red palm oil goes straight to the liver and boosts the metabolism.
So where can you buy this liquid red gold? Well, you can buy red palm oil at just about any local health food store. Just be sure to look for brands that produce the oil sustainably.