Is palm oil harmful in mixtures and baby food?

Every parent wants to make educated choices about what goes into their child’s food when it comes to selecting what’s best for their little ones. Palm oil is a common ingredient in a lot of baby foods and formulas. However, what precisely is palm oil, and should we be worried if our kids’ diets contain it?

Vegetable oil of the palm variety is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. Because of its affordability and versatility, it is frequently used in a variety of processed foods and baby products. Nonetheless, the question of whether palm oil is a good option for young children is becoming more and more contentious.

This post will explain what palm oil is, how it’s used in baby food, and any possible health risks. Our intention is to assist you in determining if you and your family should be concerned about this ingredient. Let’s get the facts straight and dispel any misunderstandings about palm oil in baby food.

What is it?

The fruits of the oil palm tree are the source of palm oil, a vegetable oil. Every country in the world is able to use it in food.

Palm olein and how it differs from palm oil

One of the fat fractions found in palm oil is palm olein. Its melting point is lower, ranging from 19 to 24 °C. This fraction has no more than 9% solid fats at 20 °C.

Palm Olein ascertains the beneficial characteristics akin to olive oil. When taken in moderation (a balanced amount is found in baby food), it lowers blood cholesterol levels and delays the onset of cardiovascular diseases. This portion is mostly utilized in the creation of infant food.

Benefit

• Contains more vitamins E and A than in other oils.
• It is well absorbed (better than milk fat).
• Rich in carotenoids.

Harm

• Studies confirmed that from mixtures with it, babies learn calcium worse (15-20%), than children who were fed with mixtures without this ingredient. That is why modern mixtures most often add a larger amount of calcium than contained in breast milk. Otherwise, a decrease in bone density and various complications associated with this are possible.
• Since it contains a large amount of saturated fatty acids, excessive consumption of such a product, as well as sources of animal fats, threatens problems with the cardiovascular system. Nevertheless, compared to butter, it is less dangerous, since its degree of unsaturation is 2 times higher (1 versus 0.5).
• Also, excess in the diet leads to excess weight gain.
• Stool density increases, which is fraught with problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This fact is confirmed by numerous clinical studies. We are talking only about regular palm oil, structured and close to breast milk does not have such effects.

See what Dr. Komarovsky thinks about palm oil in the upcoming show.

Palmitic acid in breast milk and baby food – differences

Variations in characteristics are mainly related to where palmitic acid is located on the fat molecule:

• In palm oil, it is in a lateral position and therefore easily accessible for digestion. As a result of digestion, it binds calcium present in baby food and forms insoluble salt formations that the intestines do not absorb, resulting in increased stool density.
• In breast milk, it is mainly located in the center and is not available during digestion, lipase does not affect it, it is absorbed in the intestines in its original form.

There is a way out! Structured acid or beta-palmitate in mixtures

In premium specialized mixtures, the palm olein molecule is brought closer to the breast milk molecule and palmitic acid is repositioned. β-palmitate, also known as structured palm oil, is a modified palm oil. The frequency and density of stool when using mixtures with it were found to be similar to those observed during breastfeeding, according to clinical studies.

Simultaneously, the Betapol brand obtained the first patent for modern beta-palmitate in the USA in 1997 and in Europe in 1987.

Fractions

Different fractions of palm oil exist.

Among them, two primary fractions stand out as follows:

• liquid (olein);
• solid (stearin).

Characteristics

Reddish-orange in color, palm oil has a semi-solid consistency. It is a blend of several fat fractions with varying melting points and physicochemical characteristics. Its primary fatty acids are unsaturated (oleic) and saturated (palmitic).

Although palm oil is frequently used as an ingredient in baby foods and mixes, many parents are concerned about the potential health effects of palm oil. Although palm oil is a source of fats necessary for growth, it is not without controversy due to its possible associations with heart disease and environmental effects. This article will investigate the potential health risks of palm oil in baby food, assisting parents in making decisions about what to feed their infants.

Common myths

Parents made the following false claims about palm oil, which are not at all true:

1. Consumption brings only harm to the body. This is not true, because people first became acquainted with this oil more than 5000 years ago. Even in the days of Ancient Egypt, it began to be used as food and was considered a healthy product. In moderate quantities, the body receives a lot of benefits from it.
2. It is not added to mixtures in Europe. In fact, European manufacturers add it to their products, but the label usually simply says “vegetable oil”. Most often, palm oil is replaced with β-palmitate.
3. The reason for adding it to formulas is the low cost. In reality, well-refined and high-quality oil is added to baby formulas, the price of which is comparable to the cost of sunflower oil.
4. Due to its high melting point, palm oil remains in the human body, since our body temperature is lower than its melting point. Indeed, at room temperature its consistency is semi-solid, and it becomes liquid at a temperature above 39 degrees. However, the melting point of the oil is in no way related to its digestion. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, the oil does not melt at all, but is broken down with the help of enzymes.

Baby food is a profitable industry. Therefore, in order to promote a new mixture with or without a component, many dishonest manufacturers can spread rumors about its advantages or disadvantages. As a result, it pays to exercise caution when handling such information and seek advice from experts.

Why is added to baby food?

The inclusion of palm oil has resulted in a diet high in fats, which are essential for a baby’s proper development. The baby who gets breast milk is extremely fortunate because fats are essential to the development of crumbs and are useful in his composition.

Palmitic acid, which is absent from cow or goat milk, makes up about 25% of all the fats in breast milk. This fact is linked to the manufacturers’ aim to make children’s mixes as close to the composition of mother’s milk as possible through the use of palm oil. Additionally, some of the fat in the milk serum is removed during the process of creating a mixture, replenishing them with other fatty acids.

The baby needs enough fats for normal development and functioning because they are necessary for cell formation and serve as an energy source. Blends of vegetable oils, including palm oil, and milk fats are used in modern formulas. Purchase only structured palm oil baby formulas. The formulas listed here will most closely resemble breast milk from a mother.

It is added to formulas as well as baby cookies, instant cereals, and other confections. It takes the place of other fats like cocoa butter and milk fat in the food industry. Mayonnaise, margarine, spreads, processed cheeses, frying fats, and confections all contain it. Additionally, this ingredient increases the products’ shelf life.

Healthy red

Natural products high in vitamins and antioxidants include red palm oil. It is composed of 50% saturated fats and 40% unsaturated fats, primarily oleic acid. Both vitamin A and vitamin E, which are critical for supplying oxygen to brain cells, are present in substantial amounts in this oil. Additionally, it is rich in the antioxidant coenzyme Q10. This kind of palm oil is expensive, so it’s typically not utilized in the making of infant food.

Weighing the advantages and possible disadvantages of palm oil in baby food and formulas is crucial. Because of its consistency and long shelf life, palm oil is a popular choice for a dependable fat source. It’s frequently added to simulate the fat content of breast milk, which is essential for the growth and development of infants.

However, because of its high saturated fat content and the way its production affects the environment, palm oil has drawn criticism. Although the amounts used in baby food are typically regulated to ensure safety, high levels of saturated fat can eventually have an adverse effect on heart health. Sustainable sourcing methods are also crucial to reducing environmental damage.

In the end, even though palm oil is a useful component of baby food, parents should be aware of its origins and how it fits into their child’s diet. Choosing goods from respectable companies that put an emphasis on sustainable practices can allay worries. For individualized advice regarding your child’s nutritional needs, always consult a pediatrician.

Video on the topic

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The Secret of Palm Oil – Doctor Komarovsky