Edible Oils #6302287

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil high in saturated fats and free of trans fats.

The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) is a native to West Africa and was imported into SE Asia in the mid 19th century. Oil palm flourishes in the humid tropics and produces high yield when grown 10 degrees north and south of the equator.

Palm fruit develops in dense bunches weighing 10 kilograms (kg) or more and containing more than a thousand individual fruits similar in size to a small plum which tree produces 2 types of oil. Palm oil (PO) is obtained from the flesh of the fruit and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) is produced by extracting the oil from the internal seed (Kernel).

Every oil palm tree requires approximately 3m diameter clear around the base of each tree to allow full growth. Oil palm is highly productive crop which is capable of yielding more oil from less land than any other vegetable oil in existence. One oil palm tree will produce ongoing fruit for up to 30 years deeming the crop as high yielding and sustainable.

The soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) has become one of the most used agricultural products in the world as an ingredient in human and animal nourishment. One important product obtained from soybean is its oil, considering that the grain contains around 18-21 wt% of oil. This book reviews the uses, properties and role in human health of soybean oil. Chapter One explores feasible spectroscopy procedures which could be handled through chemometric methods in the evaluation of soybean oils. Chapter Two describes the synthesis of plastic foams based on epoxidized soybean oil, which were further reinforced with short sisal fibers to yield completely biodegradable natural polymer foam composite material. Chapter Three reviews the uses and properties of soybean oil and describes the authors clinical experience in this role in human health. Chapter Four discusses the effects of fresh and heated soybean oil on cardiovascular disease which includes dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. (Imprint: Novinka)