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10 Amazing Benefits Of Palm Kernel Oil

Switch to this wholesome oil for nourished hair, soft skin, and healthy food.

Medically reviewed by Dr Archana Batra, CDE

Dr Archana Batra is a dietitian, physiotherapist, and Certified Diabetes Educator with over 13 years of experience in nutrition and diet counseling. She specializes in weight management diets and diets related to metabolic disorders like di... more

Written by Tanya Choudhary, B.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition Experience: 2 years

Tanya is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition. She specializes in writing articles on ingredients that benefit skin, hair, and health. She believes in the right health and lifestyle... more

Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health Experience: 8 years

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a senior editor and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over eight years. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificat... more

Fact-checked by Moksha Gandhi, BPharm, Certified Health & Wellness Coach Experience: 2 years

Moksha is a health and wellness writer and a certified diet and nutrition coach. Her passion for science and writing has helped her excel in crafting evidence-based articles. Her previous experience i... more

• Nov 16, 2023

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Extracted from the seeds of the palm fruit, palm kernel oil has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. In this article, we will take a look at the several ways palm kernel oil benefits your health.

Know Your Ingredient: Palm Kernel Oil

What Is It?
The oil extracted from the seeds of the palm fruit.

What Are Its Benefits?
It protects the skin from harmful UV rays, prevents eye issues, and improves bone health. It may also reduce cholesterol, poor bone health, and eye disorders

Who Can Use It?
Those who want improved skin, hair, and overall physical health can consume it.

How Often?
It can be used daily in cooking instead of vegetable oil.

Caution
Prolonged use can cause the increase of bad LDL cholesterol.

In This Article

Benefits Of Palm Kernel Oil

Given here are the amazing palm kernel oil benefits for you to look at. Keep reading!

1. Zero Cholesterol

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This is the most important health benefit provided by palm kernel oil. Palm oil benefits your heart health and may prevent the risk of heart issues. This makes it a perfect replacement for lard and butter in the cooking process. People with high cholesterol and heart disease can easily switch over to healthy palm oil without worry.

2. Loaded With Antioxidants

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With a sufficient amount of Vitamin E, rarely found tocotrienols and being loaded with anti-oxidants, palm oil provides amazing anti-aging benefits. It prevents the occurrence of wrinkles and fine lines. It is capable of providing protection against harmful UV rays and other toxins. Therefore, it is wise to include palm kernel oil in your daily diet. It will keep your skin healthy and youthful.

3. Unsaturated Fats

The palm kernel oil is an amazing source of healthy unsaturated fats as well as medium chain fatty acids. This is what makes it perfect for use as a cooking medium. Moreover, these qualities make it ideal for healthier skin, bones and joints (1).

4. Rich In Vitamin K

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Vitamin K is one of the most important fat-soluble vitamins that the body requires. It boosts bone health and also acts as a blood coagulant. Palm kernel oil contains high amounts of the vitamin and hence, is recommended for daily use (2), (3).

5. Zero Trans-Fat

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This is another great benefit of palm kernel oil. This amazing oil does not contain any trans-fat, and is hence considered the ideal cooking oil for those looking to shed extra pounds.

6. Contains Vitamin A

Another important benefit of palm kernel oil is that it is loaded with Vitamin A (4). This vitamin is required for proper vision. Vitamin A also prevents the occurrence of different eye disorders, like night blindness .

7. Long Shelf Life

Besides the comprehensive health benefits offered by palm kernel oil, there are also other benefits that can be useful for the food industry. The oil doesn’t get oxidised under high cooking temperatures and during the course of storage. This makes it a better choice compared to vegetable oil. The oil can be used for commercial cooking, such as French fries and potato chips.

Did You Know?

Palm kernel oil is used for frying foods due to its high-heat cooking ability and stability to prevent any potential fire risk or burn.

8. Filled With Nutrients

In addition to containing important fat-soluble vitamins, palm kernel oil also is packed in nutrition (2). It has numerous nutrients that are essential for maintaining good health. The presence of palmitic acid, considered as a 16-carbon saturated fatty acid, makes it distinctive from other cooking oils.

9. Improved Hair Growth

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Have you ever used Palm kernel oil for haircare? Palm kernel oil shows amazing results on hair growth. It provides thorough conditioning, thickens hair and reduces hair fall by making it stronger. Used as a hot oil treatment, palm oil benefits your hair by providing a soothing effect along with the desired nourishment. Hadassah Agbaps, a blogger, shared her experience of using palm kernel oil to improve her hair health. She writes, “When I used Nigerian Black Palm Kernel Oil on my dry ends (I rotate between coconut and PKO) I noticed that it doesn’t take a lot of time for it to be fully absorbed and there is an improvement in the suppleness of my ends… I noticed that my strands were harder to break when I pulled a shed strand between my fingers (i).” The blogger added that this oil adds strength and luster to the hair, reduces hair shedding, and locks in moisture in the strands.

Quick Tip

You can mix natural ingredients such as fenugreek, banana, honey, or avocado with palm kernel oil to make a hair mask to detangle your hair effortlessly.

10. Provides Naturally Soft Skin

Besides the amazing anti-aging benefits provided by the palm kernel oil, it also makes the skin naturally soft and glossy without it getting a greasy appearance. This is the reason the oil is a key ingredient in many soap bars and skin creams . It also provides relief to ragged cuticles and itchy skin (5).

Infographic: 4 Incredible Advantages of Palm Kernel Oil

Are you looking for an oil that you can use without worrying about extra calories? Then, you are in luck because palm kernel oil can benefit you in so many ways! Check out the infographic below to learn more about why palm kernel oil will make an excellent addition to your diet.

4 incredible advantages of palm kernel oil (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

The health benefits of palm kernel oil can be attributed to its essential fatty acids and vitamins A, E, and K. These nutrients help promote heart, bone, and eye health. The oil is also beneficial to your hair and skin. This oil is also used for soap making and is an effective biodiesel fuel that provides sustainability for economic development. In addition, vitamin K in this oil aids in wound healing and promotes bone health. However, excess intake may cause issues. If you experience any adverse effects, limit its use and seek medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can palm kernel oil be mixed with shea butter?

Yes. Palm kernel oil and shea butter are mixed together for many skin care remedies.

Can palm kernel oil clear stretch marks?

Stretch marks do not go away completely. Palm kernel oil may keep the skin moisturized, improving the appearance of the stretch marks, but it cannot clear them.

Is palm kernel oil good for baby skin?

Yes. Palm kernel oil is safe for baby skin and is known to aid in moisturizing and healthy skin.

Key Takeaways

Palm kernel oil contains zero trans fat, which makes it a suitable cooking oil for individuals who wish to lose weight.
Palm kernel oil displays anti-aging properties that can also help soothe irritated skin and is thus a known ingredient in skincare products.
Palm kernel oil is a better alternative to vegetable oil as high cooking temperatures cannot easily oxidize it.
It is rich in antioxidants like vitamin E that help soothe and moisturize the skin and even promote hair growth.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Download

Discover the amazing benefits of palm kernel oil! From skincare to cooking, click on this video to see why this natural gem is a must-have for your well-being routine.

Personal Experience: Source

StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Nigerian Black Palm Kernel Oil aka PKO For Natural Hair
https://www.nappilynigeriangirl.com/2014/03/nigerian-black-palm-kernel-oil-aka-pko.html?m=1

References

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