COMPARISON OF PALM OIL AND OTHER OILS:
An organization, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), presented an authoritative report, “Palm Oil and Biodiversity, “comparing the effect of palm oil and other edible oil on the environment. Some of these effects are discussed below.
ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY:
The conservation of the environment and biodiversity is the most practical application that must be focused on during crop cultivation. The comparison of the effects of palm oil and other oil on the environment shows a significant difference.
The report shows that palm oil undoubtedly affects the environment, causing destruction and producing smoke and fire. But an important point here is that these effects are far less than the effects caused by other oils.
OCCUPATION OF LAND:
The same volume of palm oil requires nine times fewer spaces than the same volume of other oil. This property of palm oil significantly contributes to reducing deforestation and destroying the land, hence preserving biodiversity.
Tropical areas suitable for oil palm cultivation are rich in biodiversity. However, the high yield of palm oil makes it a favorable vegetable oil.
IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH:
The edible oils may fall some impacts on human health, which mainly includes the cholesterol level. Vegetable oils that contain monounsaturated fats are the best edible oil for the maintenance of cholesterol levels. Palm oil also contains monounsaturated fats and gives rise to the production of high-density lipid cholesterol and lessens the production of low-density cholesterol (HDL), which is harmful to human health, leading to cardiovascular diseases ultimately causing death
NUTRITIOUS AND TRANSFAT FREE:
Palm oil is the prominent edible oil that is nutritious and trans-fat-free. Palm oil contains high content of vitamin E and antioxidants that prove to be beneficial for human health making it adaptable for use.
Other vegetables’ edible oil may contain other components, mainly trans fats and genetically modified food that highly affects nutritional content. All these may cause allergic reactions and damage to human organs.
CONCLUSION:
Before using and cultivating any crop, its effects on human health and the environment must be taken seriously to reduce the hazards. Palm oil indeed falls some negative impacts, but the rate of these similar impacts shown by other edible oil is far greater.
Nearly half of the world depends on palm oil; boycotting palm oil will let other land-hungry oil producers grab the chance. This will result in a higher level of deforestation.
Furthermore, Malaysia is already taking steps and devising strategies to make palm oil production more sustainable concerning the use of land and protection of the natural habitat of wild animals.