Last Updated on July 15, 2022 by Ellen Christian
Have you heard about the red palm oil health benefits before? If you’re like me, you probably switch between two or three different types of oil depending on what you’re cooking. I have one for high temperature and one for low temperature and one for baking. I see different options in the grocery store but I don’t pay a lot of attention to them. But, I recently had the chance to learn more about Malaysian red palm oil and wanted to share my thoughts.
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Red Palm Oil Health Benefits
Palm oil is a natural substitute for partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats). It’s loaded with vitamin E tocotri9enols which is a super potent antioxidant. Red palm fruit oil has even more carotene than tomatoes or carrots which is pretty amazing. Of course, not all palm oil is created equally.
Some palm oil manufacturers care more about profit than about our planet. BUT, Malaysia is a responsible palm oil producer. Much of the palm oil in the United States is sourced from Malaysia. And, now it is strengthening its commitment by implementing a nationwide Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification program.
Malaysian Sustainable Palm oil is a common ingredient in many healthy foods, including better-for-you nutrition bars and heart-healthy spreads. Palm oil is non-GMO and naturally free of trans-fatty acids. Red palm oil is loaded with carotenoids and potent phytonutrients also found in squash, carrots, oranges, and apricots.
I also learned that it makes the most amazing popcorn that tastes buttery. This is awesome for our friends that are vegan or anyone who wants a healthier popcorn with the same yummy buttery taste.
As a note, red palm oil may appear solid or liquid depending on the temperature of your home. It works the same either way. We store ours in the cupboard in the kitchen which is a cooler room in our home.
Red Palm Oil Popcorn Recipe
I had my husband sample some of this popcorn to see what he thought. He’s about as far from a vegan as you can conceivably get and he absolutely loved it and agreed it really does taste buttery. For those that are looking for a healthier alternative for their popcorn (or other foods), I’d encourage you to try Malaysian red palm oil.
Fun Fact: Did you know that three cups of popcorn contain as much fiber as a half cup of sliced carrots or one medium peach? Air-popped popcorn contains 30 calories per cup. Oil-popped popcorn has 35 calories per cup. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather than 3 cups of popcorn than a cup of carrots.
So, if you’re looking for a healthy snack, this red palm oil popcorn is a fantastic choice. Everyone will love it. You can even try it with one of my homemade popcorn seasonings. That’s a great way to change up the taste every now and then.
Learn more today. And, make sure that you look for certified sustainable Malaysian palm oil on the ingredients list the next time you shop. I cannot wait to try it in my next stir fry.
Nutritional value of red palm oil
If you’re wondering about the nutritional value of red palm oil or red palm oil popcorn, keep reading. Red palm oil is beneficial for both your heart and brain. It contains both Vitamin E and carotenoids which is an antioxidant.
It has also been credited with being helpful in controlling heart disease and in increasing good HDL cholesterol. Studies have also been shown that using red palm oil boosts Vitamin A. You can learn more about the nutritional value of red palm oil and studies that have been done here.
Red palm oil smoke point
Because you need to get the heat fairly high to make popcorn, you might be concerned about the smoke point of red palm oil. No worries there, the red palm oil smoke point is somewhere between 300F and 450F so it’s a great choice.
If you cannot find red palm oil in your local grocery store, you can purchase it online. This is the brand and size that I use when I make my red palm oil popcorn right here. But, this brand offers a larger container if you’ll be making a lot of popcorn.
Is palm oil bad for you?
So, is palm oil good or bad? Palm oil is higher in saturated fats than some other types of oil. However, eaten as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, palm oil is not bad for you. If you’re concerned, check with your physician before making changes to your diet.
Is palm fruit bad for you?
Palm fruit is very high in a number of vitamins and minerals including B, C, Iron, Zinc, and Potassium.
Vegan Buttery Popcorn
You are going to love this vegan buttery popcorn made with Malaysian red palm oil.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Malaysian red palm oil
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernals
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the Malaysian red palm oil to a large pan with a tight fitting lid.
- Add the popcorn.
- Heat over medium high heat until the kernals start popping.
- Shake vigorously until they are all popped.
- Transfer to a bowl and add sea salt to taste.
Notes
Because red palm oil has a high smoke point, it's ideal for popcorn.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 306mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
My hackles were up until I saw the words sustainable. The orangutans are being starved and ran from their land for palm oil. It has many health benifits and is great as long as it comes from a respected source
I totally agree, Sharon. It’s so important that we respect our environment.
I’ve only seen Red Palm Oil in capsules so will have to try this. I still have a lot of olive oil to use up before I get it though. I bet it would taste great on my popcorn, which I usually eat plain, air-popped. Buttery kale chips sound good too! Great to hear it has lots of vitamin E and carotene.
I really love it on my popcorn, Deb. I was totally surprised at how much it really tastes like “butter” when you add it to the popcorn! I cannot wait to try it in other things.