Is Palm Oil Drived From Coconuts?

In 2009, Malaysia accounted for 39 percent of the world's palm oil production.

Palm oil and coconut oil are two different things. Palm oil is obtained from the fruit of a tree called the "oil palm tree." Coconut oil is derived from the dried kernels of the coconuts that grow on coconut palm trees.

Commercial Production

Oil palm trees are grown commercially in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is the second most-produced oil behind soy bean oil. According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, or MPOC, the oil palm tree is the most efficient oil-producing crop in the world, as it requires only .26 hectares (about two-thirds of an acre) of land to generate 1 tonne (1000 kilograms) of oil, while soybeans require 2.22 hectares (about five and a half acres) to produce the same amount of oil.

Types

The fruit of the oil palm tree yields two types of oil. Palm kernel oil comes from the palm kernel or seed, and palm oil comes from the fibrous mesocarp, or husk, surrounding the seed. Each fruit contains more palm oil than palm kernel oil. The MPOC describes the two oils as being chemically and nutritionally different.

Nutrition

According to MPOC, palm oil is very high in vitamin E, an antioxidant, and is bright orange. Palm oil contains 15 times more carotenoids than carrots. Carotenoids are high in the antioxidant vitamin A. Palm oil does not contain trans-fatty acids.

References

• Malaysian Oil Palm Council: About Palm Oil: Malaysian Palm Oil Industry
• Malaysian Oil Palm Council: About Palm Oil: The Oil
• Malaysian Oil Palm Council: About Palm Oil: Health and Nutrition

Resources

• Malaysian Oil Palm Council
• Palmoil: Useful Definitions