What's palm oil?

[fatguy]

Is it ok or a no no? I just bought a jar of the natty skippy PB, and it has palm oil. You don't have to stir it and it looks and tastes like normal processed PB. The only difference between it and normal natty PB is palm oil and a little sugar. If palm oil is ok, then I would surely reccomend this PB.

[hrdgain81]

i will admit i dont know jack shit about palm oil, but i've been eating regular natty pb for so long, i perfer it to the refined stuff now.

[Dr X]

Best I know it’s just a vegetable oil. If you have natural PB then it would be in it’s own oil and you shouldn’t have to add any like Skippy did.
But to be honest I have never really done much research on palm oil but from what little I know it wouldn’t be my first choice.

[fatguy]

I did some quick research and this is a good summary.

http://www.wholefoods.com/healthinfo/palmoil.html

I guess its "not so bad" but I think I will avoid it in natty PB. The other stuff isn't bad anyway it just is easier not to have to stir it.

[Eric3237]

The reason they use the palm oil is because it's a binder and acts like hydrogenated oil in that respect. Keeps the oils from separating from the solids so you don't have to stir, as you said.

There is another advantage in that it is a preservative oil, so the peanut butter can last longer without being stored in the regrigerator. BTW, if you guys are not storing your natty PB in the fridge, you are making a big mistake. It's gonna go rancid pdq.

In general, I consider palm oil a fairly healthy one. Yes, it has saturated fat*, but it alos contains 40% oleic acid and 10% linoleic acid. Good stuff. There's also lots of vitamin E and cartenoids. Of course, the palm oil used in the Skippy is probably highly refined (using heat and chemicals or both) and is only there for the binding/ preservative qualities, many of the healthy constituents being destroyed or lost in the refining process.

I agree, of course, that there is no need to have oil added to natty PB, as long as you're willing to keep it cold. For someone who just can't deal with the texture or the stirring, then a PB with Palm oil is a MUCH better alternative than store brands with trans fats. The trick would be buying one which contains unrefined Palm oil, possibly from a health food store (undoubtedly more expensive), in order to recieve the health benefits.

*On a side note, there is increasing evidence that all saturated fats do not act the same on the body, and some may be healthy or even desirable. Palm oil is one of these, and it has been used for a long time in other parts of the world. Now, there's no real proof of anything, but I think in the future we will probably begin looking at the effects of individual oils themselves rather than relying exclusively on the fatty acid breakdown as and indicator.

[Eric3237]

It just occured to me to point out that palm oil, extracted from the fruit, is different than palm kernel oil, which is higher in saturated fat.

So the simple breakdown would be approx.

Palm = 49% saturated, 37% monounsaturated, 9% polyunsaturated
Palm Kernel = 82% saturated, 11% monounsaturated, 2% polyunsaturated

[Sleazy]

I guess its "not so bad" but I think I will avoid it in natty PB. The other stuff isn't bad anyway it just is easier not to have to stir it.

Ya I don't see any point in getting a "natural" peanut butter with anything except peanuts and maybe some salt in it. Too avoid having to constantly stir the PB I stir it when I get it home from the store and then refrigerate it. Then its just like a regular PB consistency.

[hrdgain81]

BTW, if you guys are not storing your natty PB in the fridge, you are making a big mistake. It's gonna go rancid pdq.

hahaha a jar never lasts more then a week or so in my house ... never have i seen rancid pnb. but i will start putting it in the fridge just incase ... good look

[Dr X]

I agree, of course, that there is no need to have oil added to natty PB, as long as you're willing to keep it cold.

Actually I never refrigerate my NB. It won't last that long anyway but I've left it out for up to two weeks at room temp with absoutly no problem and have been doing this for years. I hate when it's in the fridge, it starts to harden up. :omfg:

[Peter Steele]

Something for masturbation?

GM