The Palm Oil Miracle, Dr. Bruce Fife, 2007, ISBN 9780941599658
This
book is all about palm oil, a seemingly "miracle" vegetable oil that
has been used for thousands of years, and is currently being used around
the world. But it is generally unknown here in America.
The
reason for America's unfamiliarity with palm oil is that, for the last
30 years, Americans have been subjected to a huge amount of corporate
propaganda (what else is new?). The culprit is the domestic vegetable
oil industry. They have convinced the average citizen that tropical
oils, which are high in saturated fat, are a leading cause of high
cholesterol and heart disease. Supposedly, poly- and monounsaturated
fats are the way to go. If that's true, why are the rates of heart
disease much higher in America than in the rest of the world?
Many medical studies have shown that palm oil can protect against a huge number of common ailments (the book references over 300 studies). For instance, it can protect against cancer, heart disease, it improves blood sugar control, it supports healthy liver and lung function, it helps protect against mental deterioration, like Alzheimer's Disease, and it helps strengthen bones and teeth. The book goes into detail about why saturated fat is better than unsaturated fat, and why palm oil is so healthy. Believe it or not, fat is an essential nutrient; the human body needs a certain amount of it every day. Those who are on a low-fat diet are doing more harm than good to themselves.
Palm oil is used
in cooking, baking and deep frying, and can be used in place of
margarine or vegetable oil. It can be used as a dietary supplement, and
is non-toxic even in large amounts. It is even a natural anti-aging and
anti-wrinkle moisturizing skin cream. The book also includes recipes
that use the oil, to cook and see for yourself.
Here is a
fascinating book that is full of useful information for anyone. If the
medical profession can only suggest a long and expensive course of
treatment for whatever ails you, consider reading this book. What have
you got to lose?
Paul Lappen is a freelance book reviewer whose website,
[http://www.deadtreesreview.com], has over 800 reviews on all subjects,
with an emphasis on small press books.