Is it true palm oil clogs the intestines

Layfhaker questioned proctologist, who knows exactly what is happening with this product in our body.

Palm oil, which is really not much different from any other vegetable, has acquired a huge number of myths. One of the most persistent states that this product clogs the intestines and this problem starts. We asked the doctor if it is so in fact.

Yulia Dmitrieva

Coloproctologist doctor, medical blogger.

In a healthy person Palm oil almost completely digested and well absorbed. Scientific evidence that it can accumulate in the intestines and have a negative impact on his condition does not exist. And fears that palm oil clogs the intestines, in vain.

Palm oil, like any other vegetable, consists mainly of fatty acids, which in conjunction with the triatomic form alcohol glycerol fats - triglycerides.

The peculiarity of palm oil in that it - one of the few vegetable oils, rich in saturated fatty acids.

Their in its composition about 50%, mostly - palmitic acid (44%). With this palm oil at room temperature, it has a semisolid consistency.

Once in the gastrointestinal tract, palm oil digested and absorbed is not worse than any other vegetable oils and animal fats. In general, these processes take place in the small intestine of: receives and phospholipids to bile salts of bile acids. All of these substances help to emulsify fats. And then special enzyme - pancreatic lipase - cleaves triglycerides to free fatty acids and monoglycerides.

They are absorbed by enterocytes (cells of the small intestine mucosa). And no, they do not stay in them for ever, and quite successfully converted back into triglycerides (yes, everything is easy, but otherwise no fats assimilate), packed in special particles for transportation - chylomicrons - and sent to the lymphatic capillaries, and from them - circulatory system. And successfully used the body.

And the small part of fats and fatty acids, which are not absorbed from the intestinal lumen, is displayed along with the feces.

The only thing to take into consideration - RecommendationsHealthy eating WHO and US recommendations2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on doing the diet. The international standards are advised to reduce the amount of saturated fatty acids. They should be no more than 10% of dietary energy. Thus seeking to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Of course, it's not just about the palmitic acid. But given that on the shelves are so many products with palm oil, saturated fatty acids, and you can go through.

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