Health benefits of palm oil highlighted

The two-day seminar is being held to mark World Food Day 2003 and includes lectures on the health benefits of palm oil as well as a cooking demonstration using palm oil.

Delivering a speech on behalf of Qadi Saeed Al Mroushid, Director-General of Dohms, at the opening, Mr Al Shaikh stressed the importance of such seminars and meetings in raising the level of health awareness.

He further pointed to the generous support such scientific meetings enjoy, especially those in the medical field, from the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and His Highness Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of Emirates, beside the direct support of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.

Mr Al Shaikh pointed to the success Dubai has witnessed in the organisation of conferences and fora and the wealth of ideas and the plethora of ambitious projects that come in line with the instructions of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, which aim to make Dubai an exemplary model to emulate, whether in the economic, medical, tourist or investment fields.

In his speech, Datuk Haron Siraj, CEO of MPOPC, highlighted the theme of World Food Day. "We want to work hand in hand with the Malaysian government through the MPOPC to clarify the misunderstanding regarding the relationship between palm oil and health risks," Mr Siraj said.

He said that a diet containing palm oil is rich in anti-oxidants like carotenoids and vitamin E which neutralises free radicals and prevents the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol. He added that palm oil has been proved to reduce incidence of atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease.