Global Ecovillage Network/Solution Library/Palm kernel oil

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In rural African communities there is a popular belief that products labelled as cosmetics must have been manufactured in a factory. Many people wish to buy body lotion, soap, toothpaste and baby powder from shops and supermarkets. However, this practice has proven unsustainable as most in rural communities can usually not keep up with the cost of the products. When products do come at seemingly affordable prices, they are often of poor quality and sometimes end up causing more harm than good.

An appropriate counter measure which can greatly serve as an alternative to most of these cosmetics such as body lotion is Palm Kernel oil. It is the oil extracted from the nut of the palm plant and is yellow-white in colour. One of the good qualities of palm kernel oil is that because this oil solidifies at room temperature, it can be used to substitute numerous body lotions and can equally serve as cooking oil.

In many rural communities of Cameroon (Bafut), it was customary in the past for people to use palm kernel oil for various purposes, body lotion included; for all members of the community. This is because; the concept of chemically manufactured lotions was still unknown to these people at the time. Though scarce, this tradition has nevertheless been perpetuated and is still part of the culture of most rural communities in Cameroon, and is therefore proving to be a very viable and efficient way of living.

References: http://fawesome.ifood.tv/health/283302-what-are-the-benefits-of-palm-kernel-oil Submitted by: Herman Image source https://google.com

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