**2. Health and nutrition of palm oil**

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats & lipids, minerals, vitamins, and water are the major nutrients required by the human being. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats will be breakdown into and utilized for different purposes. Fats or oil is an essential part of human nutrition, and performs several functions *viz.,* forms structural components of biological membranes and acts as an energy source, and derivates serve as vitamins and hormones, protecting from environment, and act as insulation. Lipids or fats are available from different sources. In Western Europe, it is dairy and animal fats; in India, its groundnut and mustard oil; in South Asia, coconut oil; in West Africa, palm oil. Palm oil is also a major source of dietary fat in India, Latin America, South-East Asia, China, Pakistan, and West Africa for the reason that palm oil is the most economic source of edible fat.
