Palm oil is high in saturated fat, which may raise LDL cholesterol and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some studies suggest palm oil could be linked to inflammation, certain cancer risks, and type 2 diabetes, but research is inconclusive and often contradictory.

One comparative study from 2017 suggests palmitic acid is more likely to contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance (cells don't respond well to insulin and can’t take up glucose from the blood, causing a glucose buildup and the need for more insulin), and fat storage or obesity than other forms of fatty acid chains, such as lauric acid found in coconut oil and monounsaturated fat or oleic acid found in olive oil.

Palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil — the so-called tropical oils — got a bad reputation because they're high in saturated fat, which has long been linked to heart disease. Saturated fat boosts "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.

It contains 50 percent triglycerides that are known to increase the risk of stroke, and heart attack as well. Regular consumption of palm oil hardens and thickens the arteries and increases the chances of heart diseases.