Healthy Eating Best Healthy Foods Palm Oil vs. Palm Kernel Oil What is the difference between palm oil and palm kernel oil? By EatingWell Editors EatingWell Editors Articles by "EatingWell Editors" are a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, articles are updated by a number of writers and editors over time to keep the information as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible. The EatingWell team includes industry-leading food and nutrition editors, registered dietitians, expert Test Kitchen staffers and designers who produce award-winning journalism, delicious recipes and engaging content. Our work has earned more than 50 national and international awards for writing, editing, art direction, creative marketing and publishing excellence EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 15, 2017 Trending Videos Close this video player They both come from palm trees, but there the similarity ends. Palm oil comes from the palm fruit, while palm kernel oil is extracted from the palm seed. And while over 80 percent of the fat in palm kernel oil is saturated, only 50 percent of palm oil is, making it easier on arteries. Palm oil's reddish or golden color is a clue that it also contains a fair amount of heart-healthy carotenoids. Some research even suggests that the fatty acids in palm oil don't raise cholesterol the way saturated fats traditionally do. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit