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Coconut Oil
The Healthiest Oil on Earth
By Brian Shilhavy
"Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth," says
Dr. Bruce Fife, a naturopathic doctor and the author of the book
The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil. Modern research seems
to back up this bold statement. Once wrongly accused of
increasing cholesterol levels, coconut oil is now actually being
used by doctors in the treatment of a variety of disorders.
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 is
abundant in coconut oil and is considered responsible for many of
its health benefits. Coconut oil is about 50 percent lauric
acid. The only other abundant source found in nature is in
human breast milk.
Dr. Jon J. Kabara, PhD. and Professor Emeritus of
Michigan State University, says, "Never before in the history of man
is it so important to emphasize the value of lauric oils. The
medium-chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in mother's
milk and have similar nutriceutical effects."
Dr. Mary Enig, a nutritionist/biochemist and one of
the world's leading authorities on fats and oils, goes on to say,
"Approximately 50 percent of the fatty acids in coconut fat are
lauric acid. 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, 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
So why has coconut oil gotten such a bad rap in the
recent past? After all, much of the research supporting coconut oil
as a healthy fat has been around for some time. The answer is
politics and economics. Coconut oil was heavily used in the
U.S. at one time, being used for baking, pastries, frying, and
theater popcorn. But starting in the 1980s, some very powerful
groups in the U.S. including the American Soybean Association (ASA),
the Corn Products Company (CPC International), and the Center for
Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) began to categorically 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.
Population Studies
While some clinical studies have been conducted
recently, such as the study on AIDS patients in the Philippines
(1999 - 2000), much of the studies have been done on tropical
populations where coconut products are a main part of the diet.
One such study was done in the South Pacific islands of Pukapuka and
Tokelau near New Zealand. The studies were started in the
1960s before either island was exposed to Western refined food.
These populations ate only natural foods, and coconut foods were the
most prevalent, being consumed at each meal in one form or another.
While most people in western countries get 30-40 percent of their
calories from fats, the people in these islands averaged between 50
and 60 percent of their calories from fat, most of that being
saturated fat from coconuts.
So what kind of health did these studies find among
the populations in these two islands? Bruce Fife reports in his
book: "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."
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. (A list of
references can be found in Bruce Fife's book The Healing Miracles
of Coconut Oil.)
Therapeutic Dosage
So how much coconut oil should one consume? 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.
About the Author
Brian Shilhavy is a Certified Nutritional Counselor
(CNC).
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