Coconut Oil - How good is it ?

Added 23 Jan 2008

Coconut oil has been called “the healthiest dietary oil on earth”. If you’re not using coconut oil for your daily cooking and body care needs you’re missing out on one of nature’s most amazing health products.

Once wrongly accused of increasing cholesterol levels, coconut oil is now actually being used by doctors in the treatment of a variety of disorders. And there has been a lot of research to back up this bold statement. Clinical Studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, and is now being used in treating AIDS patients. In fact the Pacific Islanders have been using coconut oil for years for its anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.

Once mistakenly thought to be bad because of its saturated fat content, coconut oil is now known to contain a unique form of saturated fat (lauric acid) that helps prevent heart disease, stroke and hardening of the arteries. The saturated fat in Coconut Oil is unlike the fat found in meat or other vegetable fats. Lauric Acid is a medium chian fatty acid, not only does it have antimicrobial properties, but it is also absorbed directly for quick energy and also contributes to the health of the Immune System.

.It is identical to a special group of fats found in human breast milk that have been shown to improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, and protect against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Interestingly, these fats, derived from Coconut Oil, are now routinely used in hospital IV formulations and commercial baby formulas. It is common now for a lot of athletes to supplement with medium chain fatty acids to improve stamina and performance.

Virgin Coconut Oil is a product that can rightly be called a “nutriceutical” because of its ability to help a number of health problems – substantiated by the abundant positive research that has been carried out on it

Coconut Oil has been used throughout Asia and the Pacific for thousands of years as both a food and a medicine. Even today it holds a highly respected position in the Ayurvedic medicine of India. Only recently has modern medical research confirmed the many health benefits traditionally attributed to this remarkable oil.

Another incredible fact about coconut oil is that even though it is a fat, it actually promotes weight loss!! The medium chain 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 speeds up the body’s metabolism, burning more calories and promoting weight loss. The weight loss effects of coconut oil have been clearly demonstrated by various research papers and published books.

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 in many cases maintain the beneficial chemical structures of the medium chain fatty acids, they also contain chemicals used in processing.

I would highly recommend reading about the wonders of this oil is in Dr Bruce Fife's book: “The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oils".