The first thing to remember about coconuts and coconut oil is that they have been a major source of nutrition in traditional cultures for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
MCFAs and LCFAs
Since the middle of the 20th century, saturated fat has been portrayed as a the bad guy. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but it is important to understand that not all saturated fats are created equal. Saturated fat is an essential nutrient that is needed for the body to maintain proper cellular function. Coconut oil has the highest amount of saturated fats, at 92%, but well over half of those are made up of medium-chain fatty acids. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are metabolized much differently than long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), which is what most vegetable and seed oils consist of. Contrary to most mainstream medical advice, MCFAs do not raise cholesterol levels and they actually have been shown to help protect against heart disease. Studies have shown that they can help lower the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Lauric Acid
The most important MCFA in coconut oil is lauric acid. Coconut oil is made up of about 50% lauric acid. The best place to find lauric acid in abundance is in a mother’s breast milk. Lauric acid is critical for immune development and function, which is why infant formula has lauric acid added to it. Lauric acid is not only needed by babies, but it’s an essential nutrient for all of us in order to keep our immune systems functioning optimally. Sally Fallon recommends that people with compromised immune systems should consume between 20 and 25 grams of lauric acid per day, which is the equivalent of 3-4 tablespoons of coconut oil. The next best place to get lauric acid, after coconut oil, is in grass-fed milk fat or butter. All other oils are deficient in MSFAs.
Studies have also shown that MCFAs actually help boost metabolism and can prevent weight gain and even stimulate weight loss. This is because they are easily digested and quickly turn into energy and they do not spike blood sugar levels because insulin is not needed to help digest the oil. This helps alleviate the strain that other oils can put on the pancreas and digestive system. In addition to helping the immune system and providing quick, healthy energy, it has also been shown to help regulate and maintain normal thyroid function.
Health Benefits
While coconut oil is not quite back into the mainstream diet, it is gaining popularity and the scientific community is beginning to acknowledge the potential health benefits of this oil. Some reports show that coconut oil can potentially help with the following problems:
- Kill viruses, bacteria, yeasts and fungus
- Eliminate parasites
- Boost energy
- Improve digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Improve insulin levels and helping regulate blood glucose
- Eliminate stress on the pancreas
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Reduce inflammation
- Support thyroid function
- Prevent weight gain and promote weight loss
- Reduce skin ailments like eczema and psoriasis
- Control dandruff
- Help prevent wrinkles and sagging skin
This is not a complete list of the wonderful benefits of coconut oil, but it is a few of the things that studies have shown coconut oil to help with. It is a very versatile oil and should become a mainstay in your kitchen.
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