The many benefits of coconut oil.

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Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century

by Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.

http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/28/coconut_health.htm

 

(Extract from the long article)

Coconuts play a unique role in the diets of mankind because they are the source

of important physiologically functional components. These physiologically

functional components are found in the fat part of whole coconut, in the fat

part of desiccated coconut, and in the extracted coconut oil.

 

Lauric acid, the major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut, has long been

recognized for the unique properties that it lends to nonfood uses in the soaps

and cosmetics industry. More recently, lauric acid has been recognized for its

unique properties in food use, which are related to its antiviral,

antibacterial, and antiprotozoal functions.

 

Now, capric acid, another of coconut's fatty acids has been added to the list

of coconut's antimicrobial components. These fatty acids are found in the

largest amounts only in traditional lauric fats, especially from coconut. Also,

recently published research has shown that natural coconut fat in the diet leads

to a normalization of body lipids, protects against alcohol damage to the liver,

and improves the immune system's anti-inflammatory response.

 

Some of the viruses inactivated by these lipids are

 

HIV

measles

herpes simplex (HSV-1)

vesicular stomatitis virus

visna virus

cytomegalovirus (CMV)

 

Coconut oil is good for the heart and also helps in combating obesity. It can

help in fighting diabetes, chronic fatigue and many immune system disorders.

Being composed of saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is far safer than oils

composed of trans fatty acids. In a test coconut oil performed better then olive

oil, corn oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil as a cooking medium.

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Another good analysis can be found here:

http://members.efn.org/~raypeat/coconut.rtf

Raymond Peat, Ph.D.

 

Brief Summary.

Coconut oil is an effective antioxidant, both in direct and indirect manners.

Food cooked in this medium does not spoil easily. The oil has anti-aging

properties and helps fight menopausal difficulties in women. It has a good

effect on brain development as well as there is a salutory effect on the thyroid

gland. Switching over from oils containing trans fatty acids to coconut oil has

many benefits as one can avoid the dangers of trans fatty acids as well as enjoy

the benefits of coconut oil.

 

Various fractions of coconut oil are coming into use as " drugs, " meaning that

they are advertised as treatments for diseases. Butyric acid is used to treat

cancer, lauric and myristic acids to treat virus infections, and mixtures of

medium-chain fats are sold for weight loss. Purification undoubtedly increases

certain effects, and results in profitable products, but in the absence of more

precise knowledge, I think the whole natural product, used as a regular food, is

the best way to protect health.

 

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" Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest

of life by the power of the spirit. " - Aurobindo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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