Decades ago consumers were convinced by food manufacturers to purchase their hydrogenated oils and margarines. How did they do that? They discredited the products that people used to prepare their food, including olive oil, lard, and coconut oil.
Their marketing campaigns said coconut oil clogs the arteries and raises cholesterol levels. Consumers were even told that coconut oil was “bad for the health” because of its high saturated fat that contributed to heart attacks. Naturally, people turned their backs to coconut oil and filled their kitchens with synthetic products that they believed to be better.
Flash forward to the present time, in the middle of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer surge, scientists realize that the healthy fats found in coconut oil and other natural products are not the culprit.
It is actually the goods that food manufacturers have been promoting for almost forty years that are to blame. These “fake foods” contain trans-fat that is highly dangerous to one’s body. Diets that are high in sugar, carbohydrates, and fat are found guilty.
As these truths surface, so does the popularity of coconut oil. Finally, it is getting the kind of attention it truly deserves.
In 1981, a paper was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showing a study of two groups of Polynesians who were instructed to use coconut oil as their primary source of energy. The results had shown positive vascular and circulatory functions. Furthermore, there was no indication whatsoever that coconut oil intake caused harm.
THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL
As modern technology advances, studies prove that coconut oil is actually a “good” saturated fat and that it is very healthy. Pure coconut oil is also high in lauric acid, which is a fatty acid converted to monolaurin by your body. It is also a compound that is found in human breast milk, making it one of the best food sources of this nutrient. Lauric acid deters bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and yeasts.
Coconut oil is also made up of medium-chain fatty acids or MCFAs. Vegetable or seed oils have long-chain fatty acids or LCFAs that are stored in your body as cholesterol and contributes to the hardening of arteries and the straining of the liver and pancreas. MCFAs on the other hand, support the immune system with its antimicrobial properties. They are converted to energy. They also increase feeling of fullness, leading to calorie intake reduction.
MCFAs also create ketone bodies in the liver. These have been shown to reduce strong appetite. When you add that to the stimulatory effect of coconut oil on metabolism, it is easy to see how it helps one maintain a healthy weight.
Raw and organic virgin coconut oil is a superfood because it helps improve cardiovascular function, cleanses the body, and helps heal damaged cells that lead to cancer and other diseases.
Now the numerous benefits of coconut oil are realized by people everywhere in the world. Indeed, coconut oil is a truly healthy choice for overall body wellness. If you want to know more about the benefits of coconut oil and how you can incorporate it with other healthy and natural programs, call Sloan Natural Health Center!
