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The Incredible Health Benefits Of Virgin Coconut Oil

Some of the healthiest people on the planet can be found inpopulations that eat a great deal of coconut. For many ofthese people coconut is a dietary staple. In the South Pacificfor example the Tokelauans gain 60% of their calories fromcoconuts and are in excellent health, with no evidence ofheart disease.

In fact, there’s a good chance that due to the overall healthbenefits of coconut oil, the Tokelauans will also have lowerincidences of other health issues such as obesity, dementiaand high cholesterol.

Here in the West, coconuts have been much maligned. In fact,right through to the 1990s many people considered coconuts to be the one of the greatest contributors to heartdisease due to their significant saturated fat content. However, recent research has completely debunked this ideaand anyone who is interested in their ongoing health is now wise to the diverse health benefits that virgin coconutoil can offer.

The Different Types of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a wide range of health benefits and yet in many ways it remains an unsung hero. For example,were you aware that coconut oil comes in a two different states according to the amount of processing that the oilis put through – refined and unrefined? Different oils will give you different results.

Coconut oil is derived from the flesh of the fruit, and should not be confused with coconut milk. Many athleteshave started to use it – including the England rugby squad who are on average 2kg of muscle heavier now thanthe 2003 team. According to rugby union nutritionist Matt Lovell, virgin coconut oil can raise the metabolic rate andtherefore help your body to burn fat far more effectively.

The kind of coconut oil you should use really depends on what you are using it for. For external uses (on your skin,hair etc.), expeller pressed or other types of refined coconut oil will work well, but for internal use – anything youare eating – an unrefined virgin coconut oil is best and you should avoid hydrogenated coconut oil.

Refined coconut oil is generally perceived as lower quality than virgin oil and is usually made from copra. Copra isthe dried kernel of the coconut that is laid out in the sun. Generally, the process for cheaper coconut oil is to refine,bleach, and deodorize it. This is known as RBD.

For the best benefits to your health you should always use virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil isthe type of coconut oil that is in its most natural form. There has been no artificial filtering or processing, and nochemical solvents have been used. Virgin coconut oil has a rich smell and retains the sweet taste of the coconut.Good quality coconut oil will always taste and smell like coconut. You may see “Extra Virgin” coconut oil for sale,however there is actually no official classification for extra virgin as you would expect to find in the olive oilindustry.

Good coconut oil will rapidly melt in the palm of your hand through contact with your body heat. If it does not doso, then you know you have inferior oil. Coconut oil has a long shelf life of two or more years and does not need tobe refrigerated – just keep it out of direct sunlight.

Why Is Virgin Coconut Oil So Good For Us?

Many experts classify coconut oil as a “superfood” because of its long list of health benefits. The uniquecombination of fatty acids in coconut oil is known to aid in fat loss for example, and to enable better brain function.

In research it has been proven that the unique combination of fatty acids has potent medicinal properties. Manypeople were put off using coconut oil because it is so high in saturated fat, however new research hasdemonstrated that saturated fats are harmless and are not the artery-cloggers that were once thought.

One tablespoon of coconut oil contains 14 grams of total fat, of which 12 grams are saturated. Whereas thesaturated fat found in most other foods, such as meat and cheese, is mostly comprised of long-chain triglycerides(LCTs), the saturated fat found in coconut oil is mostly comprised of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTsare fatty acids that metabolize quickly and neatly, moving from the digestive system to the liver in quick time andbecoming a rapid source of energy. They are also turned into ketone bodies, which have therapeutic effects onbrain disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is a cause of concern worldwide. It is the most common cause of dementia and occursprimarily among the elderly. It is known that Alzheimer’s patients have limited ability to use glucose for energy incertain parts of the brain, but the ketone bodies found in coconut oil supply alternative energy for the brain,thereby reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

The magic MCTs in coconut oil work to increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories thatyou would consume from foods with from longer chain fats such as meat and cheese. In fact, one research studydemonstrated that eating 15-30 grams of MCTs per day would actually increase your 24 hour energy expenditureby 5%. This means that eating foods with MCTs such as coconuts can potentially lead to weight loss over thelong-term.

In any case, other studies have shown that the ketone bodies in coconut oil may really reduce your appetite.Test subjects who ate the most MCTs at breakfast went on to eat smaller lunches. Over a long period of time thiswould result in a reduction in body weight and you would find yourself eating less without really thinking about it.

Coconut oil also seems to be particularly effective in reducing the abdominal fat that lodges in the abdominalcavity and around organs. According to many medical researchers this is the most dangerous fat of all because itis associated with many Western diseases such as liver disease, heart disease and diabetes. In one study, a dietsupplemented with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waistcircumference in a period of 12 weeks and this was without further exercise or restrictive diet.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

The existence of ketone bodies in coconut oil is also beneficial for people suffering with seizures. Currently,coconuts are being used therapeutically by treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children. The children are given adiet very low in carbohydrates, but with larger amounts of fat. This means that the level of ketone bodies areincreased in the blood. This seems to reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, including those who haven’thad any success with other types of pharmaceuticals.

The fatty acids in coconut oil are an important source of Lauric Acid. Lauric acid can kill off a number of nasties –

bacteria, viruses and fungi – and help to ward off infections. As coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it turns intolauric acid as well as a monoglyceride named monolaurin that attacks harmful pathogens such as StaphylococcusAureus (a cause of a variety of skin conditions and respiratory diseases) and the yeast Candida Albicans amongothers. Monolaurin is one of the natural world’s greatest antivirals, antibacterials and antifungals and it can kill offvarious viruses, including measles, herpes, influenza and possibly even HIV. These claims are now being takenseriously and are subject to further medical research.

Coconut oil also offers the substantialhealth bonus of reducing the risk ofheart disease. Studies in bothhumans and rats have demonstratedthat coconut oil improves bloodcholesterol levels. Rat studies forexample have evidence thatconsuming coconut oil helps toreduce triglycerides, total and LDLcholesterol, while increasing HDL andimproving blood coagulation factorsand antioxidant status.

However, it isn’t just internal benefitsthat coconut oil is renowned for.Coconut oil can also protect your hairagainst damage; it will moisturizeyour skin and can also be used as asunscreen. Coconut oil is particularly effective as a sunscreen because it blocks out about 20% of the sun’sultraviolet rays. Meanwhile, used as a mouthwash it can kill off harmful bacteria in the mouth and reduce badbreath.

Can Coconut Oil Kill Cancer?

Coconut oil cannot prevent or cure cancer by itself, but it does have some special qualities. As we have described,coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride fat (MCT) that is easier for the body to metabolize than long-chainedtriglycerides. These MCTs do not shrink cancer by themselves, but they have proved promising as a cancertreatment if they are combined with a ketogenic diet regime.

While long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) require bile acid to convert them into water-soluble fat molecules that canenter the bloodstream via the lymphatic system, MCTs enter the bloodstream without having to go through thelymphatic system first. Medium-chain triglycerides are thus easier to metabolize, entering the bloodstream in away that is similar to the way glucose enters. Combined with an everyday healthy diet, coconut oil can be a realboost to your fight against cancer.

How to Take Virgin Coconut Oil

You may be thinking that just slurping coconut oil off a spoon does not sound very appealing. Well there are amyriad number of ways to consume coconut oil, especially if you don’t like the taste of coconut oil neat, or if itgives you an upset tummy.

Coconut oil in its natural state is quite like butter. It is a soft solid at lower room temperatures, but becomes aliquid when warmed up. This means you have many ways to get your daily coconut oil. At breakfast it is easyenough to stir your liquid coconut oil into yogurt or just drizzle some over your cornflakes. For lunch or dinner youcan roast vegetables in coconut oil or try flavouring your pasta or rice with it.

Probably the simplest way to consume coconut oil is just to add it to other drinks – slip a spoonful into your tea orcoffee for example. Blend the oil first – just to emulsify it a little – and this will create a smooth and creamyconsistency rather than oily consistency. Even better just melt and carefully blend the oil with your favourite

Smoothie recipe.

Alternatively add the oil to a flapjack or other cake recipe if you’re baking. You can often replace butter withcoconut oil in baking recipes. Or why not try stir frying using coconut oil? Coconut oil has a high smoke point so itis a really great choice for stir fry and can really add to the flavour.

For a supper time snack why not spread solid coconut oil on crackers or bread rolls?

How Much Coconut Oil Should I Eat Daily?

There is no real dose of recommended coconut oil, but research into the traditional diets of Pacific Islanders hasshown that they consume several grams of lauric acid, or at least 1 tbsp of coconut oil, every day. Certainly 10 gto 20 g of lauric acid taken daily can be a benefit to health according to certain biochemists. Coconut oil contains50 percent lauric acid, so taking 1 tablespoon of coconut oil per day will provide you with 7g lauric acid. Anappropriate dose would therefore be in the region of one to three tablespoons daily.

Remember that coconut oil contains approximately 117 calories per tablespoon so if you are trying to loseweight, take this into consideration and use coconut oil sparingly. Coconut oil is also high in saturated fat, so itmay raise your cholesterol levels. Make sure you have your cholesterol levels checked regularly especially if youconsume coconut oil every day. If you already have high cholesterol, consult your doctor before using coconut oilas a dietary supplement.

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