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The Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil
By: Maggie VandenBrekel
"Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth" says Dr. Bruce
Fife, a naturopathic doctor and the author of "The Healing Miracles
of Coconut Oil."
Modern research backs up this bold statement. Once wrongly accused of
increasing cholesterol levels, coconut oil is now actually being used by
doctors in the treatment of a variety of disorders.
Clinical studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and
anti-viral properties, and is now even being used in treating AIDS
patients. Studies conducted in the Philippines last year showed that
coconut oil does indeed reduce the viral load in AIDS patients.
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 that
actually 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. 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. These fats, derived from coconut oil, are now
routinely used in hospital IV formulations and commercial baby formulas.
They're also used in sports drinks to boost energy and enhance athletic
performance.
Virgin Coconut Oil is a product that can rightly be called a
“neutriceutical” because of its ability to help a number of health
problems - substantiated by the abundant positive research that has been
carried out on it. Jon J. Kabara, Ph.D (Professor Emeritus,
Michigan State University) had this to say about the value of lauric
oils (contained in virgin coconut oil). "Never before in the
history of man is it so important to emphasize the value of Lauric Oils.
The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in mother's
milk and have similar nutriceutical effects.”
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 reason is again because of
the healthy medium chain fatty acids. These 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 speed up the body’s
metabolism, burning more calories and promoting weight loss. The
weight-loss effects of coconut oil have been clearly demonstrated by
many researchers. They offer wonderful health benefits and are
nowhere found more abundantly in nature outside coconut oil. For the
hypothyroid sufferer the medium chain fats rev up the body's sluggish
metabolism and promote weight loss as well.
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.
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.
Bio:
By Maggie VandenBrekel E-Publishing
http://www.coconut-connections.com
info@coconut-connections.com
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