Ref By: - Mary G.Enig, Ph.D,F.A.C.N.
Coconuts and virgin coconut oil have a significant role to play in a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Abandoning unhealthy lifestyles and reverting to natural foods can help to reverse many of the diseases that have manifested in our bodies through the highly refined diet of our modern society.
This website provides information on the researched health benefits that can be derived from using coconuts and virgin coconut oil in conjunction with a well balanced diet and a healthy life style.
Research shows that replacing other cooking oils with virgin coconut oil generally creates a more favorable HDL/LDL ratio. This oil has antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiprotozoal properties and like all the whole foods, contains nutrients for a healthy food.
A Vital ingredient for a healthy body: over many decades coconut oil received bad publicity due to its saturated fat content, but research has shown that not all fats are alike and coconut oil is unique in its structural make-up. It is not only the highest source of saturated fats (92%) but included in this is the highest source of saturated medium chain triglycerides (62%) of any naturally occurring vegan food source. Furthermore around 50% of these MCT' s are made up of lauric acid, the most important essential fatty acid in building and maintaining the body's immune system.
Apart from coconut oil, the only other source of lauric acid found in such high concentrations in mother's milk. Tropical oils and mother's milk are by far the richest food sources of medium chain fatty acids available. The closest other source of these vital building blocks of immune system would be the milk fat and butter, comprising around 3% of its content than any other vegetable oil which is completely deficient in these MCFAs.
