Virgin Coconut Oil

Monday, May 22, 2006

Virgin Coconut Oil For Health

"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.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Virgin Coconut Oil and Weight Loss

Many people have reported that consuming Virgin Coconut Oil
(VCO) helps them to lose weight. They often see increased
energy levels and fewer cravings for carbohydrates and
sweets. It’s easier for many people to eat less when
consuming 2 - 4 Tablespoons of coconut oil per day, because
the fats provide a feeling of satiety or fullness after
eating that is not generally experienced when eating a
low-fat meal.

Virgin coconut oil is rich in the medium-chain fatty acids
(MCFAs), like lauric acid, that have been shown to boost
the metabolism. In fact, around 50% of the fatty acids in
this coconut oil are lauric acid. It turns out that the
amount of energy used to metabolize these MCFAs is greater
than the energy they provide, and lauric acid is the most
rapidly metabolized fatty acid, scientist have found.
Virgin coconut oil has a “thermogenic” effect, meaning it
raises your body temperature. This in turn boosts energy
levels and metabolism.

Research alludes to the fact that the number one cause of
weight problems may be an under-active thyroid gland,
especially among women. That’s because the thyroid gland
controls body temperature and metabolism, and when the
thyroid is sluggish, body temperature and metabolism tend
to slow down. Some other symptoms of low, or hypothyroid,
are fatigue, cold hands and feet, depression, anxiety,
constipation, easy bruising, insomnia, dry skin, unhealthy
and brittle nails, allergies and asthma, migraines, acne,
hair loss and low sex drive.


 
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