Coconut palm trees, Cocos nucifera, produce coconuts, a source of coconut meat, juice, milk and oil. In recent years, coconut oil in particular has been researched for its beneficial properties. It is also popular as a staple food in Asian and Pacific populations. In his book "The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil," Dr. Bruce Fife, a naturopathic medicinal practitioner calls coconut oil “the healthiest oil on earth.”
The main component in coconut oil, almost 50 percent, is lauric acid, which is found in nature in such an abundance only in breast milk, according to Dr. John J. Kabara, Professor Emeritus of Michigan State University. Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid which is antiviral, antibacterial, and is used to destroy lipid-coated viruses such as those found in HIV and herpes, according to the International Wellness Directory website
In traditional medicine, coconut oil has been used to treat conditions including asthma, baldness, colds, dysentery and earache. In modern medicine, research is ongoing into its potential for curing urinary tract infections, AIDS, fungal infections and influenza, according to CoconutResearchCenter.org.
While some websites recommend ingesting coconut oil in its raw form, or taking coconut oil pills, you should consult a doctor before doing consuming coconut oil as a remedy.
Lowers Cholesterol
Although coconut oil is a saturated fat, it does not cause the same negative effects as other saturated fats or cholesterol. Coconut oil has a tendency to increase HDL or high density lipoprotein, which is also known as good cholesterol. Research by a number of scientists, including Dr. Mary Enig, a Ph.D. in Nutritional Science and a leading voice on the benefits of coconut oil consumption, concludes that people who consume large quantities of coconut oil as part of their daily diet show a lowering of total cholesterol and, in particular, of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
Heart Disease Prevention
In the same study by Dr. Mary Enig, as reported on CoconutInfo.com, she states that natural tropical oils like coconut oil prevent hardening of arteries, while most liquid vegetable oils actual cause an increase in hardening. On the Natural Health Strategies’ website, researchers agree that frequent consumption of coconut oil regulates triglycerides and helps prevent heart disease.
Anti-Microbial
Researchers on the Natural Health Strategies’ website also believe that while some strains of virus and bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, coconut’s lauric acid is a potential anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent, as upon consumption the body converts it into monoglyceride monolaurin, a useful agent in the prevention and treatment of bacterial infection.
Boosts Metabolism
According to the website Coconut Connections, studies are being conducted to research the link coconut oil has with metabolism. Coconut oil is not stored in the body like other fats, and its medium-chain fatty acids are quickly broken down in the liver to dispense immediate energy. When your metabolism speeds up, your cells function with better efficiency, and this may lead to injuries healing faster and your immune system getting an additional boost.
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