Virgin, or unrefined, coconut oil, extracted from the meat of the coconut and generally colorless in appearance, plays a critically important role in the daily life of people who live in the world's tropical regions. They use the oil for cooking and also as a dietary supplement. Increasingly, scientific research is confirming that this unadulterated form of coconut oil has medicinal properties. However, check with your doctor before beginning any regimen of self-treatment.
Healthy Fatty Acids
Not all saturated fats are created equal. Such is the case with virgin coconut oil, which while high in saturated fats also has a distinctively rich content of medium-chain fatty acids, also known as medium chain triglycerides, according to Siegfried Gursche, author of "Coconut Oil: Discover the Key to Vibrant Health." Unlike the long-chain fatty acids, found in animal fat and several other vegetable oils, medium-chain fatty acids are used for energy and are not converted into body fat. Gursche emphasizes that MCFAs will not clog up arteries, unlike their long-chain cousins. Most importantly, notes Gursche, MCFAs not only increase energy levels but also control thyroid function, stimulate metabolism, balance blood glucose levels and promote overall health. Talk to a medical professional before taking virgin coconut oil or any other herbal/home remedy.
Antioxidant Properties
In "Principles of Orthomolecularism," author R.A.S. Hemat explains that virgin coconut oil, preferably cold-pressed or only lightly processed, is rich in antioxidants, which target the free radicals that are believed to cause a wide array of illnesses and health conditions. Specifically, according to Hemat, virgin coconut oil may be useful in increasing the body's protection against breast and colon cancer, candidiasis, Crohn's disease, epilepsy, heart disease, herpes, influenza, kidney disease and liver disease.
David Wolfe, author of "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future," extols virgin coconut oil's antioxidant properties, noting that the oil reduces the body's need for vitamin E, a sharp contrast to unsaturated vegetable oils such as corn and soybean, which deplete vitamin E levels. Additionally, notes Wolfe, virgin coconut oil doubles the body's ability to utilize antioxidant omega-3 fatty acids. For this reason, Wolfe suggests that individuals taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements do so in combination with virgin coconut oil. Your doctor can help you to determine if supplementation with virgin coconut oil is appropriate for you.
Antimicrobial Properties
Virgin coconut oil's fatty acids include high levels of lauric acid, a chemical compound that is also found in mother's milk. In "The Balanced Plate," author Renee Loux explains that lauric acid is prized for its antimicrobial properties and also for its ability to stimulate the body's immune response to infective agents. Virgin coconut oil also contains capric acid, which is believed to have antimicrobial properties "even against HIV and herpes," according to Ian Archer, M.D., author of "Food for Thought." With respect to virgin coconut oil's use as an alternative therapy for AIDS-related infections, a study published in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine chronicled anecdotal evidence of the oil's effectiveness.
References
- "Coconut Oil: Discover the Key to Vibrant Health"; Siegfried Gursche; 2008
- "Principles of Orthomolecularism"; R.A.S. Hemat; 2003
- "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future"; David Wolfe; 2010
- "The Balanced Plate: The Essential Elements of Whole Foods and Good Health"; Renee Loux; 2006
- Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; Alternative Medicines for AIDS in Resource-Poor Settings: Insights from Exploratory Anthropological Studies in Asia and Africa; Anita Hardon et al.; July 2008
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