The Effects of Raw Coconut Oil

The Effects of Raw Coconut Oil
Photo Credit Alberto L Pomares G/Photodisc/Getty Images

Although saturated fats have not traditionally been featured in healthy diets, the benefits associated with coconut oils continues to grow. Researchers from the Weston A. Price Foundation point out the good health is found in many populations who consume high concentrations of coconuts, highlighting how the oil remains crucial in protecting poor Thai villagers against pathogens lurking in the unsanitary water they drink so regularly. Raw coconut oil can also benefit individuals in more familiar backgrounds, helping rid you of chronic fungal infections, reducing cardiovascular risk and aiding in the weight loss process.

Antimicrobial

Coconut oil can help prevent and eradicate chronic infections. Dr. Bruce Fife, a physician who wrote "The Coconut Oil Miracle," notes how the oil demonstrates antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effects inside the body. He credits the medium-chain fats, which make up three-fourths of the oil, with this action. Fife explains how the molecular structure of these fats allows them to diffuse into the membrane wall of pathogenic organisms before dissolving, killing the cell; this mechanism leaves bacteria and fungi unable to develop resistance to the acids.

Cardiovascular Health

Your risk of heart attacks and strokes may drop significantly following the introduction of coconut oil to the diet. Researchers from the Weston A. Price Foundation explain that, compared to a diet based around mono-unsaturated fats, the regular consumption of coconut oil results in a significant drop in lipoprotein(a). Lipoptotein(a), often shortened to Lp(a), rises when the lining of the arteries become damaged and represent a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk. They explain how the polyphenol content in coconut oil inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, an important step in the development of arterial damage and atherosclerosis.

Weight Loss

Coconut oil can play a positive role in the weight loss process, which can further benefit cardiovascular health. Fife explains how coconut oil can stimulate an increase in the metabolic rate by the way it travels through the body. Unlike most fats, which must take the drawn-out route from intestines to lymphatic system before entering the circulation bound to cholesterol, medium-chain fats take a more direct journey. These special compounds migrate from the digestive tract direct to the liver for immediate oxidation. This sees the utilize more fat, increasing both fat burning and the overall metabolic rate.

References

Article reviewed by Helen Covington Last updated on: Oct 24, 2010

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments