For much of the last few decades, coconut oil got a bad rap in mainstream media. Critics said it was high in cholesterol and fat, and so many people did not include in in their daily diets. But island populations around the world have celebrated the coconut for centuries for its health benefits, using the meat juice, milk and oil the fruit provides in everything from cooking to disease prevention. Modern medicine is now jumping on the bandwagon and releasing its own findings on the health benefits of coconut.
Weight Loss
New research has revealed that not eating enough fat can actually make you fat. According to Bruce Fife, N.D., in his article "The Fat that Can Make You Thin," people who include more healthy fats in their diet, like coconut milk, eat less than those who don't get enough fat. Healthy fats help the body feel full and satiate the brain receptors that control appetite.
Immune System Health
Coconut milk contains lauric acid, antimicrobial lipids and capric acid, which have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which is believed to fight the viruses and bacteria that cause herpes, influenza and even HIV. According to Serena Gordon, a reporter with "U.S. News & World Report," one study found children being treated with antibiotics for pneumonia benefited from a complementary program of coconut oil therapy more than those taking the antibiotic alone.
Heart Disease
Recent research on the health benefits of medium-chain fatty acids -- saturated fats -- is bringing coconut milk into the spotlight for heart health. According to Katherine Hobson in an article for "U.S. News & World Report," Pacific Islanders and Asians who eat primarily coconut oils, rather than vegetable or animal fats, show significantly lower levels of heart disease. Another link between coconut milk and heart disease is in coconut milk's ability to fight off diseases, which new research shows may cause cardiovascular problems. Medium-chain fatty acids kill the three major types of atherogenic organisms -- bacteria that cause the formation of plaque in the arteries -- that may lead to heart disease, something antibiotics alone are unable to do, says Bruce Fife, N.D., in his article "Coconut Oil and Heart Disease."
Healthy Skin and Hair
Coconut milk is highly nutrient when ingested, as well as when used topically on skin and hair. Applying coconut milk to the hair supplies it with necessary nutrients to grow and provides optimal conditioning. Massaging the scalp with coconut oil can treat dandruff and dry, itchy skin. Applied to the rest of the body, coconut milk moisturizes and restores healthy skin and repairs wrinkles and sagging, and can also treat skin infections and wounds as an antifungal and antibacterial.
References
- Coconut Research Center; Coconut; 2004
- "US News and World Report"; Coconut Oil May Help Fight Childhood Pneumonia; Selena Gordon; Oct. 30, 2010
- Coconut Research Center; The Fat that Can Make You Thin; Bruce Fife, N.D.; 2002
- "US News and World Report"; Do Coconut Oil and Coconut Water Provide Health Benefits?; Katherine Hobson; Aug. 10, 2009
- Organic Facts; Health Benefits of Coconut Oil; Kiran Patil
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