The various components of coconut, including its oil, have been a dietary staple of many island nations for thousands of years. Its high saturated fat content led many in the medical community to view coconut oil as a potentially harmful food, but its saturated fat exists in a different form than that found in animal products and research indicates it offers many potential health benefits.
Considerations for Use
While the saturated fats in coconut oil differ from those found in other types of foods, they still have twice the calories as carbohydrates and proteins. Eating too many calories will lead to weight gain regardless of the source. If you make coconut oil a regular part of your daily diet, you must make compensate by reducing your intake of other types of fats and make sure to stay within the proper calorie range for your energy needs.
Heart Health
Alternative medicine expert Dr. Joseph Mercola says studies of populations who consume coconut oil as a primary component of their diet have shown extremely low levels of heart disease. A study which appeared in the September 2004 issue of "Clinical Biochemistry" compared the effects of virgin coconut oil against copra oil in rats on several indices linked to heart health. The coconut oil proved superior in several respects, including lowering levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raising levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and decreasing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which leads to hardened plaque that builds up on the walls of arteries and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Antimicrobial Properties
Mercola explains that one of the components of coconut oil, lauric acid, converts to a monolaurin, which has strong antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. In 2007, researchers at University College Hospital in Nigeria tested the effects of coconut oil on various strains of candida, a yeastlike fungus that lives in the body and may lead to infections of the mouth, stomach and vagina. Many believe, particularly in the alternative medicine community, that body-wide candida infections shoulder the blame for an eclectic variety of problems ranging from acne to fatigue, though this has not been proved.
Metabolism and Weight Loss
The type of saturated fat found in coconut oil -- medium-chain triglycerides -- typically does not get stored as fat but is used for energy, much like carbohydrates. The burning of fat for energy can lead to weight loss, provided you watch your intake of other types of fat, notes Mercola. He also notes an increased metabolism can increase energy levels and improve immunity.
References
- "Clinical Biochemistry"; Beneficial Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil on Lipid Parameters and In Vitro LDL Oxidation; K.G. Nevin and T. Rajamohan; September 2004
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; In Vitro Antimicrobial Properties of Coconut Oil on Candida Species in Ibadan, Nigeria; D.O. Ogbolu et al.; June 2007
- Huffington Post; Coconut Oil Benefits: When Fat Is Good For You; Joseph Mercola M.D.; February 2011
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