The coconut is the fruit of a type of palm tree and is used for a wide variety of culinary and practical purposes. Coconut oil is high in short and medium-chain fatty acids, which, though saturated, are not unhealthy in the way that saturated animal fats are, in terms of increasing cardiovascular risk, according to Siegfried Gursche, author of the book "Coconut Oil: Discover the Key to Vibrant Health." Oil made from dried coconut meat is refined to make it suitable for human consumption. The refining process filters out impurities. However, the high heat used to refine coconut oil may, in some cases, lead to hydrogenation or partial hydrogenation and should be avoided. Oil made from fresh, undried coconuts is called unrefined, or virgin coconut oil.
Functional Food
Coconut oil is considered a functional food by some health industry experts. Coconut oil has been shown to improve absorption of fats and other nutrients. You may be able to prevent development of osteoporosis by coconut oil's effects at increasing absorption of nutrient minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Coconut oil is also said to provide a boost of energy without causing jitters or depleting the adrenal glands, side effects associated with the use of coffee.
Fatty Acids
Coconut oil is of particular interest to athletes because it contains high quantities of medium-chain fatty acids. Your body is able to absorb and utilize these fatty acids rapidly for energy, since they don't have to be digested first. Also of interest to athletes, a study published in the February 2010 issue of the journal "Pharmaceutical Biology" found coconut oil to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. As a cooking oil, coconut oil withstands high heat without oxidizing, giving it a distinct advantage over butter and other oils more commonly used for cooking, such as olive oil and safflower oil.
Heart Health
Your heart health may benefit from using coconut oil, despite its high levels of saturated fats, according to nutritionist and naturopath Bruce Fife, author of the book "The Coconut Oil Miracle." Pacific Island cultures where coconut oil is the main source of dietary fats show very low levels of heart disease. Cancer and other degenerative diseases are similarly rare in these groups. On certain New Zealand islands, which have little agriculture because of poor soil conditions, coconuts are an even more significant staple food; although the diet is high in fat, cholesterol levels remain low.
Blood Sugar
Blood sugar-regulating effects of coconut oil are helpful for diabetics. Coconut oil also has been shown to increase metabolic rate, encouraging weight loss. A study published in the June 2010 issue of the "Indian Journal of Pharmacology" found that a component of coconut oil called lauric acid protected against oxidation and improved glucose tolerance in laboratory animals with diabetes that were fed a diet supplemented with 10 percent coconut oil for 45 days.
References
- "Coconut Oil: Discover the Key to Vibrant Health"; Siegfried Gursche; 2008
- "Pharmaceutical Biology"; Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, and Antipyretic Activities of Virgin Coconut Oil; S. Intahphuak, et al.; February 2010
- "The Coconut Oil Miracle"; Bruce Fife; 2004
- CookingForEngineers; Smoke Points of Various Fats; Michael Chu
- "Indian Journal of Pharmacology"; Effect of Saturated Fatty Acid-rich Dietary Vegetable Oils on Lipid Profile, Antioxidant Enzymes and Glucose Tolerance in Diabetic Rats; B. Kochikuzhyil, et al.; June 2010
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