Why I Eat Coconut Oil

If you’ve read any of my recipes, then you know that I eat a lot of coconut oil! I figured it was about time I explained why!

Here are my top five reasons for eating coconut oil:

Coconut Oil is a Saturated Fat

Coconut oil is 92% saturated fat. Contrary to what we are told, saturated fat is not harmful to health. Saturated fat regulates the blood sugar. Unstable blood sugar is a huge factor in development of diabetes and a contributing factor to most modern diseases.

Here are a few other vital functions of saturated fat: It makes up over 50% of the cell membrane. It is the preferred fuel for our hearts. It is necessary for absorption of calcium and other vitamins.

Coconut Oil Supports Metabolism

The saturated fat found in coconut oil is called “medium-chain triglycerides” (MCTs). Coconut oil is one of the most concentrated source of MTCs found in nature, second only to breast-milk. MCTs are metabolized quickly and easily. This, combined with coconut oil’s regulatory effects on blood sugar, makes it a powerful weight-loss agent.

Coconut Oil Builds the Immune System

The fatty acids found in coconut oil, specifically Caprylic, Myristic, and Lauric, are anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pyretic (lowers fever). The main component in coconut oil, Lauric acid, is also found in human breast-milk and is famous for its immune-boosting properties.

Coconut oil attacks viruses by disintegrating viral envelopes (membranes). Measles, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), vesicuklar stomatitis virus (VSV), visna virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and HIV are a few of the viruses that coconut oil inactivates (Source). Yes, HIV! This is huge.

Do you know someone with candida or yeast overgrowth? Coconut oil is particularly effective against candida and helps to restore balance to the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

As if all this were not enough, the research of Dr. Mary Newport, leading expert on MCTs, shows that ketones (metabolised MCTs) shrink cancerous tumors!

Coconut Oil Supports the Thyroid

Poly-unsaturated oils such as vegetable, corn, soybean, cottonseed, and canola, are the most widely consumed fats in our culture. These fats are unstable, rancid, and among many other negative qualities are also hard on the thyroid gland. They block secretion of thyroid hormone and prevent its circulation and proper function.

Coconut oil boosts metabolism, thereby decreasing the enzyme load placed on the thyroid. It does not block thyroid function. Also, it is easy to break down, further decreasing the load on the thyroid. Eating coconut oil helps to prevent  thyroid burn-out,  hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer. (Source)

Coconut Oil is Fuel for the Brain!

Coconut oil is metabolized into “ketone bodies” which are a great source of fuel for the brain. Actually, the brain prefers ketone bodies over glucose as a fuel source. This knowledge is of great relevance when it comes to degenerative neurological diseases such as Alzheimers, and here’s why:

Alzheimers is diabetes in the brain. The receptors in the Alzheimer-ridden brain have become insulin resistant. Because of this, glucose cannot be transported across the cell membrane into the brain cells to be used as fuel. The brain cells starve and die. (Source)

Ketone bodies do not depend on insulin receptors for transport into the cell and are an easy source of fuel for an Alzheimer brain. Yes, it’s true. Coconut oil can actually reverse Alzheimer’s disease. Because I worked with Alzheimer patients for several years, this idea is very personal and exciting to me. I will be sharing more on this subject soon!

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