Coconut Butter

Coconut butter or coconut oil is known for its Lauric acid content, and for its quality, healthy, saturated fats. Cholesterol does not naturally occur in the plant kingdom. Unlike saturated animal fats, Coconut oil is cholesterol free, making it safe for people with cholesterol challenges. Lauric acid promotes immune function through its transformation into monolaurin once ingested. Studies show that Monolaurin is able to destroy lipid coated viruses and bacteria including influenza, herpes and HIV.

From the Journal of the American Medical Association: “Coconut oil may be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics” (JAMA 1967 202:1119-1123; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1981 34:1552).

Dr. Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D., says, “In different parts of the world, those people who get their primary source of fat from coconut oil have the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.”

Weight Loss

Medium Chain triglycerides (MCTs) are abundantly found in coconut butter. Unlike other forms of fat, the liver is able to metabolise MCTs similarly to how it utilises carbohydrates as a fuel source. Coconut butter’s digestibility means that it is quickly absorbed by our bodies, and not left to circulate the blood stream like other fats. The MCTs in coconut oil have also been shown to have thyroid supporting mechanisms. Studies that were conducted on the basal (resting) metabolic rate of people who ate MCTs comparative to those participants who consumed more LCTs (long chain triglycerides i.e. vegetable oils) were found on average to have a 12% increase in their basal metabolic rates.

A direct quote, “people who incorporate medium-chain fatty acids, such as those found in coconut oil, into their diets can lose body fat” from http://www.garvan.org.au/news-events/news/how-coconut-oil-could-help-reduce-the-symptoms-of-type-2-diabetes.html.

Coconut Oil Increases Good Cholesterol and Lowers Abdominal Obesity

A study has shown that dietary supplementation with coconut oil may result in a reduction in waist circumference and other benefits. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/22/magical-fat-that-increases-good-cholesterol-and-lowers-abdominal-obesity-in-women.aspx

Cellular Health

Our body’s cells are comprised primarily of saturated fats. Regular consumption of Coconut Butter promotes cellular health reducing oxidative damage from free radical exposure. Internal cellular protection translates externally to healthier, more hydrated, younger looking skin.

Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits.

Data from http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

The following is a direct lift from a newsletter by Dr Al Sears whose work exposing the health myths and lies of diet and exercise deserves to be checked out.

The War Against Saturated Fat

The war against saturated fats started way back in the late 1950’s.

A researcher by the name of Ancel Keys was investigating cardiovascular disease. His goal was to prove eating high amounts of saturated fat was linked to heart disease.

He published the “7 Countries Study,” successfully showing fat as the major cause of heart problems.

His research was praised and soon became gospel. He even became known as the “father” of the Lipid Hypothesis. That’s the theory that high cholesterol causes heart disease… and in turn, eating a lot of fat causes high cholesterol.

But there was a slight problem with Keys’ research. Something he deliberately ignored. Keys only chose to use data from seven countries that matched exactly what he wanted to prove.

The truth is there were at least a half-dozen other countries with examples that proved the exact opposite. Countries where people routinely ate tons of fat – yet rarely experienced heart disease. When it didn’t fit his hypothesis, he ignored the data.

Unfortunately, Keys’ research caught on over the years. One group in particular -- the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) – ran with Keys’ ideas. They launched what began an all out-war against all saturated fats. In fact, CSPI coined the term “artery-clogging” fat.

Sadly, coconut oil got caught up in it all.

Decades ago, food manufacturers used tropical oils like coconut oil in their baked goods. Movie theatres used it for their popcorn.

CSPI argued that coconut oil was terrible for your health. It was laden with saturated fat. Instead, they demanded that these companies use vegetable oils instead (this of course benefited the American Soybean Association, who in the past has made generous donations to CSPI).

The food industry gave in. Coconut oil became taboo. Even the government joined in.

The National Cholesterol Education Program even issued a statement, encouraging margarine and partially hydrogenated fats, stating that “…coconut oil … should be avoided.”

Today, we know better.

The Dr Al Sears article on coconut oil can be found at http://www.alsearsmd.com/coconut-oil-fat/

---

How a P.R. Campaign Led to Unhealthy Diets

There is another take on the smear campaign against cocolnut oil at http://www.coconutoil.com/beatrice_hunter

---

And if you are interested in a potential to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, check out this article by a doctor who used it successfully on her husband http://coconutoil.com/AlzheimersDiseaseDrMaryNewport.pdf

---

Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products, say scientists.

Additional testing by the group at the Athlone Institute of Technology found that enzyme-modified coconut oil was also harmful to the yeast Candida albicans that can cause thrush.

This ingredient is normally used as an ingredient in the following Healthelicious products:
premium energy
nutrition booster
peak performance
weight loss
cacao slice
choc chip slice
cocomac slice
fruit cake slice
intense desire bites
coconut, apricot and cranberry slice

---