The Magic Coconut

 

The Truths and Fallacies of Coconut

-Kaliste Kimball

 

In today's world of health and nutrition, there is a lot of controversy over coconut, but let me ease your fears. Although coconut contains saturated fat, it is possibly one of the best things you could ever ingest. But wait! How can it be healthy if all it contains fat...and to be more precise, saturated fat?

Hold your horses and don't jump to conclusions. Don't fall into the misconceptions and mass hysteria about the dangers of all fat or of all saturated fat. Although it's true a person shouldn't eat TOO much fat, people need fat to live and function properly. Fat cushions and protects our organs. It is incorporated into our cell membranes. It is used as an energy source. It makes certain vitamins (that we NEED)- like vitamin A and D- available to us. Naturally occurring saturated fat in eggs, butter, and coconut/coconut oil is nothing to fear, especially compared to trans fats or hydrogenated butters or oils. Trans fat and anything hydrogenated = bad news.

First of all you have to consider that our ancestors have been eating these naturally occurring saturated fats for centuries, possibly even millenniums before us, and have gone "surprisingly" without cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other types of degenerative diseases. You didn't see Pacific Islanders whose diets consisted highly or mainly of coconut and coconut oil with coronary heart disease - in fact they were and remain to be an overall healthy population of people. It isn't until this past century or so that we see an ever-rising trend of these types of diseases. Does this have any correlation with the consumption of naturally occuring fatty acids or could it possibly have a correlation with processed foods and hydrogenated fats? It is certainly easier to blame the healthy things and reach for the ever-so-convenient, processed, artificially created food products that are cheap and readily available for consumption. Let's face the truth and stop living in denial. Getting fat from coconut oil won't hurt your body. Getting fat from processed and/or artificial "food" will.

Fats and oils are essentially made up of smaller molecules of fatty acids. Fatty acids are classified into three different lengths- short, medium, and long. The fatty acids in coconut and coconut oil are medium-chained, also knows as MCT's (medium chained triglycerides).

Medium chained triglycerides are far from their saturated long-chain triglyceride cousins as far as body processing is concerned. First they are easier to metabolize, and secondly your body prefers to use these saturated MCT's as energy rather than storing it around your hips and your middle. Thirdly, the MCT's in coconut are mainly (around 50%) composed of a particular fatty acid called lauric acid which performs as an antiviral and antimicrobal. Even Physicians' Desk Reference published that MCT's may be helpful for some cancers and have positive effects on immunity. Another 6 to 7% of the fats are an MCT called capric acid. This is formed into monocaprin in the human body, which has also been shown to have antiviral effects and is being tested for effects against herpes and for antibacterial effects against chlamydia and other sexually transmitted bacteria.

That being said, you don't have to suffer from any of these diseases or conditions to benefit from the wonderful, magical coconut. If you're looking for a food that tastes delicious AND can enhance your immune system, open up your minds and your kitchens to coconut. I use it for everything. Virgin coconut oil, coconut manna, (unsweetened) coconut meat, coconut milk...the options are endless, as are the uses.

I use (virgin or extra virgin...do not buy refined!) coconut oil for cooking and baking because it has a high smoking point (350 degrees). You can use it for a hair treatment for shiny locks. I have friends that rub it on their faces as moisturizers to keep their breakouts down. I use coconut manna for smoothies and as a spread for my toast. I use coconut meat for baking. Coconut milk is an excellent way to restock on electrolytes after an intense workout.

So basically...what are you waiting for??