The benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil.

Immune Support

  • Coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids and monoglycerides which have immune-boosting and antioxidant activity and are antimicrobial, according to Dr. Jon J. Kabara (2001)
  • Lauric acid (which makes up about 50% of coconut oil), and its derivative monolaurin, support the immune system and may dampen or prevent toxic/allergic reactions - as well as playing a role in destroying pathogens like HIV, herpes, and the flu (Dr. Mary G. Enig, 2001)

Metabolism and Thyroid

  • Coconut oil may boost the metabolism and improves thyroid health (unlike soy or canola, which can suppress the thyroid). Animals fed on “cheap coconut oil for fattening” in the 1940s became more active and were leaner, as opposed to animals fed on corn and soybeans. Corn and soy feed were used to replace thyroid-suppressant drugs that were given to animals to make them sluggish and heavier (Dr. Ray Peat, 2001)

Blood Sugar

  • Coconut oil appears to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent symptoms of hypoglycemia (Peat, 2001)

Cholesterol

  • Coconut oil, unlike most fats, has been noted in two 1995 and 1988 studies as a “neutral fat,” having no negative impact on cholesterol or the health of the arteries (Enig, 2001). A 1989 study showed that men who were accustomed to coconut oil in their diet demonstrated undesirable changes in their HDL-LDL cholesterol ratio when corn oil was substituted instead of coconut in the diet
  • Coconut oil feeding resulted in lower serum cholesterol than olive oil in a cholesterol study in 1997, and a 1994 study showed similar results when comparing coconut to olive and corn oils.

No Rancidity

  • Unsaturated oils oxidize at high temperatures and go rancid - outside and inside the body. Unlike other cooking fats - including olive oil - coconut oil is not damaged at high heat, nor does it contain any (“partially hydrogenated”) trans fats which have been linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and obesity.

Raw Food Diets

  • Raw coconuts and coconut oil are widely recommended in raw food diets, some of the healthiest diets for weight loss.