Can we really get nuts over coconuts?
In recent studies, coconut oil— a medium chain fatty acid—has been proven to improve thyroid function. For the many women and men who have hypothyroidism, the use of coconut oil in the diet can help to restore the function of their thermostat for metabolism.
According to the experts, about 50% of women who complain about weight problems go undiagnosed with thyroid problems. Most women have never had their thyroid checked. With the onset of menopause, a thyroid problem typically worsens.
The thyroid, the thermostat for metabolism, lies across the throat like a butterfly. When the thermostat is set and running along, you feel and look great. However, if the setting is low or slow, you can feel tired and sluggish, and your weight can start to climb. Other signs you might notice are: flaky or dry skin, headaches, depression or mood swings, constipation, insomnia, hair loss, high cholesterol, difficulty with concentration or memory and difficulty staying warm. You should consult your physician about blood tests that test your T3 and T4 levels, but some tests are inconclusive or fail to catch the condition alltogether.
Research has found that taking three tablespoons of coconut oil a day can increase your calorie-burning power by up to 50%. Even if you don't have thyroid problems, taking coconut oil is worth trying since it is a food and not a drug and is free of side effects. Other studies have shown that by substituting coconut oil for other plant-based oils, some people have lost up to 36 pounds per year without dieting.
The Stability of Coconut Oil
Unsaturated oils in cooked foods become rancid in just a few hours, even in the refrigerator, one reason for the "stale" taste of leftovers. However, according to Peat, eating fresh unsaturated fats is even worse, because once inside the body, they will oxidize (turn rancid) very rapidly due to being heated and mixed with oxygen. Not so with coconut oil. Even after one year at room temperature, coconut oil shows no evidence of rancidity even though it contains 9% linoleic (omega - 6) polyunsaturated acid. Peat theorizes that coconut oil may have antioxidant properties, since the oil doesn't turn rancid and since it reduces our need for vitamin E, whereas unsaturated oils deplete vitamin E. Thyroid-Stimulating, Anti-Aging Effects of Coconut Oil
Many researchers have reported that coconut oil lowers cholesterol (Blackburn et al 1988, Ahrens and colleagues, 1957). In 1981, Prior et al. showed that islanders with a diet high in coconut oil showed no harmful health effects. When these groups migrated to New Zealand and lowered their daily coconut oil intake, their total cholesterol and especially their LDL cholesterol - the so-called evil one - increased. The cholesterol-lowering properties of coconut oil are a direct result of its ability to stimulate thyroid function. In the presence of adequate thyroid hormone, cholesterol (specifically LDL-cholesterol) is converted by enzymatic processes to the vitally necessary anti-aging steroids, pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA. These substances are required to help prevent heart disease, senility, obesity, cancer and other diseases associated with aging and chronic degenerative diseases. Weight Loss Stimulating Properties of Coconut Oil
A Direct Result of Thyroid Stimulation
In the 1940's farmers tried coconut oil to fatten their animals but discovered that it made them lean and active and increased their appetite. Whoops! Then they tried an anti-thyroid drug. It made the livestock fat with less food but was found to be a carcinogen (cancer causing drug). In the late 1940's, it was found that the same anti-thyroid effect could be achieved by simply feeding animals soybeans and corn. Anti-Cancer Effects of Coconut Oil
In 1987 Lim-Sylianco published a 50-year literature review showing the anti-cancer effects of coconut oil. In chemically induced cancers of the colon and breast, coconut oil was by far more protective than unsaturated oils. For example 32% of corn oil eaters got colon cancer whereas only 3% of coconut oil eaters got the cancer. Animals fed unsaturated oils had more tumors. This shows the thyroid-suppressive and hence, immuno-suppressive effect of unsaturated oils. (Cohen et al. 1986).When Albert Schweitzer operated his clinic in tropical Africa, he said that it was many years before he saw a single case of cancer. He believed that the appearance of cancer was caused by introduction of the European diet to the Africans. Many studies since the 1920's have shown an association between consumption of unsaturated oils and the incidence of cancer.
Antimicrobial (Antiseptic) Effects of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids such as lauric (C-12), caprylic (C-10) and myristic (C-14) acids. Of these three, coconut oil contains 40% lauric acid, which has the greater anti-viral activity of these three fatty acids. Lauric acid is so disease fighting that it is present in breast milk. The body converts lauric acid to a fatty acid derivative (monolaurin), which is the substance that protects infants from viral, bacterial or protozoal infections. This was recognized and reported in 1966 (Jon Kabara). Work by Hierholzer and Kabara (1982) showed that monolaurin has virucidal effects on RNA and DNA viruses, which are surrounded by a lipid membrane. In addition to these RNA and DNA viruses, in 1978, Kabara and others reported that certain medium chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid have adverse effects on other pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and fungi. These fatty acids and their derivatives actually disrupt the lipid membranes of the organisms and thus inactivate them (Isaacs and Thormar 1991; Isaacs et al. 1992). This deactivation process also occurs in human and bovine milk when fatty acids are added to them (Isaacs et al. 1991). References:
Virgin coconut oil and your health
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Reader Feedback
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May 27, 2011 @ 4:29 pm | delete
- Great tip with the throw rugs. I like fireplaces or even wood burning stoves. Great selection of other types of heating stoves.
braeburn thermostats | mini pillowpets
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stargazer00
Dec 30, 2008 @ 6:19 pm | delete
- Lots of great information here on coconut oil. Our family uses it and we like it.
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tandemonimom Dec 29, 2008 @ 4:57 pm | delete
- This is a GREAT lens - very informative and helpful! You are cordially invited to join the new Real Food, Real Living group on Squidoo! 5*****
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by Lee888
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