Coconut Oil Benefits

What provides most of the life giving benefits of Coconut Oil?

The answer is Medium Chain Trigylcerides (MCT) or Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA). What is an MCT/MCFA and why is it so important to the health of the body? Below is a brief explanation MCT, however, to read a full article explain these, please click on this article by Dr. Bruce Fife “Coconut Oil and Medium-Chain Triglycerides“. For further benefits of coconut oil, please scan to the bottom of the page.

Three types of fat exist, and have different roles in the body. Those three are saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Fats or fatty acids are also categorized by the molecule size or length of the carbon chain in the fatty acid. There are short chain, medium chain and long chain fatty acids. Three fatty acids joined together make a triglyceride (short, medium and long chain triglycerides). Most if not all of the fatty acids that we consume today are Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT). All vegetable oils like vegetable, canola, sunflower, etc… are all LCTs.

Coconut oil, however, is unique in the fact that it is made up of mostly MCTs. MCTs are easily broken down, digested and used for energy rapidly by the body unlike LCTs which are much harder to break down, digest and are stored in the body as fat. So why in the world would we use vegetable oils containing LCTs? The answer goes back to good old greed and conspiracy. The American Soybean Association wanted to secure their place in the market/world and started smear campaigns against the tropical oils (coconut and palm) saying that the type of saturated fats found in coconut oil and palm oil were the cause of many health problems, despite scientific evidence to the contrary showing their benefits. Even more so today this being proved, that the polyunsaturated oils and fats are the real health menace. Polyunsaturated fats chemically have more than one double bond, which in essence is a free radical entering the body because it is lacking another molecule. When polyunsaturated oils are heated (like on the stove cooking), or are exposed to light or oxygen they oxidize and go rancid, forming even more free radicals. With coconut oil this is impossible because chemically it is saturated and therefore stable as a whole. You can heat it, expose it to light, it still remains saturated and unchanged.

To summarize, the benefits of coconut oil are plentiful based primarily on these two things; one, that it is a saturated fat and two, it is composed most of MCT or MCFA (48% lauric acid, 8% caprylic acid, 7% capric acid and other beneficial fatty acids). These give coconut oil its healing, energy inducing, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant benefits. Scientists are still studying the ways people can experience coconut oil benefits, but one thing is for sure, the benefits of coconut oils are abundant!

Listed below are over 50 listed known coconut oil benefits. This list has been reproduced and was written by Dr. Bruce Fife.

Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections. Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance (help with thyroid function and hypothyrodism).
Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose, treating diabetes.
Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis. Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth. Helps protect against osteoporosis.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
Improves digestion and bowel function. Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
Reduces inflammation.
Supports tissue healing and repair.
Supports and aids immune system function.
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Functions as a protective antioxidant.
Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease. Does not deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
Reduces epileptic seizures.
Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
Dissolves kidney stones.
Helps prevent liver disease.
Is lower in calories than all other fats.
Supports thyroid function.
Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats. Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
Helps control dandruff.
Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do. Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
Is completely non-toxic to humans.