The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

The following brief article should first be qualified by pointing out the important distinction between virgin coconut oil and the other, more refined, less healthy types of oil. When speaking of its health benefits, it should, therefore, be understood that this is primarily a reference to virgin coconut oil.

Previously lumped together with other saturated fats and labelled harmful, this all-natural and incredibly verstile ingredient is now being increasingly recognized as having a wide range of health benefits.

Is Coconut Oil Good for You?

As a tropical oil, coconut oil, along with other tropical oils such as palm oil, is high in saturated fat -about 90%. So how could a food product with a saturated fat content of 90% ever be considered part of a healthy diet?

Well, it turns out that many of our commonly held prejudices with regard to saturated fat are simply based on bad science, a myth perpetuated by the business interests behind the production of industrial seed oils.

Furthermore, not all saturated fats are created equal and an analysis of its composition reveals some interesting facts with regard to the potential health benefits of coconut oil. In particular, important differences exist in the fatty acid profiles among the many different sources of saturated fat; for example, animal versus vegetable sources. It should also be noted that being of vegetable origin, it contains no cholesterol.

Nutrition:

Because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is one of the most chemically stable of all oils and is highly resistant to oxidation. This also means it has a long shelf life (up to 2 years!) and is a good choice for use as a cooking oil especially when cooking over a high heat.

Made up primarily of 3 types of fatty acids, of which approximately 50 percent is Lauric acid-also found in breast milk-it is, in fact, one of the richest natural dietary sources of Lauric acid. This particular type of medium chain fatty acid is known to increase overall levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and so reducing the risk of heart disease. Moreover, when metabolized, Lauric Acid is converted into Monolaurin, a potent antibacterial and anti-viral agent. It has also been identified as being a good source of antioxidants which protect our body's cells against the damage caused by free radicals. As well as antioxidants, it also contains a number of vitamins (vitamin E in particular) and minerals, thus further elevating its position among the ranks of health foods. One somewhat surprising aspect of this product's many health benefits is its potential as an aid to weight loss.

Coconut Oil vs. Olive Oil:

It is well known that olive oil has many health promoting properties due largely to its high levels of monounsaturated fat and so it is often used as a benchmark to measure the relative health benefits of various other oils. A comparison of these two oils shows olive oil to have a much lower level of saturated fat-about 14% - compared to 90% in coconut oil. The saturated fat in olive oil, moreover, is mostly composed of palmitic and stearic acid rather than the healthier lauric acid found in coconut oil. However, with up to 73% monounsaturated fat, olive oil is fully deserving of its healthy reputation. Such a comparison should only be of academic interest anyway as the different flavors and properties of each of these oils lend themselves to different uses.

For more in-depth information on coconut oil, or to view the original article in context, visit: coconut-oil-facts.com
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