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News on Coconut Oil
The Stability of Coconut Oil
by R. Peat PHD
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. Dr 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.
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.
Anti microbial (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).
The plague of diseases within
our modern hospitals
One of the most serious and intractable medical problems
facing doctors today is that of antibiotic-resistant
infectious micro-organisms, the so-called "super
bugs." One example is MRSA (methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus), now a common source of blood
poisoning and infection in hospitals . Other examples
of antibiotic-resistant infectious agents include
Bacillus anthracis Sterne, virulent Escherichia coli,
Klebsiela pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Mycobacterium
terrae, viruses with lipid membranes, and a number
of invasive fungi.
This problem has led to interest in researching the
use of natural products to enhance the treatment of
infectious disease, such as coconut oil and other
oils rich in lauric acid as well as herbal remedies
like originum oil, substances traditionally recognized
for decades for their healing properties. While there
have been many testimonies and "anecdotes"
about the effectiveness of such natural treatments,
until recently no published studies were available
to doctors that would allow them to justify their
use of these protocols.
Fortunately coconut oil and other lauric oils, as
well as oregano oil, have recently been the object
of study in the Georgetown University laboratory of
Dr. Harry Preuss in the United States and this research
has resulted in several published peer reviewed papers
appearing in toxicology journals in 2006.
The anti microbial properties of both volatile aromatic
oils such as originum (oregano) oil and medium chain
fatty acids such as lauric acid and its derivative
monolaurin from coconut oil have shown promise in
these studies. As noted by these researchers, origanum
oil, used as a food-flavoring agent, possesses a broad
spectrum of antimicrobial activity due, at least in
part, to its high content of phenolic derivatives
such as carvacrol and thymol. Also, lauric acid, which
is present in heavy concentrations in coconut oil,
forms monolaurin in the animal body and this derivative
of lauric acid can inhibit the growth of many pathogenic
microorganisms.
It is now clear and scientifically validated that
the "inclusion of coconut oil in the diet could
and should be utilized for its preventive and healing
properties."
Parasites & protazoa
Coconut oil may provide an effective defense against
many troublesome parasites including giardia. Like
bacteria and fungi, giardia can't stand up against
MCFA found in coconut oil. Research has confirmed
the effectiveness of MCFA in destroying giardia and
possibly other protozoa. By using coconut oil and
other coconut products every day, you may be able
to destroy giardia before it can establish a toehold.
In so doing you also eliminate the possibility of
developing food allergies, chronic fatigue, and other
related symptoms. If you're currently troubled with
these conditions, coconut oil used liberally with
meals may provide a source of relief. Because MCFA
are quickly absorbed by the tissues and converted
into energy it seems logical that those suffering
from chronic fatigue would gain a great deal of benefit.
Foods prepared with coconut oil, or even fresh coconut
make a great energy booster.
Another possible use for coconut is for the removal
of intestinal worms & head lice, tapeworms, lice,
giardia, candida, bacteria, viruses, and germs of
all sorts can be eliminated or at very least held
in check with coconut oil. Parasites like Giardia
can live in a variety of water sources, ponds, tap
water, swimming pools,animal droppings, working with
children & elderly diapers and not taking adequate
hygiene procedures can easily infect people, symptoms
can be flu like, diarrhoea, cramps, headaches, bloating,
constipation, bloating, IBS.
For infections and intestinal complaints it seems
like coconut oil is one of the best natural medicines
you can use.
Technical Functions
(High tech' stuff)
Many people recognize that saturated fats are needed
for energy, hormone production, cellular membranes
and for organ padding. You may be surprised to learn
that certain saturated fatty acids are also needed
for important signaling and stabilization processes
in the body.
Signaling processes work in the cells at the level
of the membrane proteins, many of which are called
G-protein receptors. The G-protein receptors become
stimulated by different molecules and can be turned
off or on in a manner similar to a binary light switch,
which remains on for a limited time and then flips
itself off until it is stimulated again.
The saturated fatty acids that play important roles
in these processes are the 16-carbon palmitic acid,
the 14-carbon myristic acid and the 12-carbon lauric
acid. These saturated fatty acids are found in certain
food fats. Palmitic acid, for example, comprises 45
percent of palm oil and about 25 percent of animal
and dairy fats. Furthermore, the body makes palmitic
acid out of excess carbohydrates and excess protein.
The G-proteins come in different forms; the alpha
sub unit is covalently linked to myristic acid and
the function of this sub unit is important for turning
on and off the binding to an enzyme called adenylate
cyclase and thus the amplification of important hormone
signals.
When researchers looked at the fatty acid composition
of the phospholipids in the T-cells (white blood cells),
from both young and old donors, they found that a
loss of saturated fatty acids in the lymphocytes was
responsible for age-related declines in white blood
cell function. They found that they could correct
cellular deficiencies in palmitic acid and myristic
acid by adding these saturated fatty acids.
Most Westerners consume very little myristic acid
because it is provided by coconut oil and dairy fats,
both of which we are told to avoid. But myristic acid
is a very important fatty acid, which the body uses
to stabilize many different proteins, including proteins
used in the immune system and to fight tumors. This
function is called myristoylation; it occurs when
myristic acid is attached to the protein in a specific
position where it functions usefully. For example,
the body has the ability to suppress production of
tumors from lung cancer cells if a certain genetically
determined suppressor gene is available. This gene
is called fus1 and is a protein that has been modified
with covalent addition of the saturated fatty acid
myristic acid. Thus, the loss of myristic acid from
the diet can have unfortunate consequences, including
cancer and immune system dysfunction.
Lauric acid has several functions. It is an anti
microbial fatty acid on its own and as a monoglyceride.
It also has the function of stabilization when it
is attached to certain proteins in a similar fashion
to myristic acid and palmitic acid.
In addition to their shelf stability, MCFA saturated
fats have many important roles in the body's chemistry:
For example:
- Saturated fatty acids constitute at least 50
percent of cell membranes. They give our cells necessary
firmness and integrity.
- They play a vital role in the health of our bones.
For example, at least 50 percent of our dietary
fats need to be saturated for calcium to be effectively
incorporated into the skeletal structure.
- They lower Lp(a), a substance in the blood that
indicates proneness to heart disease.
- They protect the liver from the toxic effects
of alcohol and certain drugs.
- They enhance the immune system.
- They are needed for the proper utilization of
essential fatty acids. Elongated omega-3 fatty acids
are better retained in the tissues when the diet
is rich in saturated fats.
- Saturated 18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon
palmitic acid are the preferred foods for the heart,
which is why the fat around the heart muscle is
highly saturated. The heart draws on this reserve
of fat in times of stress.
- Short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids
have important antimicrobial properties. They protect
us against harmful micro organisms in the digestive
tract.
How much total saturated do we need? During the 1970s,
researchers from Canada found that animals fed rapeseed
oil and canola oil developed heart lesions. This problem
was corrected when they added saturated fat to the
animals diets. On the basis of this and other research,
they ultimately determined that the diet should contain
at least 25 percent of fat as saturated fat. Among
the food fats that they tested, the one found to have
the best proportion of saturated fat was lard and
Virgin coconut oil, the very fats we are told to avoid
under all circumstances!
These are some of the complex but vital reasons we
need to include palm oil, coconut oil, butter in our
diets.
About the Author
Mary G. Enig, PhD is an expert of international
renown in the field of lipid biochemistry.
She has headed a number of studies on the content
and effects of trans fatty acids in America and Israel,
and has successfully challenged government assertions
that dietary animal fat causes cancer and heart disease.
Recent scientific and media attention on the possible
adverse health effects of trans fatty acids has brought
increased attention to her work. She is a licensed
nutritionist, certified by the Certification Board
for Nutrition Specialists, a qualified expert witness,
nutrition consultant to individuals, industry and
state and federal governments, contributing editor
to a number of scientific publications, Fellow of
the American College of Nutrition and President of
the Maryland Nutritionists Association. She is the
author of over 60 technical papers and presentations,
as well as a popular lecturer. Dr. Enig is currently
working on the exploratory development of an adjunct
therapy for AIDS using complete medium chain saturated
fatty acids from whole foods. She is Vice-President
of the Weston A Price Foundation and Scientific Editor
of Wise Traditions as well as the author of Know Your
Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition
of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol, Bethesda Press, May
2000.
This article appeared in the quarterly magazine of
the Weston A. Price Foundation.
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