Chances are, you wouldn’t think of putting “saturated fats” and “healthy” in the same sentence. Certain kinds of saturated fat can increase the cholesterol in your blood, contributing to heart disease. However, what we are learning now is that “good” saturated fats, like those in coconut oil, provide nutrients that can bolster the immune system against infection and even strengthen and protect the brain from degenerative disease.
Unfortunately, we didn’t know that two decades ago when, in 1994, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) launched a campaign against coconut oil. After conducting a study on movie theater popcorn, they revealed that theaters were popping corn kernels doused in coconut oil, and that a tub of the theater favorite contained nearly twice the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recommended daily allowance. Back then, the USDA held the stance that all saturated fats led to heart disease. Soon after this discovery, a campaign ensued to warn consumers of saturated-fat health risks. That’s when coconut oil was banned from being used in movie theater popcorn.
But now, we know the benefits of certain saturated fats that coconut oil is rich in, and simple ways you can harness its healing power.
Brainwashed by biotech
The CSPI eventually reversed its position on saturated fats. But the damage had already been done. Coconut oil was out, along with its potential health benefits. And do you know what replaced it? Oils from biotech crops like corn and soybeans.
It was all going according to plan. Until that point, Americans weren’t consuming much corn and soybean, most of which were biotech products. The public needed a reason to buy into them.
The anti-saturated fat campaign provided that reason and biotech interests have been behind the curtain ever since.
That smear campaign has made us miss out on a huge benefit…
This is your brain on coconut oil
The World Health Organization reports: “The total number of people with dementia is projected to almost double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.” So far, no pharmaceutical drug provides an effective treatment, much less a cure, for the most common form of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease.
But that might soon change as scientists begin to study coconut oil.
Coconut oil’s benefits to the brain are due to its wealth of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) — an essential fatty acid not found in most of the foods we eat.
Our bodies process MCTs faster than long-chain triglycerides, which are found in most animal-based products. MCTs are shorter in length, so they pass straight to the liver where they are metabolized and ketone molecules are generated. Those molecules provide energy to the brain when its normal energy sources are depleted.
Basically, ketones are brain food.
Many personal experiences claim this type of energy effectively alleviates Alzheimer’s disease. A significant study is happening now at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of South Florida to determine whether coconut oil can indeed mitigate the onset of Alzheimer’s.
That’s good news because the Alzheimer’s Association suggests the mission to find an Alzheimer’s treatment is failing. “We need more volunteers to complete clinical trials… and increased federal funding of research to ensure that fresh ideas continue to fill the pipeline.”
Coconut oil could be the answer we’re looking for. So it’s upsetting to think that its demonization has kept us from realizing such an incredible health benefit. Other advantages were also overlooked. A diet rich in coconut oil can help your heart, stomach, and even your immune system.
But now there is nothing stopping you from integrating coconut oil into your diet. You can use it in place of unhealthy cooking oils or as a natural alternative to balance your health.
Four simple ways to make coconut oil work for you right now
I want to point out that coconut oil is different from coconut water or coconut milk. While coconut water is an excellent source of electrolytes, it does not contain MCTs.
Coconut milk, on the other hand, holds those essential fatty acids — but it comes with a few risks. For example, it contains guar gum, which can disagree with gut and digestion. It can also contribute to something called fructose malabsorption, which plagues people with intestinal and gut diseases.
When it comes to coconut oil, be sure any coconut oil you use is virgin and cold-pressed. Don’t get any that’s hydrogenated or refined in any way. Besides that, have at it with these four simple uses:
- Eat it with a spoon. Based on hundreds of first-hand accounts, a couple of tablespoons a day can work wonders.
- Put it in your coffee. Some people find that coconut oil complements coffee’s robust flavor nicely. It seems the secret is to blend it into the coffee completely, so you don’t end up with an oily drink. Don’t just stir it!
- Cook with it. Coconut oil is healthier, and it has a higher smoke point than other cooking oils. This can prevent the accumulation of carcinogenic radicals on your food when cooking with high heat.
- Brush your teeth with it. Mix it with a little baking soda for natural, chemical-free toothpaste that also helps restore the health of your teeth. Or, for additional benefits to your teeth, you can swish the oil around in your mouth for 10 minutes just as you would a mouthwash.
Take back your health, take back your choice, and give coconut oil a try.
