Living Strong

If you have ever visited the Pacific Islands or the Philippines you will notice that the local people who have not been heavily influenced by the western diet are very healthy; free from diabetes and obesity. One of the main reasons is due to coconut and coconut oil consumption.

 

Coconut Oil is the ‘Low-Fat’ Fat

Coconut Oil is a unique natural fat which helps the body burn fat, have more energy and heal. Yes, you heard right – coconut oil in a whey protein shake, chicken curry or straight off the spoon, will help you get lean and feel satisfied.

 

What Makes Coconut Oil Different?

Structure

Even though it is classified to be 92% saturated fat, its structure and mechanism works completely differently to other saturated fats. Its unique structure makes it a rich source of medium-chain fatty acids, which in turn is rich in lauric acid (approximately 50%).[1]  This gives coconut oil strong anti-fungal properties and protects the body from unwanted bacteria.[2]

 

Burns Fat

These medium chain fatty acids aid fat loss as they use up energy when they are metabolised. These fats are rapidly oxidised in the body, more so than any other kind of fat, causing the body to create more energy oxidising these fats than the amount of energy they provide.[3]

 

Increases Metabolic Rate

It has a “thermogenic effect”, raising the body’s temperature, which in turn boosts energy levels and the metabolic rate.[4]  The metabolic rate not only increases, but coconut oil, as a medium chain fatty acid, will also help the body burn long chain fatty acids.[5]

 

Heat and Light Stable

Other oils like flaxseed or fish oil, which have a high omega 3 content and are used to balance our excess omega 6 western diet (which causes high blood pressure and other ailments), are very susceptible to heat, oxygen and sunlight which quickly oxidise these sensitive fats, creating a toxic by product.[6] Therefore they must be used within a short period of being bottled. However Coconut oil which is the most stable oil dilutes the effects of excess omega 6 intake and is resistant to heats of 350 degrees, sunlight and oxygen and is more commonly used as a food and in cooking over flaxseed or fish oils.[7]

 

The Body Processes it Differently

Other fats such as polyunsaturated which are long chain fatty acids – are broken down into fat and protein cells called lipoproteins.  The body then directs these into the bloodstream where the fatty acids are injected into our fat cells.  Coconut oil however, is not broken down into lipoproteins. The body recognises its unique structure and sends it to the liver to be immediately converted into energy. Studies, using both humans and animals, have shown that using MCT (medium chain triglycerides such as coconut oil) instead of LCT (long chain triglycerides) results in an increase in lean body mass and reduced body weight.[8],[9],[10],[11]

 

The Bottom Line

Therefore by replacing vegetable fats, such as canola or sunflower oil and cooking with coconut oil you will speed up fat loss and increase your health. Sally Fallon in her book Nourishing Traditions makes a necessary statement that needs to be heard by consumers of our very financially driven (as opposed to health driven) food and diet industry. 

 

“Politically correct dietary gurus tell us that polyunsaturated oils are good for us and that saturated fats cause cancer and heart disease. Such misinformation about the relative virtues of saturated fats versus polyunsaturated oils has caused profound changes in western eating habits. At the turn of the century, most of the fatty acids in the diet were either saturated or monounsaturated, primarily from butter, lard, tallow, coconut oil and small amounts of olive oil. Today most of the fats in the diet are polyunsaturated, primarily from vegetable oils…Excess consumption of polyunsaturated oils has been shown to contribute to a large number of diseased conditions” [12]

 

Having been someone who moderated my saturated fat intake for a long time, I now consume plenty from coconut oil, as well as an abundance of fat from pasture raised organic meats and eggs; both of which contain the small amounts omega 3 and polyunsaturated fats necessary to achieve optimum health and be lean.

 

Adding Coconut Oil to Your Diet

Replace vegetable oils with coconut oil in all cooking. Coconut oil is a stable fat and can be used at high temperatures.

Coconut can be added to cream and be used in curries and recipes requiring milk. Or use coconut milk.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a whey protein shake and enjoy the delicious taste, as well as the reduction in sugar cravings, more energy and feeling of being satisfied.

 

Additional Health Benefits

Coconut oil strengthens the immune system.[13] 

It protects against tumours, heart disease, and promotes healthy bones. [14],[15],[16] Coconut oil also helps with proper uptake of omega-3 fatty acids into the tissue.[17] Something most people are uneducated in – that you need healthy saturated fats to absorb omega 3.

 

Coconut oil is a great skin moisturiser

With the high content of coconut cream and milk in Thai food – this may explain why Thai’s have such beautiful skin.   “It (coconut oil) prevents destructive free-radical formation and provides protection against them. It can help to keep the skin from developing liver spots, and other blemishes caused by aging and over exposure to sunlight. It helps to keep connective tissues strong and supple so that the skin doesn’t sag and wrinkle. In some cases it might even restore damaged or diseased skin”.[18]

 

Choosing the Best Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, when stored at low temperatures is a solid, white substance and melts at tropical temperatures to a clear or creamy coloured liquid. Dr Mary Enig and Sally Fallon recommend a virgin coconut oil that has been extracted by a gentle low-heat method without any harmful chemicals.[19]  Cheap coconut oils are industrially refined, bleached and deodorised in order to make them edible. Expelled and centrifugal processing methods extract the oils at high heats (minimum 66 degrees Celsius) which destroys important enzymes and therefore diminishes a lot of the health benefits.

 

Why Aclara Health Coconut Oil?

After much research and testing Professional Whey chose Aclara Health Extra Virgin coconut oil as it was the only one we could find that was genuinely 100% cold pressed, organic, extra virgin and still had all its natural properties intact. Here’s a quick rundown of what we liked about it:

 

No Chemicals or Heat Damaging Natural Properties

It is biologically 100% pure due to it being extracted from fresh white coconut meat with no chemicals and no temperatures above 27 degrees during the production process. This gentle process allows the oil to retain all its natural goodness including fresh coconut enzymes, essence and vitamin E.

 

Organic Fresh and the First Cold Pressing

Only fresh coconuts from organically certified plantations are used to produce such a pristine clear extra virgin coconut oil with retained fresh coconut essence. It is cold pressed from the first pressing making it ‘extra virgin’ and contains many of the natural enzymes that are anti bacterial and anti fungal.

 

It Looks and Tastes Amazing

On a hot day (above 21 degrees) it has no colour at all, as it is pristine looking being crystal clear in its liquid form. However on cold days (below 21 degrees) it is a sparkling white solid, similar to butter texture. To taste it has mild but decadent coconut flavour.

 

Product Certifications

Product of organic agriculture certified by ECOCERT SA – F 32600

Star K Kosher Certification

Packaged in Australia under HACCP certified conditions

 

There are many testimonials floating around the internet about how people have increased their energy levels, feel satisfied and have lost a lot of much need weight due to the incorporation of coconut oil into their diet. So if you are still sceptical do your research.

 

Personal Recommendation

In order to reap the benefits of coconut oil begin with 2 teaspoons a day and work up to 4-6 tablespoons daily. 4 tablespoons are necessary to see the benefits but don’t consume more than 2 tablespoons in one sitting unless you are cooking with it.

 

Book Recommendation:

Nourishing Traditions is a book I recommend to become more educated with the importance of saturated fats, nutrition and the practicalities. It is deeper in content but you can use for a life time, in and out of the kitchen. However if you want something a little lighter then read Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr Mary Enig and Sally Fallon.

 

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen Morris