Introduction

John Appleton

John Appleton

Nutritional medicine and functional foods should be top of mind when it comes to ways in which we can influence our health. When it comes to fats most of us are conditioned to believe that fat is bad (especially saturated fat) and hence the 99% fat free labels that adorn products on supermarket shelves. The unfortunate fact is that in society today almost everything is 99% fat free apart from the people.

The first thing we need to understand that not all fat is bad for us. Humanity needs fat. Together with protein and carbohydrates fat is a macronutrient that is essential for life.

Fat

  • is a part of all cell membranes
  • is needed for normal growth and development
  • provides energy (fat is the most concentrated source of energy)
  • regulates the use and production of cholesterol absorbs and carries it through the body
  • absorbs and carry the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
  • is present in the skin to repel water
  • makes up part of the material that insulates nerves and increases the efficiency of nerve conduction
  • makes up an integral part of certain hormones that regulate blood pressure, clotting and inflammation
  • is stored in the body as triglycerides that can be found as fat (adipose) tissue that cushions the organs

For those of you with a 'fear of fat' mentality lets start out by saying that Coconut Oil is a saturated fat, yes the type of fat you have been told to avoid, the type of fat that is the cause of heart disease and obesity. Or is it?

So how can it be that a saturated fat can be described by authors Cynthia and Laura Holzapfels in their book 'Coconut Oil for Health and Beauty' as the healthiest oil you can consume and also the one of the most misunderstood oils of our time?

Why is it that the authors of numerous books and countless articles posted on the internet make such bold claims for a product that comes from the humble Coconut?

We are told that Coconut Oil:

  • can reduce your risk of heart disease
  • helps reduce inflammation and immune responses caused by allergies
  • can boost metabolism and weight loss and promote a healthy thyroid function
  • can lower your cholesterol
  • can prevent other disease and routine illness with its powerful antibacterial, anti viral and antifungal agents
  • Is easily digested even by those with stomach and intestinal problems such as Crohn's disease and IBS
  • helps heal wounds and reduce acne
  • promotes beautiful skin by protecting against free radical damage that causes aging and wrinkles

I guess the answer to this question comes from the experience of those who have used Coconut Oil over thousands of years and those who have a real understanding of the role of fats in the human body. During 2004 when I was conducting my own research so that I could gain a better understanding of fats, I came across Coconut Oil on the Mercola website. It seemed as though every time I received a Mercola newsletter, there was something about Coconut Oil. So perhaps like many Mercola advocates I dug a bit deeper and here I am presenting the good news about this wonderful oil on a New Zealand website. I urge you to do your own research and maybe like me make Virgin Organic Coconut oil a healthy and great tasting inclusion in your diet.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did You Know?Young coconut water is a blood purifier. The coconut is a natural water filter that takes about nine months to produce coconut water, as its natural moisture is slowly distilled through complex coconut fibres, all the while remaining sterile sealed inside the nut. The water is identical to human blood plasma, which makes up 55% of human blood, and has been used to save lives when human blood plasma has not been available. So drinking coconut water is kind of like an instant blood transfusion.

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