Coconut
Fights fat and disease at the same time!
Coconut actually contains a very healthy form of fat called MCTs. MCT’s stands for medium-chain triglycerides. Although MCTs are indeed a form of saturated fat, they have some very unique properties. MCTs are very digestible. They bypass the liver and go right into the gut for absorption. This makes them ideal for people with digestive problems, like ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome.
MCTs also have antiviral and antimicrobal properties. Specifically, coconut and coconut oil contain a fatty acid called lauric acid, which has been found to be quite effective in fighting a number of bacteria. This makes coconut and coconut oil very effective for supporting the immune system. Because of its antiviral and antimicrobal properties, people with HIV and AIDs have used coconut and coconut oil to help build immune support.
Incorporating coconut into the diet is really simple. You can pour the oil over salads or rub chicken with it before baking. It’s great to use as a cooking oil for sautéing also. My favorite new dish is scrambled eggs with sliced apples and spinach all stir fried in some extra-virgin coconut oil. You can also use unsweetened coconut flakes on oatmeal, or flake fish with it. And coconut meat already chopped up is now available in many groceries, and some even sell the milk right out of a coconut shell complete with straw.
Coconut oil is now available in health food stores everywhere, but make sure to get a 100% cold-pressed organic brand. My favorite: Barlean’s.
Coconut actually contains a very healthy form of fat called MCTs. MCT’s stands for medium-chain triglycerides. Although MCTs are indeed a form of saturated fat, they have some very unique properties. MCTs are very digestible. They bypass the liver and go right into the gut for absorption. This makes them ideal for people with digestive problems, like ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome.
MCTs also have antiviral and antimicrobal properties. Specifically, coconut and coconut oil contain a fatty acid called lauric acid, which has been found to be quite effective in fighting a number of bacteria. This makes coconut and coconut oil very effective for supporting the immune system. Because of its antiviral and antimicrobal properties, people with HIV and AIDs have used coconut and coconut oil to help build immune support.
Incorporating coconut into the diet is really simple. You can pour the oil over salads or rub chicken with it before baking. It’s great to use as a cooking oil for sautéing also. My favorite new dish is scrambled eggs with sliced apples and spinach all stir fried in some extra-virgin coconut oil. You can also use unsweetened coconut flakes on oatmeal, or flake fish with it. And coconut meat already chopped up is now available in many groceries, and some even sell the milk right out of a coconut shell complete with straw.
Coconut oil is now available in health food stores everywhere, but make sure to get a 100% cold-pressed organic brand. My favorite: Barlean’s.
Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss and nutrition and is the author of several best-sellers.
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