Naturally occurring in coconut oil, the saturated fat has amazing health benefits - it improves the health of the heart, normalizes lipid levels in the body by supporting a healthy metabolism and weight loss, if necessary. In addition, it regulates thyroid function, protects the liver against damage from alcohol, supports the immune system and increases energy levels in the body without concomitant weight gain and other health risks, as with other saturated fats or trans fats. Additionally, it is an excellent antioxidant that helps in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and also has antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties. What makes coconut fat - which is, after all, saturated fat - so unique and why has it such a beneficial effect on our body ?

For decades, the idea that saturated fats are bad for your health and can lead to many negative consequences, such as high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, obesity, cardio-vascular disease, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease was promoted. At the same time, many studies being made among the population of the Pacific islands showed that although their total intake of calories from saturated fat is as high as 30-60%, and comes mainly from coconuts, the problem of heart disease and vascular circulatory system virtually was non-existent among the community.

 

Are than saturated fats good or bad for our body? The basic fact is that not all saturated fats are equally created. Only the saturated fat found in nature - such as in coconuts - can be considered as friendly to humans, in contrast to the artificially created saturated fats which are supplied to the saturation process called hydrogenation. Artificial hydrogenation of vegetable oils or their subsequent curing and trans fats creation makes them thick, rancid substances, which are then chemically cleaned and perfumed to be able to arise a refined product devoid of any vitamins and minerals, which are often not only worthless for our body but even harmful for it.

 

Saturated fats in coconuts come directly from nature and offer a range of unique health benefits for our body. The secret of these remarkable properties lies in the composition of the coconut fat.

 

In chemical terms coconut oil is a mixture of triglycerides, that is, the compounds made from glycerol and fatty acids with chains of 8-18 carbon atoms. 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is saturated, which means that they can not be oxidized or rancid. About 60% of coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), fatty acids containing 6-12 carbon atoms. Unsaturated fatty acids found in coconut oil - oleic acid and linolenic acid - represent only 8% of the total amount of fatty acids.

 

Key facts about coconut oil:

• coconut oil is about 2/3 medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) - it is the richest natural source of these healthy fatty acids. The most popular vegetable oils or oils pressed from seeds contain long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), which have large molecules, being a tough challenge for the body - they are hard to break, more straining to the pancreas, liver and the whole digestive system, which is why they are usually stored in the body as fat or build up in the arteries in the form of atherosclerosis. MCFA is definitely smaller molecules, making it easier to be digested, more easily absorbed and become less of burden on the digestive system. Quick conversion of MCFA fats into energy has an additional advantage - it helps stimulate the body's metabolism, which leads to a healthy and controlled weight loss.

• 50% of the fat contained in coconut oil is a ,rarely found in nature, fat called lauric acid, which has unique health-promoting properties. The body converts lauric acid into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, which has powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoal properties. Lauric acid is also found in human milk (6.2% of total fat), wherein it acts as a antibacterial and antiviral element.

 

• After eating coconut oil, the body sends MCFA directly to the liver to be used as energy. This oil is a strong source of immediate energy for the body, while keeping the same increase of insulin in the blood, comparable to a large portion of carbohydrates supply to the body. So this is also an ideal product for diabetics.

 

• Coconut oil is also an optimal source for skin care. It is a powerful antioxidant that has anti-aging and regenerative properties and helps to maintain and restore firmness, elasticity, smoothness and a youthful looking skin. It is also an excellent restorative and mineralizing hair conditioner.

• One tablespoon of coconut oil (about 14 grams) provides 13.2 grams of saturated fat, which accounts for 65% of the recommended daily intake.