Questions about Coconut Oil

[bluskygirl]

I was talking with a women friend of mine last night and she was telling me all about coconut oil and how it benefits your thyroid and also fills the muscles with glycogen, giving you tons more energy. I've attempted to do some of my own research, but most of the information on coconut oil on the internet comes from "coconut-friendly" sources. Does anyone here use it on a daily basis, or can anyone provide some background on the health benefits (or fallacies) of coconut oil?

In my friends defense, she has three degrees: one in nutrition, one in colonic health and another in herbalism. I'm not trying to disprove her or her advice; I just want to educate myself a little more!

[Steve Pavlina]

I just had some coconut oil with my breakfast this morning -- I mix it into oatmeal, since the coconut oil provides a creamy, nutty flavor.

As far as health benefits, I have personally noticed any from using coconut oil specifically, but I don't normally consume it more than once or twice a week. I mainly use it for the taste. It also increases the satiety of the meal, so I don't get hungry as soon afterwards.

[escapee]

Coconut oil is an excellent cooking oil because it doesnt go bad easily when exposed to heat as 90% of its fats are saturated (no reactive double bond). But it's very important to know that Coconut oil like olive oil is a poor source of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Omega 6 and 3, also known as parent essential fatty acids responsible for various metabolic function, hormone synthesis, fluid cellular membrane and etc. I'm personally using a combo of peanut + palm oil for cooking.

On the other hand, I think commercial polyunsaturated (multiple double bonds ) based oil is not recommended for cooking as it can turn into nasty fats that harm your body. polyunsaturated fats are best consumed in its unprocessed state (cold pressed oil in capsule form as found in certain health store ) or organic nuts. Cooking meat damages a large portion of the healthy polyunsaturated fats but it eliminates the risk of bacteria infection.

University of Minnesota researchers A. Saari Csallany, a professor of food chemistry and nutritional biochemistry, and graduate student Christine Seppanen have shown that when highly unsaturated vegetable oils are heated at frying temperature (365 F) for extended periods—or even for half an hour—a highly toxic compound, HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal), forms in the oil. Previously, vegetable oils such as soybean, sunflower and corn were regarded as heart-healthy because of their high levels of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid. HNE is incorporated into fried food in the same concentration as it forms in the heated oil. Also, Csallany and her colleagues have found three toxic HNE-related compounds (known as HHE, HOE and HDE) in heated soybean oil

“HNE is a well known, highly toxic compound that is easily absorbed from the diet,” said Csallany. “The toxicity arises because the compound is highly reactive with proteins, nucleic acids--DNA and RNA--and other biomolecules. HNE is formed from the oxidation of linoleic acid, and reports have related it to several diseases, including atherosclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and liver diseases.”

Can you see why consuming fast food regularly is so detrimental to health ? because they hydrogenate the supposedly heart healthy polyunsaturated fats and use it over and over and over again to fry your tasty artery clogging french fries.

Our grandmother was right in using butter or lard for cooking. ( for Veg, you have the coconut oil )

[bluskygirl]

Thanks for your feedback. I have removed all "bad fats" from my diet and rely on Olive Oil, Canola Oil and nuts for my main sources of fat. Since my friend had recommended that I try Coconut Oil I thought I would see what other's thought. I have decided to add it to my breakfast each morning to see if I notice any difference. I am a regular weight lifter, and she said I would notice a difference because of the added glycogen stores... we'll see!

[escapee]

Well, if you're looking for a significant performance boost, i'm going to favor more on the versatile polyunsaturated fatty acids . I'm currently using a EFA supplement called yes-EFA (Yes - Dietary Supplement ). It contains organic form of cold pressed parent omega 6, omega3 and some coconut fats. Maybe you can recommend this back to your woman friend to see if it gives FURTHER improvement in addition to coconut oil. he