ISHS Acta Horticulturae 787: International Workshop on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
COCONUT AND ITS HEALING PROPERTIES |
| Author: | B. Fife |
| Keywords: | short-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids, long-chain fatty acids, diabetes |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.787.1 |
| Abstract:
Due to its high saturated fat content, coconut has been mistakenly criticized for contributing to the development of heart disease. Over the past 40 years research has shown that coconut posses unique healing properties with important nutritional and medical applications. Most of the healing properties of coconut come from the oil. Although coconut oil contains a high amount of saturated fat it is very different from other saturated fats. Evidence shows that coconut oil actually protects against heart disease. Coconut oil has a long history of use throughout the world as both a food and a medicine. Traditionally it has been used to treat a wide variety of health problems ranging from burns to influenza. Studies have shown that those populations that use coconut oil as their primary source of fat have the lowest heart disease rates in the world. These populations also have a low incidence of chronic disease as well. Recent medical studies have shown that coconut oil can help protect against many common illnesses including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and numerous infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS. | |
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