Recent studies and claims have reported that coconut oil may be a cure for many ailments, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, dementia, autism, and it could be a natural antibiotic. Mary Newport, a neo-natal doctor, reports that her husband was showing signs of Alzheimer’s. He failed the tests and was told he was on his way to severe Alzheimer’s. Mary took his fate in her hands after doing some research on her own, and she began giving her husband pure non-hydrogenated coconut oil. Within weeks, she reported there was marked improvement in her husband’s memory. She has written a book called, “Alzheimer Disease, What if there was a Cure?” She began to receive many letters from others reporting the good results from using the coconut oil.
What many people may not know is that Alzheimer’s is like having diabetes in the brain. There is a problem with insulin. The brain’s cells do not accept the glucose. Therefore, brain cells begin to die. Ketones are an alternative fuel for the brain that is metabolized in the liver and is able to be used.
Many years ago, researchers thought that coconut was bad for you and would raise cholesterol levels, but there are two types of cholesterol. There is LDL, which is the bad cholesterol. HDL is the good cholesterol and is needed for our bodies to function properly. The good cholesterol is found in coconut oil, but the question remains: is it a healthy supplement to add to our diet, and is it a cure for some ailments?
A team of biochemists, led by Professor Kieran Clarke at England’s Oxford University, has developed a ketone ester that packs a punch 10 times greater than coconut oil. Sadly, this will take a lot of money to produce. At this time, there is lack of funding. Unless the FDA approves it, it may remain an unsolved mystery.
There is still much controversy on this subject. According to MSN Health, “The Food and Drug Administration have informed consumers to avoid coconut oil, a saturated fat. (The American Medical Association agrees that saturated fats should be limited in our diets.) Evidence in favor of coconut oil has not yet met the FDA’s standards for recommendation; studies are regarded as either inadequately controlled or not extensive enough to be conclusive.
FDA sent out warnings to many sites that promote use of coconut oil for its healing abilities, warning them that they would be in violation of the FDA. There are continued debates concerning the health benefits of coconut oil.
Dr. Mary Enig MS PH.D, who worked in Nutritional Sciences, has done extensive research in trans-fatty foods, has written many articles, and reports at the urgings of the FDA. Dr. Enig has served on the council for the “State Advisory Council on Nutrition” in Maryland.
Natural coconut oil, by increasing the good HDL cholesterol, may help prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease. Enig cited several other studies in her article that showed that natural coconut oil (not hydrogenated coconut oil) had health benefits markers indicating that coconut oil was more beneficial in preventing heart disease than most vegetable oils.”
Dr. Enig also reported, “The problems for coconut oil started four decades ago when researchers fed animals hydrogenated coconut oil that was purposely altered to make it completely devoid of any essential fatty acids. The animals fed the hydrogenated coconut oil (as the only fat source) naturally became essential fatty acid deficient; their serum cholesterol increased. Diets that cause an essential fatty acid deficiency always produce an increase in serum cholesterol levels as well as in increase in the atherosclerotic indices. The same effect has also been seen when other …highly hydrogenated oils such as cottonseed, soybean or corn oils have been fed; so it is clearly a function of the hydrogenated products, either because the oil is essential fatty acid (EFA) deficient or because of trans fatty acids.
Her findings have contributed much knowledge in this area. With more research, we are sure to find in time, the truth concerning coconut oil, and the many claims for its value in our diet. It is my opinion that balance is the most important contributing factor to a healthy diet.
Lorie Johnson January 05, 2012 Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimer’s Remedy.Wed.25 Jan 2012
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience//2012/January/Coconut-Oil-Touted-as-Alzheimers-Remedy
Rich Maloof: Health and Fitness: “Coconut Oil” Web. 25 Jan 2012
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cholesterol/coconut-oil
Coconut info.com: “Effects of Coconut Oil on Serum Cholesterol Levels and HDLs” by Mary Enig Ph.D. Web. 25 Jan 2012
http://coconut-info.com/mary_enig_cholesterol.htm
Positive Health News Report No 14 Summer Issue, 1997. Web. 25 Jan 2011
http://www.keephopealive.org/report14.html
