written and researched by Heather (Published in issue 49 Renaissance Magazine)
image sourced from Poppet's coconut cake in her recipe book
Coconuts, just the mention of them inspires thoughts of hot lazy days on perfect beaches. The scent of coconut laces many suntan oils, couple that with a cocktail inside a coconut, and paradise is conjured up in the mind. Yes coconuts are a cornucopia of holiday associations. It has even inspired songs, such as escape (the pina-colada song) by Rupert Holmes and Coconut girl by Harry Belanfonté. When we imagine the perfect seaside resort, we imagine coconut palms filtering sunlight. Personally I love to eat it too. Marshmallows covered in coconut, my favourite coconut cake made with coconut cream, desiccated coconut, and coconut milk powder, and of course our south african favourite, crunchies, also contain a lot of coconut. Thus this summertime favorite inspired me to wonder, what makes coconut good for us?
Health Benefits:
Desiccated coconut and creamed coconut are about 69% fat. (e) Although coconut fat is classified as saturated, it does not have the same effect as saturated animal fat. This is due to the fact that coconut fat is made up of medium chain fatty acids. (1.)
Fifty percent of the fatty acids in coconut are lauric acid. This is a medium chain fatty acid and is formed into monolaurin in the body. This attribute of coconut fat is wonderful from a health perspective, because monolaurin is an antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal (ATC) monoglyceride.
Monolaurin is used by the body to destroy lipid coatings on viruses, including viruses such as herpes, HIV and influenza. It works the same way against pathogens such as helicobacter pylori and was effective against several species of ringworm.
Another medium chain fatty acid in coconut is capric acid. This is transformed into monocaprin in the body which has anti-viral effects against sexually transmitted bacteria and viruses such as HSV-2 and HIV-1 and bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. (2)
The benefits of these fatty acids are transferred from mother to child through breast milk. In a study to measure how this works, it was found that the fatty acid content of breast milk was elevated for up to 24 hours after consumption of coconut oil. (3)
Eating coconut flakes significantly reduces LDL cholesterol and reduces serum triglycerides, making it beneficial for lowering high cholesterol. Coconut flour is also a great source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. (3b) Coconut kernel is more effective than just coconut oil in lowering total serum and LDL cholesterol. This is because the kernel contains protein which lowers levels of cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides. Coconut kernel protein also causes decreased lipogenesis (process of producing lipids- fatty acids) in the liver and intestine.
(4) At this time of year when viruses and bacteria are causing misery and time off work, it is interesting to note that the monolauric acid created in the body after eating coconut and its derivatives, is many times more effective at killing viruses and bacteria than just lauric acid.
Monolaurin is effective because it essentially solubilises the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope of the pathogen, causing it to disintegrate. It also interferes with the pathogen's ability to replicate itself and interferes with its signal transduction. Monolarurin is also a potent antibacterial. This is essential for those of us under attack by antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Many bacteria have mutated and antibiotics are no longer effective for treating them. However the body makes monolauric acid after ingesting coconut. Monolaurin is effective in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus and Mycobacterium terrae, and even inhibited toxic shock from the staphylococcal bacteria. Monoluarin even inactivates Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Groups A, F and G streptococci. But the best news is that using coconut as it is turned into monolaurin in the body has no adverse effect on the guts probacteria. (5) The scale for lauric acid content in coconut foods in descending order is as follows: Coconut cream raw (37 g per cup), coconut cream, canned (23.3 g per cup), Fresh grated coconut, packed (19.4 g per cup), fresh coconut loose (11.9 g per cup), granola cereal with coconut oil and coconut, (6.05 g per cup) and coconut milk, (0.23 g per cup).
Coconut husks:
(6) Coconut husk fibers are rich in catechins. Catechins are polyphenols with antioxidant activity. The catechins isolated from the coconut husk was measured against leukemia cells (K562). It had an inhibitory effect in tumour cells and lymphocytes activated by PHA (phytohemaglutinin) in a dose dependent manner. (7) In a different study using a water extract obtained from the husk fibers, revealed again that the catechins in coconut fibers are a potent weapon to have in our arsenal. This crude extract had an inhibitory effect on acyclovir resistant herpes (simplex virus type 1) and had antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
Cosmetic applications for coconut:
For as long as I can remember, my Indian friends have been using coconut oil on their hair to strengthen it. Now there is a study to back up their custom. (8) Coconut oil reduces protein loss from hair. This was effective for both damaged and undamaged hair when used as a pre-wash treatment. Because coconut oil has a straight molecular chain with a low molecular weight, it is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft, thus helping to prevent damage from combing and preventing protein loss. (9) What's more is that coconut oil does not become oxidized and rancid, which makes it great for storage. (10) Most hair damage is caused by the swelling and de-swelling of the hair shaft causing hydral fatigue. Because coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft and binds to the proteins in the hair shaft, it also provides protection for the hair from hydral fatigue.
(11) Coconut oil is also an effective treatment for dry skin (xerosis). People who suffer from xerosis have rough, dry, itchy skin, sometimes with a scaly appearance. Because coconut oil also has antiseptic properties, it was studied as a moisturizer against mineral oil. Coconut oil had a significant effect on skin hydration and an increase in skin lipids, and was determined to be safe as it does not effect skin ph or effect transepidermal water loss adversely, thus making it an effective moisturizer.
Coconut oil has other benefits. (12) A study examined the effect of oil massage on newborn infants, to determine if this could improve their gaining body mass. The study examined coconut oil against mineral oil. Coconut oil resulted in a significant increase in weight gain compared to mineral oil. Pre-term infants receiving coconut oil massages also showed a greater length gain velocity. Thus massaging an underweight newborn with coconut oil is beneficial.
Coconut oil just reminds me of suntan lotion. A study was conducted to examine how certain vegetable oils absorb UV light rays to protect the skin if used as a barrier against sunburn. (13) Coconut oil absorbs 70% of the UVB rays when applied topically to the skin. This has the highest absorption rate out of the seven oils tested.
And the strangest application for coconut oil comes last. (14) Aluminium phosphide is used in the control of rodents in grain storage facilities. Aluminium phosphide produces phosphine gas which is a mitochondrial poison. In one case study a man tried to commit suicide by ingesting this poison. Along with his treatment in ICU he had coconut oil administered. It was concluded that coconut oil is beneficial as a treatment protocol for acute aluminium phosphide poisoning in humans.
Thus in closing, I can say that coconut is highly beneficial for good health, year round. Let's not save this miraculous food just for summer, but let's start to use it to boost the body's defenses against invasion throughout autumn and winter too. Coconut also has nutritional benefit. (15) These statistics are for 28 grams of desiccated coconut. You will receive all amino acids except for hydroxyproline, and gain protein, vitamins C, E, K, niacin, B6, folate and pantothenic acid. You will also receive minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. Altogether, this lovely palm nut not only makes us desire a summer holiday, but it benefits us in more ways than I ever imagined.
References:
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COCONUT OIL IN HEALTH AND DISEASE: ITS AND MONOLAURIN’S POTENTIAL AS CURE FOR HIV/AIDS * Conrado S. Dayrit, MD. FACC. FPCC. FPCP
Lim-Sylianco CY, Mallorca R, Serrame E and Wu LS: A Comparison of Germ Cell Antigenotoxic Activity of Non-Dietary and Dietary Coconut Oil and Soybean Oil. Phil. J. of Coconut Studies, Vol XVII, 2:1-5, Dec 1992
Lim-Sylianco CY, Balboa J, Cesareno R, Mallorca R,Serrame 1: and Wu, LS: Antigenotoxic Effects on Bone Marrow Cells of Coconut Oil versus Soybean Oil. Phil. J of Coconut Studies Vol XVII 2:6-10, Dec 1992
Lim-Navarro PRT, Escobar R, Fabros M and Dayrit CS: Protection Effect of Coconut Oil Against E. coli endotoxin shock in rats. Coconuts Today, 11:9091, 1994
Tayag E, Dayrit CS, Santiago EG, Manalo MA, Alban PN, Agdamag DM, Adel AS, Lazo S and Espallardo N: Monolaurin and Coconut Oil as Monotherapy for HIV-AIDS. Pilot Trial. For Publication
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Petschow BW, Batema RP, Ford LL. Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to bactericidal properties of medium-chain monoglycerides and free fatty acids. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1996;40:302-306.
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(1.1 b) Ceylon Med J. 2006 Jun;51(2):47-51. Coconut fats. Amarasiri WA, Dissanayake AS. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
(2). Acute effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acids of human milk CA Francois, SL Connor, RC Wander and WE Connor Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA
(3). J Med Food. 2004 Summer;7(2):136-40 The cholesterol lowering effect of coconut flakes in humans with moderately raised serum cholesterol. Trinidad TP, Loyola AS, Mallillin AC, Valdez DH, Askali FC, Castillo JC, Resaba RL, Masa DB. Department of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Bicutan, Taguig, MetroManila, 1631 Philippines. [email protected]
(3b) Coconut kernel protein modifies the effect of coconut oil on serum lipids Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Formerly Qualitas Plantarum) 0921-9668 Volume 53, Number 2 / June, 1998 K.G. Padmakumaran Nair1, T. Rajamohan1 and P.A. Kurup1 Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram –, 695 581, Kerala State, India
(4) A review of Monolaurin and Lauric acid - Natural Virucidal and Bactericidal Agents ALTERNATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES—DECEMBER 2006 Shari Lieberman, Ph.D, C.N.S, F.A.C.N - research scientist and industry consultant based in New York City and Pompano Beach, Florida. She is also the Founding Dean of New York Chiropractic College’s (Seneca Falls, New York) M.S. Degree Program in Applied Clinical Nutrition. Mary G Enig, Ph.D, CNS, MACN - director of the Nutrition Division of Enig Associates, Inc., Silver Spring Maryland Harry G Preuss, M.D., CNS, MACN, - professor of physiology, medicine, and pathology at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
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