For decades, a false belief that saturated fat is a leading cause of heart disease. But research suggests no significant evidence that saturated fat clogs our arteries or puts us at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Let’s look at two mini blue zones:
Dr. Bruce Fife, author of “The Coconut Oil Miracle” also director of the Coconut Research Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado says:
Both Asian and Polynesians who rely on coconut have some of the lowest heart disease statistics.
The Polynesian populations Pukapuka and Tokelau eat a lot of saturated fat coconut and vascular disease is uncommon in their respective societies, with no evidence that high saturated fat intake is harmful to their health.
Similarly, the Kitevan people in Papua New Guinea, whose lifestyle and diet are distinctly different from the modern dietary habits of the Western world. Besides eating a lot of fish, fruit and tubers, these people also consume coconut as a prominent staple.
Researchers conclude stroke and Coronary Heart Disease appears absent.
Probably Coconut Oil discrimination because 90 percent of its fat content is ‘saturated fat’.
Saturated fat in coconut oil saturated fat unlike saturated fat found in vegetable oils, meat and cheese:
Those fats are known as long-chain fats, about two-thirds of the fat in coconut oil are medium-chain fats, also referred to as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
Your body metabolizes MCTs, such as coconut oil, differently from other fats.
Normally, fats taken into your body must first be mixed with bile released from your gallbladder, and then pancreatic enzymes.
These long-chain fats are slowly broken down in your digestive system through the intestinal wall where they are combined into bundles of fat and protein: lipoproteins.
MCTs, however, do not require bile or pancreatic enzymes to be digested. They diffuse through the intestinal membrane into the bloodstream. Then to the liver, which converts MCTs into ketones. Finally back into the bloodstream and throughout the body.
Notably, MCTs are available for energy, no storing as fat. MCTs can even pass the blood-brain barrier to supply the brain with energy. This is one of the reasons coconut oil is thought to have positive effects on those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
MCTs are four groups based on their carbon length:
Coconut oil provides a mix of all the medium-chain fats, including C6, C8, C10 and C12 fats
the latter (lauric acid) makes up over 40 percent of the fat in coconut oil
Ketones produce far less reactive oxygen species that produce excessive dangerous free radicals.
Coconut oil contains no trans-fatty acids. Will not oxidize with heat, great for cooking and baking.
Also shelf-stable and will not go rancid.
Confession, Now Coconut Oil an Incredible Fat!
