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Coconut Oil Improves the Immune System

Coconut Oil is one powerhouse food that I have included in my diet for many years, and I have noticed undeniable health benefits.  Coconut Oil improves the immune system because it contains powerful nutrients.  I have already felt significant health improvements from when I started following a healthy and immune-boosting diet.  However, I did get occasional colds now and then, and recovery was fairly quick. But here is the wonderful news. 

During my personal experience, I started talking about two tablespoons a day (morning and nighttime) of Coconut Oil.  Colds and flu were histories.  It is not only because of using Coconut Oil, but it is because of the synergistic effect of different whole foods and their contributions that help improve the immune system.  

I not only use Coconut Oil but also 

  • Coconut butter is the coconut meat inside that has been ground into the consistency of butter just like peanut or almond butter.
  • Coconut Milk is a somewhat creamy liquid, and it is extracted by pulverizing or grating coconut meat.  Then it is squeezed to get the white liquid (milk) from the coconut flesh. I don’t recommend the “lite” version that you see in supermarkets because the immune system boosting nutrient is the oil that some people want to avoid in their selection.  And the “lite or less fat” version does not taste as good.
  • Coconut cream is the separation of the cream from the water of the coconut milk.  It is the same if you have whole milk where the cream separates and stays on top--assuming you have non-homogenized milk.  So coconut cream is even thicker and I use it to make rich sauces and use it also on desserts.
  • Coconut Flakes and Chips

They are made from white shredded and dehydrated coconut meat.  Again, I don’t recommend the “lite” or “reduced-fat” coconut flakes.

So How Does Coconut Oil Improve the Immune System?

Coconut oil is abundant in the medium-chain of fatty acids (MCFAs) and they are as follows:

  1. Capric acid
  2. Lauric acid
  3. Caprylic acid 

Lauric acid comprises about 50% of the medium-chain fatty acids, and it is the star among these MCFAs. When lauric acid as part of the coconut oil is consumed our bodies convert it to monolaurin having anti-properties that are potent…

  • Antifungal
  • Antibacterial 
  • Antistress and antioxidant and 
  • Antiviral 

Therefore, coconut oil improves the immune system by its antimicrobial properties.  Lauric acid is the star among the MCFAs due to its wide range of effectiveness in killing many microbes.  However, capric and caprylic acids are also effective antimicrobial fatty acids; they have their unique special properties that lauric acid does not have or at least the same effectiveness.

The reason I mention this is because, as usual, when there is a discovery about a potent substance in a certain food then the pharmaceutical and health product companies start to use and sell the isolated compound. 

The example, in this case, is monolaurin or glycerol monolaurate that is derived from coconut oil. I don’t see this food supplement as an advantage where taking one isolated compound and discarding the other potent substances that exist in coconut oil.  This is not to mention that you pay more when purchasing a jar of coconut oil. 

How to Use Coconut Oil?

I have no issues; nevertheless, I realize not everyone’s stomach can adjust to eating coconut oil by scooping a teaspoon or tablespoon from the jar. There are many ways to use coconut oil and here are some:

  1. use it in your hot tea, coffee, or just hot water with some honey and lemon juice.
  2. use it in soups
  3. spread some on toast just like spreading butter or peanut butter.
  4. When you finish cooking rice, place one tablespoon in the hot rice and it will melt wonderfully and will make the rice taste coconutty.  

Coconut Intolerance

Some individuals don’t tolerate coconut products very well.  But some can have coconut oil with no issues--but not coconut butter, and some are sensitive to the coconut fruit. Therefore, I recommend you perform the sensitivity food test where you start with a small amount and gradually increase the amount, and then observe for a few days for any negative signs from eating coconut oil. And if you are not…

Then I suggest you make it a part of your diet not only because coconut oil improves the immune system, but because whether it is ingested or used topically there are many other health benefits. 

Sources:

  • Source (1)
  • Source (2)
  • source (3) Enig, M. G.  (2000). Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol. Silver Spring, MD: Bethesda Press


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