Virgin coconut oil is deemed by author Dr. Bruce Fife, N.D., and other alterative health care practitioners to be a "miracle" food. Some traditional Western medicine sources, such as the Mayo Clinic, refute claims that virgin coconut oil can cure illnesses. The controversy hasn't stopped people from substituting it for other cooking oils, using it topically, or ingesting it by the spoonful, in a quest to look and feel healthier.
Types
Refined, bleached and deodorized coconut oil is non-virgin. According to Fife in his book "Coconut Cures," this type of oil has often been hydrogenated and is detrimental to a person's health. Oil labeled "Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil" comes from fresh coconut meat and is what customers should look for when purchasing coconut oil, Fife says. There is no difference between oil labeled "Extra Virgin" or "Premium Virgin." Coconut oil becomes hard when exposed to cold temperatures and should not be put in the refrigerator, nor should it be kept in direct sunlight.
Useful Fats
Whereas most fats in the average American's diet are long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), Fife explains, coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). As implied by their name, MCFAs are smaller than LCFAs---our bodies metabolize them differently and much more quickly. MCFAs are used in the liver to produce energy while other fats circulate in bloodstream a long time, storing themselves in fat cells and clogging arteries. MCFAs aid the absorption of nutrients, speed metabolism, and satisfy hunger better than LCFAs, Fife says, enabling people to lose weight and clear their bodies of toxins.
Uses
Judging by the number of posts touting its use on EarthClinic.com, there is no shortage of ways to use coconut oil. It can replace other cooking oils and butter, or be mixed into other recipes and foods. Coconut oil may also be eaten by itself by the spoonful. It can be used as a lotion for skin and hair or as a massage oil. Some people use it medicinally to treat skin conditions, such as scars, by rubbing the oil against the affected area.
Cures?
According to Fife, coconut oil detoxifies the bodies' organs, so its medical and beauty benefits are endless. Mayo Clinic, on the other hands, says these "cures" are myths, citing clinical studies using refined, hydrogenated oil. According to users on the Earth Clinic's website, coconut oil wipes out the symptoms of a low thyroid---which include obesity, itchiness, fatigue, irritability, fluid retention and more. Users also say coconut oil can quell body odor and bad breath caused by toxicity in the body, as well as help eradicate infectious illness as well as systemic Candida yeast overgrowth. Because the body uses it as energy and stores it as fat, athletes and people with chronic fatigue use coconut oil to increase energy.
Warnings
Because virgin coconut oil detoxifies the liver, Fife says, people adding it to their diet may experience symptoms of toxins being released---nausea, vomiting, salt extrusion from the skin and diarrhea. Preparing your body with an internal cleansing regime, such as psyllium seed husks, will ease the symptoms when you begin taking coconut oil, Fife says. If you plan to ingest it by the spoonful, begin by eating only a teaspoon a day, EarthClinic.com suggests, and increase up to two tablespoons per day as your body becomes less toxic. Because it is said to boost energy, eating coconut oil before bed may cause sleeplessness. As with any natural product, please consult with your health care provider before using coconut oil to treat any medical condition.
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