Facts and Myths of Coconut Oil for Health
Solid white coconut oil is now a favorite and fans of the paleo diet and superfood sellers. Here, we will inform the facts and myths of coconut oil for health. Coconuts have been a valuable food in the tropics for thousands of years that traditionally enjoyed from the center of the fruit, its flesh, or the coconut milk. A number of myths about his medical value are scattered on the internet without knowing the fact. The following are the facts and myths of coconut oil.
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Myth: Helps to Lose Weight
No research has found that coconut oil helps to lose weight. The ability to get rid of body fat is based on the mistaken idea that coconut oil is synonymous with semi-synthetic laboratory products known as MCT oil. Unlike ordinary vegetable oils, MCT oil is soluble in water and was originally designed for malnourished people because they lack the normal enzymes that break down fats. MCT consists of two fatty acids, caprylic acid and capris while coconut oil has a small amount of this acid and the dominant fatty acid of coconut oil is lauric acid. Study of fats including coconut oil has found that it has no beneficial effects on hunger, satiety, satisfaction, or current food thinking.
Myth: Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
The evidence from studies of people who live with traditional lifestyles with coconut as a major source of fat show low levels of heart disease. However, a careful study shows that the overall effect of coconut oil on increasing LDL cholesterol is greater than corn, safflower or a mixture of soybean and sesame oil. Moreover, recently shown a study of 21 research papers that coconut oil cannot be relied on to reduce blood cholesterol or protect against heart disease.
Myth: Kills Bacteria and Viruses
Some websites claim coconut oil can kill viruses, fungi, and bacteria because of its monolaurin content but a study in mice showed that monolaurin could provide some protection against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which is responsible for some bacterial infections. In contrast, the monolaurin in coconut oil is very popular for its emulsifying and moisturizing properties in cosmetics, detergents, and soaps.
Myth: Fixing Hair
Several papers published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science claim that coconut oil applied to hair is better in penetrating the hair shaft than mineral oil. It can be useful and it is impossible the coconut oil that is massaged into the hair will affect human health.
Myth: Whiten Teeth
This claim is another extrapolation from the idea that coconut oil can kill harmful organisms but there is no scientific evidence to support this practice and should not replace the proper dental care.