Tender coconut water - Health benefits

Coconut Oil - Unique & Healthy

COCONUT OIL
Branded coconut oil in consumer packs

Coconut oil finds extensive use in food, toiletry and industrial sectors because of its unique characteristics. The numerous qualities of coconut oil reported are:

Oil of natural origin
Edible in raw form
Saturated and stable
Pleasing flavour
Light colour
Pleasant aroma
Biodegradable
High resistance to oxidative rancidity
Sharp melting behaviour
Narrow temperature range of melting
Skin friendly oil
Effective heat transfer agent in frying
Better shelf life for fried product
Contributes to palatability
Ideal for deep frying
Ideal confectionery fat
Provides moisture barrier and imparts high gloss for bakery items in spray oil use
Carrier and protective agent for fat soluble vitamins
Low viscosity
Superior baby oil
Oldest and most widely used cosmetic raw material
Contains 91 per cent assimilable glycerides
Maximum glycerine content
Easily saponifiable even in cold
Good emollient on skin, skull and hair
Gives softness and suppleness to skin on regular massaging
Spreads easily on the skin when used as massage oil
Excellent base for hair oil
Provides gloss to hair
Germicidal and antimicrobial property
Lowers evaporative loss of water from skin
Protects skin from heat
Ready penetration into the skin and appreciable water absorbing property
Nourishes the hair roots and provides coolness to the body
Imparts hardness and lathering property to soaps
Illuminant and lubricant
Does not leave a smoky flame if used in open lamps
Only slight changes on hydrogenation
Blends well with other oils
Easily hydrolyses
Highest saponification value and lowest iodine value
Potential fatty raw material in chemical industry due to its biodegradable nature
Excellent fat source in the preparation of filled milk and infant food formulae
Essential for the manufacture of toilet soaps, shaving cream, liquid soaps,
natural shampoo and other cosmetics
Desirable emulsifying property
No harmful effects due to reheating
Can be converted into diesel fuel
Essential ingredient in ghee substitutes
Contains fatty acid derivatives such as monoglycerides, fatty esters, polyol esters, fatty ethanolamide, ethoxylates, polysorbates and betaines
Contains fatty alcohol derivatives such as fatty chlorides, fatty alcohol sulphate and fatty alcohol ether sulphate.

Nutritional / Medicinal

Does not contain cholesterol (All vegetable oils does not contain cholesterol, but animal fats contain cholesterol eg: cow milk, butter, ghee, curd, non-veg foods, etc.)
Easy digestibility and absorbability
Ideal energy source in baby foods
Contains Vitamin E
Composed mainly of short and Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) or Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) which have desirable qualities and functions
Reduced fat accumulation in body
Easily oxidized and therefore a preferred energy source
Requires no transport system to absorb, digest and metabolize
Very low content of Omega 6 fatty acid
Helps maintain healthy ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids when consumed as a part of diet
Rich content of lauric acid, the source of disease fighting fatty acid derivative monolaurin
Contains 6-8 per cent monounsaturated oleic acid
Inhibitory effect against certain chemical carcinogens
Superior antigenotoxic activity.
Coconut oil aids faster absorption of calcium and thereby strengthens bones and teech.
The saturated fats in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties. Hence, coconut oil is highly effective against microbes that cause indigestion.
Coconut oil also helps in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Studies undertaken by the Biochemistry Department,
University of Kerala showed that coconut oil:

Does not elevate blood total cholesterol
Increases blood HDL cholesterol
Consumed along with coconut kernel lowers blood cholesterol
Does not elevate LDL cholesterol or LDL cholesterol / HDL cholesterol ratio
Decreases serum triglycerides

Why is coconut oil your weapon to fight Cholesterol?

It is composed mainly of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) or medium chain triglycerides (MCT) that are burned almost immediately to produce energy for the body.
They are not converted into body fat or cholesterol to the degree other fats are.
Coconut oil, has low polyunsaturated fatty acid, is very stable and resistant to oxidation.
This makes it excellent cooking oil, thereby protecting our cells against damage.
Since coconut oil is naturally saturated (>90%), it does not need hydrogenation, thereby considerably reducing the chances of high blood cholesterol and high low density lipoproteins (LDL).
On the other hand, it helps retain high-density lipoproteins (HDL) - the good cholesterol.
A diet that consists of coconut oil with its MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides) ensures higher energy levels, a rise in metabolism and consequently, reduced body weight.
Coconut oil is effective in reducing body fat and lowering weight because it contains fewer calories than any other fat.
Coconut oil possesses a distinct short and medium chain fatty acid composition.
Over 70% of the saturated fatty acids present in coconut oil are short and medium chain containing less than 12 carbon atoms.
The medium chain fatty acids account for 63.5% of the total fatty acids.
The Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) undergo a faster and more complete digestion in the stomach and upper small intestine than the Long Chain Triglycerides (LCTs).
The products of MCT hydrolysis are absorbed into the intestinal cells almost as fast as glucose and are carried directly to the liver.
The LCTs on the other hand, undergo a slow process of digestion and the products of digestion are then transported to the liver via the lymphatics and systemic circulation.
Consequently, the LCTs are distributed systematically to all parts of the body before reaching the liver.
LCTs are therefore, more prone to be deposited as fat in the peripheral tissues or fat depots than the short and medium chain fatty acids.

SATURATED FAT - with a difference

Coconut oil is a saturated fat from plant origin and cannot be equated with saturated fat from animal sources.
Coconut oil is healthy because it is predominantly comprised of MCFAs or MCTs, which are readily metabolised in the body and converted to energy instantaneously.
Coconut oil being a naturally saturated oil does not contain any trans fat.
Saturated fats are classified into two primary categories (1) long chain fats and (2) short and medium chain fats.
Medium chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in mothers' milk.
Thus, despite the fact that saturated fats are harmful, those present in coconut oil are in a league of their own.
Lauric acid, prominent among the MCFAs present in coconut oil has qualities similar to mother's milk.
When lauric acid enters human body it gets converted to monolaurin, an immunity enhancing compound.

Good for Diabetics

Coconut oil with its MCTs, put less of a demand on the enzyme production of the pancreas.
This lessens the stress on the pancreas during meal time when insulin is produced most heavily, thus allowing the organ to function efficiently.\
Coconut oil improves the secretion of insulin thus controlling blood sugar.
It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose.

Virgin Coconut oil: Mother of all oils

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is abundant in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, thus making it the 'mother of all oils'.
Extracted from fresh coconut kernel without any chemical processes, it is the purest form of coconut oil, water white in colour..
Virgin coconut oil is a major source of Lauric Acid and Vitamin E.
The virgin coconut oil is free from trans fatty acid, high in medium chain fats (MCFA) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) known as lauric acid, which is identical to special group of fats found in human breast milk.
VCO is widely consumed as MCT oil for weight loss treatment, etc.
MCT's are more easily and rapidly digested than other types of fats, as they require lower amounts of enzymes and bile acids for intestinal absorption.
MCT's are metabolized very quickly in the liver and are reported to encourage an increase in energy expenditure, while decreasing fat storage.
Numerous studies suggest that substituting MCT Oil for other fats in a healthy diet may therefore help to support healthy weight and body composition.
High quality of this oil makes it an ideal massage oil for babies and also for skin and hair applications.
It protects the skin from infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi, prevents dandruff and hair loss.
It even eases muscular pain.
Supplement your body with antioxidants. Antioxidant is your body's natural defense against free radicals.
It prevents the chain reaction of free radicals and mars sagging and unsightly wrinkles.
Rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, virgin coconut oil slows down the ageing process and assures the best of life and beauty to your skin.
It also helps in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Coconut Kernel

Coconut kernel is nutritious and rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals
Coconut is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral food.
You can get the benefit of coconut fibre by eating fresh or dried coconut and adding coconut to recipes.
A multitude of studies have demonstrated that dietary fibre protects against heart attacks and strokes.
Diet rich in coconut kernel prevent digestive disorders and it regulates bowel activity.
It restores thyroid functions and increases the metabolic rate.
Coconut flour is the residue obtained after extraction of milk from kernel. It is dried, defatted and finely ground into a powder resembling wheat flour.
Coconut flour is low in indigestible carbohydrate and high in fibre (61%).

What the Tradition says

The property of an oil follows the source from which it is extracted.

Coconut fruit belongs to the sweet group. Sweet is creative of Kapha and which acts against Vata and Pitta.

Regarding the properties of the fruits of the sweet group, Vagbhata says "They are builders, heavy and cooling. They are with sweet taste and in post digestion also sweet. They are unctuous but a bit holding up of bowels; good to release burning sensation, to heal lesions and hurts due to accidents, etc. It clears bloods and subsides Pitta (the heat). It promotes Kapha and semen (improves sexual potency)".

"Coconut fruit is agreeable to heart", says Gunapadom, a Kerala text.

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Newsletter on Coconut and coconut oil - COCONUT INSIGHTS - Vol 1