Cholesterol and the Coconut
Many of us consider the coconut to be a fattening food. It is something to avoid if you want to lose weight or lower your cholesterol. Is this perception correct?
While it is true that coconut contains a high amount of saturated fat, approximately half of it is lauric acid that does not raise cholesterol level. Instead lauric acid has antivacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal properties that helps to strengthen the immune system.
Many Asian cultures use coconut in their diet yet do not suffer from diseases common in the west. A study was conducted in the 60's on the diet of two South Pacific Islands. These were times when Western style food was not yet a part of their culture. Saturated fats from coconut formed up to 60% of their diet. Yet the study found that the populations were relatively free of heart disease and obesity. In fact research concluded that heart disease is uncommon and there is no evidence to suggest that high saturated fat has a harmful effect on the people studied.
Another study titled, "Choice of cooking oil - myths and reality" was conducted in India sparked by an alarming increase in coronary heart disease and diabetes in the country. As in many other countries, Indians have been encourage to replace traditional saturated cooking fats like ghee and coconut fats with supposedly healthier polyunsaturated oils like sunflower and corn oil.
Researchers found that by increasing their intake of these polyunsaturated vegetable oils, the Indians are making themselves more prone to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In fact the the study actually recommended that they replace these polyunsaturated vegetable oils with traditonal cooking fats such as ghee and coconut oil!