Coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut water, coconut pulp — there’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about the health benefits of coconut. This tasty fruit has been a staple food and natural remedy in various cultures for centuries, but more recently its been making a comeback in North America. Some cooks swear by it, and some companies say their products can treat everything from kidney stones to HIV — and even help you lose weight.
But is coconut really the latest superfood? Here’s a look at two of the products getting all the attention.
Coconut oil
Its benefits for skin and hair are widely known and generally not controversial — but eating coconut oil is another story. There is still a lot of debate about the health benefits versus potential harms of this ingredient turned dietary supplement.
At first glance, the numbers aren’t promising: one tablespoon of coconut oil has 14 grams of fat and 12 grams of saturated fat (though it doesn’t have any cholesterol). Hydrogenated coconut oil — where hydrogen is added to turn the liquid into a solid form — also contains trans fats. Not surprisingly, coconut oil has gotten a bad reputation thanks to its high saturated fats. In comparison, lard has only 13 grams of fat and about 5 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. Extra virgin olive oil offers about 14 grams of fat but only 2 grams of saturated fat. When we’re warned to watch our consumption of saturated fat, coconut oil tends to lose out.
However, there’s more to healthy eating than numbers. Coconut oil is regaining favour because of the type of saturated fat it contains. Essentially, our bodies use these medium-chain fatty acids — or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) — differently than your usual long-chained saturated fats. Some research suggests these fats are more readily converted to energy rather than stored, and that they can even boost our metabolism. Besides, it has a unique flavour idea for cooking and baking — and it’s commonly used in certain cuisines and vegan fare.
However, the promised benefits don’t end there. Do some checking and you can compile a long list of things coconut oil and coconuts milk or pulp can help with, such as:
- dissolving kidney stones
– stimulating thyroid function (and thereby treating hypothyroidism)
– fighting tooth decay and gum disease
– relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease and stomach ulcers
– improving cholesterol levels
– improving digestion and bowel function, and helping the body better absorb key nutrients
– protecting against heart disease, osteoporosis and liver disease
– boosting the immune system
– killing fungi, parasites, bacteria and viruses — including the viruses behind pneumonia and HIV
Coconut oil is also touted as a weight loss wonder — there’s even a “coconut oil diet.” (You can see a full list on CoconutResearchCenter.org.)
