The magic wonder....

Hi my booboos, I really have to share this. I have had this info a little while now but been a little hesitant and been trying to figure out a way to break the "olive oil" news softly. In my usual curiosity and research I stumbled on 'heart breaking' info about olive oil. In summary, its a very heart healthy oil BUT not built for plenty frying or high heat. Its best as a salad dressing or very light/medium heat like a quick 2 minute or less sauté. The high heat makes it rancid and get carcinogenic!!! hian!! I remember I called my folks in panic and told them my findings.

So a little frustrated, I began "asking" for the way out. We still need some sorta oil for high heat na......especially for we Nigerians that can fry for Africa! And viola I stumbled on Coconut oil....I was very impressed as the benefits are astronomical! There's sooo much info on it I would split it into 2 write ups......today we will talk about its composition and benefits to weight loss. We will look at the other key importance of Coconut oil next week.

 

Coconut oil is used extensively in tropical countries especially India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Phillipines etc, which have a good production of coconut oil. The benefits of this oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, (48%) capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and soothing properties.

How is lauric acid used by our body?
The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV ( errrrm I don't know o about this one o, na so the research talk.....). It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system. The Coconut Research Center has compiled various benefits in both traditional and modern medicine. Lauric acid is also found in human mother’s milk! No wonder we are hounded to breastfeed!!


 

Before we move on to the benefits of coconut oil in detail, let us quickly understand its composition.

Composition of Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil consists of more than 90% percent of saturated fats (Don’t panic! first read to the last word. Your opinion may change), with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Let us have a bit detailed study of this.

·         Saturated fatty acids: Most of them are medium chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric acid is the chief contributor, with more than forty percent of the share, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic.

·         Polyunsaturated fatty acids: Linoleic acid.

·         Monounsaturated fatty acids: Oleic acid.

·         Poly-phenols: Coconut contains gallic acid, which is phenolic acid. These poly-phenols are supposed to be responsible for the fragrance and the taste of coconut oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these poly-phenols.

·        Certain derivatives of fatty acid like betaines, ethanolamide, ethoxylates, fatty esters, fatty polysorbates, monoglycerides and polyolesters

·         Fatty chlorides, fatty alcohol sulphate and fatty alcohol ether sulphate, all of which are derivatives of fatty alcohols.

·         Vitamin-E and vitamin K and minerals such as Iron.

Recent researches however show that not all saturated fats are bad for health and coconut oil is one of them. Some saturated fats may increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, and even if they do, this cholesterol need not always be the Bad Cholesterol. 

Biko let me explain this in a bit more detail. There are two types of cholesterol, namely High Density Lipoproteins or Good Cholesterol and Low Density Lipoproteins or Bad Cholesterol. While the Bad Cholesterol (LDL) gets deposited in the inner walls of arteries and poses a threat for heart (in extreme cases, it can give heart attacks), the Good Cholesterol (HDL) does just the opposite. It helps lower the level of Bad Cholesterol, provides energy and nutrition to cells and benefits the body in other ways too.

You will be delighted to know that coconut oil has some saturated fatty acids that raise the level of High Density Lipoproteins in the body, lowers Bad Cholesterol, boost immunity and fight ageing. They also increase the rate of metabolism and thus help shed weight. Isn’t it amazing? Oil that helps us loose weight! *whoopwhoop*

Please note that our bodies react different to different food items. So for some people, the cholesterol levels may increase on consumption of coconut oil. Therefore, if you are planning to start using coconut oil in order to lose weight, do check your cholesterol levels regularly.

Health benefits of Coconut Oil

Let us now explore the benefits of coconut oil in detail though due to the major purpose at F.i.t.T.r.i.x which is weight loss, we would concentrate more on that. :D
 

Weight loss

Coconut oil is too useful in reducing weight on a healthy lifestyle plan. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight.

Hence a more natural way to boost the metabolism without resorting to popping pills full of chemicals and caffeine. With all the dangers associated with thermo genic stimulants, it's no wonder a growing number of people are beginning to shy away from them.

Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight. Coconut oil primarily consists of medium-chain fatty acids. These triglycerides can speed up the metabolism because they are so easily digested and converted into energy. Long-chain fatty acids, like those in polyunsaturated oils, are more difficult for the body to break down and use for energy. Instead, long-chain fatty acids are usually stored as fat in the body. Several scientific studies have exhibited these principles.

One study examined the effect of medium-chain fatty acids on metabolism. Participants' metabolism was evaluated before and after a meal rich in these fats. On average, metabolism increased by 48%. In obese individuals, the increase was as high as an astounding 65%. Studies have shown this thermo genic effect can last for 24 hours.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that medium-chain fatty acids were three times more effective at raising the metabolism than long-chain fatty acids. Researchers concluded that replacing long-chain fatty acids with medium-chain fatty acids was an effective method for weight loss. Another study from the same journal showed that eating medium-chain fatty acids increases metabolism and also helps burn off stored fat.

Coconut oil can support an already healthy weight in other ways as well:

- Coconut oil slows down the digestion of food, which helps you feel fuller after a meal. Many people notice that after adding Coconut oil to their diet, they are less prone to snacking.

- Because it slows digestion, coconut oil also helps prevent blood sugar fluctuations after a meal by slowing the rate carbohydrates are broken down into blood glucose.
- The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil destroy candida, a condition of yeast overgrowth in the body which triggers symptoms of weight gain, carbohydrate cravings, fatigue and many others. Eliminating candida is an important part of achieving permanent weight loss.
- Coconut oil is excellent for detoxification. It cleanses the body of many infirmities, balances the digestive tract and nourishes all cells in the body. These benefits restore your health and pave the way for natural weight loss.

The kind of coconut oil you choose is very important. Organic, unrefined extra virgin coconut oil is the best choice since it preserves all the natural goodness of the oil.

We would conclude these series next week....need to run. I am eating into family get away time and boo has been using 'koro' eyes to look at me. He cant understand meeehhhn.....a commitment is a bond!!! Whether I am at home, kutuwenji, 4Points or Prison...I need to keep motivating, informing and educating you!

 

S.P.A...........Support Plan Accountability

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