Coconut Therapy with Natural Products

In recent years, coconuts have received a lot of attention for their health benefits. They are naturally high in vitamin C and B complex vitamins as well as in trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, and selenium. Coconuts can act as an antibacterial, an antiviral, and have properties that can boost the immune system. This article discusses each of the coconut’s three main constituents in detail and presents recent research on how different parts of the coconut can offer health benefits.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is made when the meat of the coconut is blended and then strained. Traditionally, coconut milk has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a means to avoid dehydration. According to a 2013 review in the Journal of Biology and Chemistry Research, coconut milk is rich in medium chain fatty acids, which do not raise total cholesterol levels and help in body weight maintenance. Coconut milk is also a good source of lauric acid, a fatty acid that can act as a potent anti-bacterial nutrient.

Coconut Oil

In the United States, coconut oil was one of the major sources of dietary fats prior to the advent of corn and soy oils in the 1940s. Like coconut milk, coconut oil is high in medium chain fatty acids, specifically caprylic acid, lauric acid, mystiric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. These medium chain amino acids are metabolized directly in the liver and turned into energy instead of stored as fat.

In a 2017 study done on fifteen women to assess coconut oil’s affect on metabolism and cardiovascular markers, coconut oil was able to suppress appetite and increase fullness without affecting total cholesterol levels. Another study on the effect of dietary medium and long chain triglycerides on the accumulation of body fat in healthy humans found that volunteers, engaged in a 12-week double blind study, who ingested medium chain triglycerides every day for breakfast saw a significant decrease of body weight. Likewise, participants experienced a decrease in the amount of fat as well as a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol. Lastly, in another study, coconut oil was able to decrease the amount of abdominal fat in women with a waist circumference greater than 88 cm. Further research still needs to be conducted in order to secure coconut oil’s role in weight loss, however, the research that is available looks promising.

Virgin coconut oil has also been tested on atopic dermatitis, a condition in which the skin is not able to retain water and results in an inflamed cutaneous layer. One study done on one hundred and seventeen patients found that virgin coconut oil was far superior to mineral oil in treating mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients.

Coconut Water

Because coconut water is rich in electrolytes, it has been documented for being used as an intravenous drip. Coconut water is sourced from young nuts, which are usually harvested at five to seven months for optimal nutrient-density. Meanwhile, mature nuts contain more coconut meat, which contains less nutrients. Coconut water is particularly high in potassium and can help prevent fatigue, stress, and maintains optimal muscle relaxation.

Studies have documented coconut water to play an important role in combating diabetes as well as improving heart health and blood pressure. In one animal study, coconut water was able to maintain blood sugar levels and improve HgA1c levels (a biomarker indicative of blood sugar control) much above the control group. In another study, animals given coconut water saw significant decreases in cholesterol and triglycerides as well as improvements in the amount of fat found in the liver. The same researchers conducted another study that showed how coconut water rivalled the cholesterol-lowering effects of certain statin drugs. Similarly, potassium, which makes up a large part of coconut water, has been found to lower blood pressure in people of high or normal blood pressure. In a study where people with high blood pressure were given coconut water, 71 percent saw a decrease in systolic blood pressure.

Can coconuts be used as a functional food?

Based on the research that exists to date, coconuts can definitely play a role in disease prevention and therapy. Their high content of medium-chain fatty acids may play a role in helping to reduce obesity and they serve as a natural source of electrolytes that help prevent dehydration and fatigue. Although more research needs to be conducted in order to confirm the therapeutic effects of coconuts on health, they are definitely a rich source of nutrition and can be included in a daily meal plan.

*Please consult your doctor for personalized dietary advice.

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