Why Coconuts Do a Heart Good

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 06/12/2013

I'm often asked if coconut oil is good for your heart, and my answer is a resounding yes. The ordinary coconut—known for its sweet milk, great fiber, and ability to conk people on the heads in Marx Brothers movies—can do your heart good—and a lot more.

Many people shun coconut oil because it’s high in saturated fat, which is true. But coconut oil is also the least vulnerable oil to oxidative stress and free radical formation—in fact it’s probably the safest oil to use in all types of cooking.

What about oil and your cholesterol? Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA)—not the long-chain fatty acids found in most oils—so it's heart healthy. In fact those MCFAs have an effect similar to omega-3 fatty acids, so they make blood platelets less sticky.

Researchers also demonstrated that coconut’s MCFAs can neutralize and kill many microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses that are responsible for periodontal disease, herpes, and even bladder infections. Remember, oral bacteria that can cause dental disease can enter the bloodstream via the gum line, cause inflammation and eventually contribute to arthrosclerosis. Plus, research has shown that coconut oil can help to improve memory.

What’s the best way to incorporate coconut oil into your diet?

• Use it for cooking. Just remember not to heat it to the point of smoking. Any oil, including coconut oil, can produce toxic byproducts when overheated. Another way is to eat coconut or coconut products every day.
• Mix it with olive oil in your salad. You might even douse your steamed vegetables with a few teaspoons of it.
• Eat coconut or other products like coconut milk. Coconut milk can be used to make shakes and smoothies. You can also use it in a hot or cold cereal, or pour it over seasonal organic blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. I like to bake fish in coconut milk to keep it moist and enhance the flavor.
• Or try coconut water. I add it it my daily fruit and veggie juice as I’ve writtern about  before. If you are not familiar with the procedure you can visit heartmdinstitute.com.

But if you’re not nuts about eating coconut, you can apply coconut oil to your skin. Remember, the skin absorbs almost anything you put on it. Similar to almond oil, coconut oil can really enhance a great massage. Coconut oil is also a great way to treat dried, cracked soles of the feet—and even foot fungus. It also helps to control dandruff, and improves the texture of your hair.

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