Coconut oil is quickly gaining popularity in the Western culture for health conscious eaters and for great reasons! The compounds in it aid in fat burning, gives quick energy to the body and brain, raises good LDL cholesterol reducing Heart Disease, is used as part of a treatment for drug resistant Epilepsy, and is used to reverse Type 2 Diabetes just to name a few!
Isn’t Coconut Oil A Saturated Fat?
Yes. Coconut oil is considered a Saturated Fat, but unlike regular Saturated Fats that have Long Chained Triglycerides, Coconut Oil is a Medium Chained Triglyceride. This means when eaten, they go straight to the liver and are converted to a quick source of energy as Ketones. They aren’t stored as fat like Long Chained Triglycerides.
Ketones are essential for proper body and brain functions which is why they are being used as treatment for Epilepsy, Alzheimers, and Type 2 Diabetes.
The Connection Between Ketones & Epilepsy
A Ketogenic diet has been used for over a century to successfully treat patients with drug resistant Epilepsy. This lifestyle change has been proven to significantly reduce the number of seizures and their severity.
Over 50% of children who go on a Keto Diet have AT LEAST a 50% reduction in the number of seizures they experienced. 10-15% of children became seizure free! In 2010 John Hopkins opened the first ever dedicated clinic to treat, teach, and study the effects of the Keto Diet on Pediatric Epilepsy!
For Adult Epilepsy further diet modification was necessary to achieve the same results. A diet that’s a cross between Keto and Atkins Diets was shown to reduce seizure rates in adults by more than 50% within a few months!
Ketones & Type 2 Diabetes
If you read my article on Deleting Diabetes, then you understand the importance of balancing your blood sugar to avoid Ketone build up in the blood which can lead to severe and fatal illness. By consuming healthy fats like Coconut Oil, you increase the body’s ability to use Ketones VS store them in the blood which turn to poison. Adding healthy fats to the diet acts as an appetite reducer therefore reducing cravings. Healthy fats also stimulate the body to burn off fat helping you to lose weight and fight obesity that creates insulin resistance. In short, they help regulate the blood sugar!
What Else Is Coconut Oil Good For?
Coconut Oil contains about 50% Lauric Acid. When digested, it’s converted to Monolaurin. Both Lauric Acid and Monolauric Acid are anti-fungal and anti-bacterial killing health compromising infections like Staphyloccos and Candida.
Coconut Oil also improves Calcium and Magnesium absorption. This is great for bone and dental health fighting Tooth Decay and Osteoporosis.
The Medium Chain Triglycerides we talked about earlier also raise good LDL Cholesterol and lower the bad reducing Heart Disease by decreasing the amount t of fat retained in the body.
It’s also really great for moisturizing and conditioning hair and skin!
Sweet Tooth Satisfaction
If you have a sweet tooth, it can be hard to keep to your Keto Diet. Here’s a delicious sweet treat that will tame that craving and provide you with some good healthy fats that come with all the great benefits of Coconut Oil!
Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients:
- Bottom:
- 2 TBSP Coconut Oil
- 1/4 C Peanut Butter
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 TBSP Honey
- 1/4 Cocoa Powder
In a large bowl combine ingredients until smooth. Pour a thin layer into baking cups or a silicone mold. Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Top:
- 2 TBSP Coconut Oil
- 1/2 C Peanut Butter
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 TBSP Honey
Remove mold from freezer. In a medium bowl combine ingredients. Pour evenly over peanut butter base layer. Freeze until firm. Enjoy responsibly!
**Recipe courtesy of Health Coaching Institute.
Health & Harmony 