Coconut: For Weight Loss, Immunity, Thyroid Health...even HIV

As spring progresses and here in Virginia, summer weather descends with hot and humid fury, it's even easier to love the tropical taste of coconut. Like many others, the mix of pineapple and coconut flavors can move my day up an entire notch. And as much as I hate to say it, if you do not like the taste of coconut, this is not going to be a post for you.

In regard to coconut products, the ones that give us the most nutrient value are those that still retain their natural coconut flavor. This is one reason why I will not advocate refined coconut oil...more about that shortly. We also need to be sure not to cut corners when it comes to the fat content of coconut products. The value of coconut is found in its fat, so we need to be sure to purchase full fat coconut products.

I know that as our culture has embarked on its anti-fat campaign, the idea of fat is majorly repulsive to many. I wish I had the time to get into it deeply here, but I frankly, do not. I have read the research and am convinced that fat expert, Dr. Mary Enig and the hundreds of others in her 'camp' are teaching truth. Beyond the science that they use to prove their conclusions, as I have explained in the past, I just don't believe God would give this gift as a food source if it's poison to my body. This is why I don't camp, myself, fully in the "No-Sugar Ever Camp", either. There is sugar in fruit, and sugar cane is a plant...It is the over-indulgence in and extreme processing and genetic modification of something God made perfect in the first place,  that messes up these gifts and turns them into foods that hinder health.


Let's start today with the GOODNESS of coconut. We will refute the supposed 'evils' in a different post. I will be using "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" as my main resource for the information I'm passing along today. This is the book I reviewed earlier and gave less than a perfect score...in my opinion, that is. The reason I did this was because of the caliber of difficulty and time to prepare many of the recipes given. If gourmet cooking is a norm for you, or if you are already familiar with traditional cooking methods, it will be fine for you. If you are new to either forms of cooking, I believe that in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed, you'll need to take the book at a much slower pace than prescribed within its pages. However, this does not usurp the quality of the information given about fats and cholesterol, or the weight-loss or health recovery methods it employs.
I will also be using "Nourishing Traditions", as this was the first place I discovered the good truths about coconut.

I do try to keep my writing as much on a layman's level as possible, as I am a layman myself and understand the frustration and irritation that comes from trying to read medical or scientific jargon without knowledge of the verbiage used. So as I write, I will do my best to explain terms that may be unfamiliar.

A very important term to understand is, 'medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)'. Long-chain fatty acids require the gallbladder to work harder because it secretes the bile salts needed for their digestion. Medium-chain fatty acids don't require bile salts for digestion. If you have discovered that fats tend to hinder your digestion, or if you have just become convinced of your body's need for fats after having abstained for a long period of time, you will find that the medium-chain fatty acid of coconut oil doesn't hinder digestion. This makes it a perfect oil to use when reintroducing fats into your diet.

Weight Loss: Ha ha! This is a term every American understands without interpretation! You'll most likely be happy to know that the MCFA's found in coconut oil are exactly the fatty acids that use up energy during mobilization. This means they are effective as an aid to weight loss. The energy used by the body to metabolize MCFA's  is more than the amount of energy they give.. The fatty acid that oxidizes the fastest?  Lauric acid...and coconut oil is almost 50% lauric acid. There are several foods that raise body temperature. This is good for weight loss, too because this is evidence that your energy level and metabolic rate are being raised. Coconut oil 'just happens' to be one of those foods that raises the metabolic rate.

And then there's the "Thyroid Thingy". This is especially important to me as I have radioactive iodine- induced hypothyroidism. But the facts here are important to anyone with low thyroid symptoms. Thyroid deficiency affects about 12 million Americans and some endocrinologists suspect the condition is undiagnosed in millions more. All by itself, hypothyroidism causes a low metabolic rate with consequent weight gain, dry skin, depression, mental fog and lethargy. In addition to this, it can be a precursor to breast cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and heart disease. There are no specific studies of coconut oil's affects on the thyroid gland, but it is a confirmed fact that it raises the metabolism and causes weight loss. According to "Eat Fat, Lose Fat", there are many hypothyroid patients who have been able to eliminate their medications after adding coconut to their diet. (I am not advocating this without the approval of your physician.)

Synergy: I talked about this when I spoke of fats in the last few weeks' posts. Synergy is a little like a co-dependent relationship. One can't manage well without the other. One needs the other for best function. Both work together to make it work best. Our bodies must have saturated fats to use the essential fatty acids, (Omega-3 and -6), effectively. As it so happens, the more saturated fats we consume, the less of the others are needed. This makes coconut, a natural saturated fat, a good thing, because most of us have difficulty getting enough Omega-3's and -6's, and trying to balance their intake, which is important, is also difficult. Saturated fats not only ensure that Omega-3 and -6 are used most efficiently by the body, they ensure that they are retained. Once again, the cycle comes around...Perhaps the reason we have so much trouble with maintaining adequate levels of Omega-3 and -6 is because our society has developed a brain-washed paranoia about saturated fats and therefore, strongly or even completely avoids them. The 'therefore' to that? ...Even when we consume 'The Omegas', our bodies can't use them effectively or retain them.

Lauric Acid: This is a biggie! Lauric acid is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. It is found in mommy's milk. Converted upon consumption into 'monolaurin', lauric acid becomes a defensive line against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens...The main thing to remember about the lauric acid, so prevalent in coconut oil, is that it supports, reinforces and strengthens the immune system. Other saturated fats are produced by the liver, but lauric acid comes from the mammary glands in animals. It can also be found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or in lesser amounts, butterfat.

Interested in knowing some disease organisms fought by lauric acid? Check these out:

• viruses: herpes, measles and HIV (Yes! HIV!)*
• bacteria: listeria (food poisoning), staphylococcus and streptococcus
• parasites: gastroenteritis-causing giardia lamblia. 

*According to "Nourishing Traditions", "AIDS patients and others with compromised immune system function should consume 20-25 grams grams of lauric acid/day. Approximately 12 grams of lauric acid are contained in 2 TBS coconut oil or 3 TBS creamed coconut; 10 grams of lauric acid are contained in 1/2 C. canned whole coconut milk or 1/2 C. desiccated coconut meat.

 To get deeper details on anything I've spoken of here, I highly recommend, "Eat Fat, Lose Fat". You may order it at the top of the page, find it at the library, or purchase it through a book store or try eBay.

In the next post: "Coconut Oil: 10 More Ways It's Great!"
Upcoming post subjects: "Myth-Busters regarding Coconut's Supposed Evils", "How to get Milk from Your Coconut", "Coconut Sources".

Eye-Opener Thursday: SOY, BABIES & BEYOND

Soy has been touted as a great American food. Supposedly good for menopause, babies and those attempting to avoid meat in their diet, soy is the soapbox tonic for just about everything.

Or is it?

1-Soy and Corn are the two largest industrialized products of America. We grow a lot and most is genetically modified. It's good for business to find many uses for it. Soybeans are used as a base for a great deal of food products, including everyday condiments such as salad dressings and mayonnaise, (one of the reasons I make my own mayo now. See, "Busy Days and Mayonnaise"), and the unsuspecting baby formula.

2-We have been lead to believe that the use of soy as a food dates back several thousand years, but the truth is, it wasn't used until the Chinese figured out how to use it to make soaked/fermented products: tempeh, natto, and tamari, (late Chou dynasty, 1134-246 BC). To this day, these are among the limited ways in which soybeans can truly be safely used. Although Asians are often considered to be huge consumers of soy, the fact is that the Chinese average about two teaspoons soy intake a day and the Japanese, only one to two. Even then, it's not consumed as a meat substitute, as western civilization has tried to use it, but rather, as a condiment.

3-The idea that the soy foods in general use today produce the same benefits as fermented soy foods of  the past, is fallacy. The majority of modern processed soy products comes from non-soaked, non-fermented soybeans. This fact is of utmost importance. Soybeans cannot deliver nutrients without proper preparation, and they contain toxins that cannot be neutralized without these traditional methods of preparation. Furthermore, the methods used to soak/ferment other beans/legumes/grains, aren't effective for soybeans. They require longer, more aggressive efforts for neutralization. In addition, modern methods used to process soybeans over-processes their proteins and even increase carcinogenic levels.

4-Without getting into the nitty-gritty, scientific wording about types of amino acids, (you are welcome to get into it at "Soy Alert!"), know this: Contrary to popular belief, soybeans are NOT a complete protein.

5-The vegetarian diet needs sources of vitamin B-12, and many believe they can be obtained from soybean products. Not so. Although there is a compound in soybeans that is similar to B-12, it is not B-12 and the human body cannot use is. The real truth here is that the intake of soy products causes a greater need for B-12.

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6-One of the greatest concerns I have in regard to soy is my new found awareness of its dangers when given to infants, although much of what I am sharing here also pertains to the health of adults.
Soy contains 'trypsin inhibitors'. These interfere with the work of the pancreas and inhibit the digestion of proteins. Tests have shown that this can cause stunted growth and pancreatic disorders.
7-Just as we have learned that more B-12 is needed when soy is ingested, so it is with vitamin D...without which, we have disruption of normal growth and development of strong bones.
Phytic acid is a huge problem with soy products. It interferes with assimilation of iron and zinc. Both of these are essential ingredients for the development of the brain as well as the nervous system. The brain and nervous system also are in need of cholesterol, which is not supplied by soy products.
8-In addition, another serious area of concern is the megadose level of phytoestrogens in soy formula. This has been scientifically implicated in the 'epidemic' of premature sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys.
~~~It is important to understand that there is a short span of time in a male infant's life, the first six months, when he experiences a natural 'testosterone tide'. At this time, the infant is 'flooded' with testosterone hormone at about the level of the male adult. At this time, the infant's brain, reproductive system and other organs are being 'programmed for maleness' which is to later manifest during puberty. Consider then, what the consequences might be when a male infant's body at this stage is also being bombarded by concentrations of estrogen at levels 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than infants on milk-based formula or breast milk.~~~ 

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9-Some believe that the phytoestrogens in soy enhance mental capabilities, but a recent study showed that women having the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function. Also, a study of Japanese Americans who consume tofu in mid-life showed and association with Alzheimer's in later life.

10-Once again, the estrogen-factor of soy comes in to play regarding postmenopausal women. It's been believed for decades that soy will help a woman through the menopause and postmenopausal stages. However estrogen-dependent tumors can be stimulated by soy, and thyroid work is inhibited by soy. The latter problem  causes menopause difficulties. Therefore, the use of soy to relieve menopause and postmenopausal symptoms doesn't help, but rather, hinders.

11-Yet, some insist that soy estrogen (isoflavones) is good for us. However, these are what is called 'phyto-endocrine disrupters'. They can stimulate the growth of cancer cells, prevent ovulation, and cause hypothyroidism. Just four tablespoons of soy/day can cause hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms: lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.

12-Many believe that soy has GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), status, however, recently Archer Daniels Midland withdrew its application to the FDA for this status. This move was in response to a huge protest-not from consumers-but from the scientific community. The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of the presence of toxins and carcinogens in modern processed soy.

13-Soy has also been touted as a preventive measure against several types of cancer, but the truth is that there is little evidence that soy protects from breast or any other cancer. The greater, sadder truth is that it can even increase the risk of cancer.

14-What about heart disease? Isn't soy good for that? Well, it can lower cholesterol. (It doesn't always.) However, as yet, there isn't any evidence that lowering cholesterol via soy intake lowers the risk of heart disease.

15-And then there are the libido claims of soy. (If that won't make it sell, what will?) Let's please get this straight...SOY CONSUMPTION LOWERS TESTOSTERONE levels in men. (See #7.) Here's a fun fact for you: Buddhist monks consumed tofu in order to reduce libido. Animal studies have shown that soy foods make animals infertile.

16-Then there is the 'Let's-get-the-Greenies-on-our-side' approach...with claims that soybeans are good for the environment. Yep, good, alright. Think: Genetically Modified=large amounts of herbicides= toxic run-off.
-'Nough said.

17-And finally, let's talk about this matter from a global standpoint. Soybeans replace traditional crops in third world countries. The processing of the beans is moved from that country and its local population to multinational corporations instead...that would be the guys getting the biggest cut. Don't believe the claims that soybeans are good for developing nations. Like all these other claims about the greatness of soybeans, it's balderdash.

All information contained in today's 'Eye-Opener' came from information obtained through "Soy Alert", a division of the Weston A. Price Foundation, and Nourishing Traditions, side-bar, p. 603. If you'd like to go deeper, please check these resources.