COCONUT (COCO’S NUCIFERA) THE TREE OF LIFE
The scientific name for Coconut is Cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it Cocos which means “Monkey face” because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resemble the head and face of a monkey. Nucifera means “nut bearing”.
On many Islands Coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world’s population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures, the coconut has a long and respected history.
Coconut is highly nutrition’s and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicines among Asian and pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illnesses. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called “The Tree of Life” Only recently has modern Medical Science unlocked the secrets to coconuts amazing healing powers.
COCONUT IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions and races scattered around the globe have reverence the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine.
Coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine. In traditional medicine around the world, coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruations and kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness and wounds.
COCONUT IN MODERN MEDICINE
Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions, published studies in medical Journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide-range of health benefits, some of these are summarized below:-
• Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, sars, Aids, and other illnesses.
• Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infection, urinary tract infections gum disease cavities, pneumonia, gonorrhea and other diseases.
• Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidacies, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
• Expels and kills tapeworms, lice, and other parasites.
• Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
• Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
• Improves digestion, absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, and amino acids.
• Improves Insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
• Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme system of the body.
• Reduces, symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
• Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
• Reduces problems associated with mal absorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
• Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development and strong bones and teeth.
• Helps protect against osteoporosis.
• Help relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
• Relieves symptoms associated with crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis,and stomach alcers.
• Improve digestion and bowel function.
• Relieves pain and the irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
• Reduces inflammation
• Supports tissue healing and repair.
• Support and aids immune system function.
• Health protects the body from breast, colon and other cancers.
• Is heart healthy, improves cholesterol ratio reducing rate of heart disease.
• Protect arteries from injuries that cause atherosclerosis and this protect against hearts disease
• Functions as a protective antioxidant.
• Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and regenerating disease.
• Helps in other herbs in the complete treatment of HIV, cancer and regenerative diseases and blood disorders
• Does not deplete the body’s antioxidants like other oils do.
• Improve utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
• Helps to relieve symptom associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Helps to relieve symptom associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
• Reduces epileptic seizures.
• Helps protect against kidney stones and bladder infections as it dissolves kidney stones.
• Is lower in calories than all other fats.
• Supports thyroid function.
• Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
• Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
• Helps prevent obesity and over weight problems.
• Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
• Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
• Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
• Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
• Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
• Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
• Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• Helps control dandruff.
• Do not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do
• Have no harmful or discomforting side effects.
• Is completely non-toxic to humans.
COCONUT OIL
While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber and nutritional content, it’s the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine. Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long over due recognition as nutrition’s health food.
Coconut oil has been described as “The healthiest oil on earth” that’s quite a remarkable statement, what makes coconut oil so good? What makes it different from all other oils, especially other saturated fats? The difference is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. There are two methods of classifying fatty acids. The first you are probably familiar with is based on saturation. You have saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Another system of classification is based on molecular size or length of the carbon chain within each fatty acid. Fatty acids consist of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached. In this system you have Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA), Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA), and Long-Chain Fatty Acids (LCFA). Coconut oil is composed predominately of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT). The vast majority of fats and oils in our diets whether they are saturated or unsaturated or come from animals or plants, are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Some 98% to 100% of all the fatty acids you consume are LCFA. The size of the fatty acid is extremely important. Why? Because our bodies respond to and metabolize each fatty acid differently depending on its size. So the physiological effects of MCFA in coconut oil are distinctly different from those of LCFA more commonly found in our foods. The saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are predominately medium-chain fatty acids. Both the saturated and unsaturated fat found in meat, milk, eggs, and plants (including most all vegetable oils) are composed of LCFA.
MCFA are very different from LCFA. They do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and help to protect against heart disease. MCFA help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is primarily due to the MCFA in coconut oil that makes it so special and so beneficial.
There are only a very few good dietary sources of MCFA, by far the best sources are from coconut and palm kernel oils.
The miraculous health benefits of coconut oil can never be over emphasizes.
LOVE & GRACE NATURE CURE
CLININ. ONNE ELEME RIVERS STAT
Dr. Tonifelix C. Manu
(PHYTOTHERAPIST)
