“At one time coconut oil was a significant part of the American diet.”  Cherie Calbom

What changes are you making with your eating habits that will reap dividends for years to come?

The priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.  (Lev 17:6; NIV)

Last week I introduced coconut oil to you all.  That may have been a first introduction for some of you.  Others may have heard or read controversy around coconut oil.  For years we as Americans have been told to avoid anything with tropical oils, thinking it would send us to the nearest ER with a massive coronary.  As with all stories, there are two sides to this one as well.

There is a lot to this story but I’ve tried to distil it down to small, readable bites.  During WW II, when the Japanese occupied most of the Philippines and the South Pacific, supplies of coconut oil were cut off for several years.  Americans were forced to turn to alternative sources of cooking oils.  That’s when many of the polyunsaturated oils came on the scene.

Then some research studies emerged which said that eating saturated fats causes high triglyceride levels.  The research claimed that ALL saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and should be eliminated from the diet, including coconut oil.  However, modern research has proven that not all saturated fats are the same.  As I mentioned last week coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs).

When you digest MCTs, they’re immediately transported to your liver to be metabolized. They don’t get stored in your body cells like typical fats. These fats follow a ‘healthier’ pathway in your body.  MCTs don’t raise cholesterol levels or contribute to heart disease.  We now know those old studies were done on hydrogenated coconut oils, a highly processed form of coconut oil completely different than virgin coconut oil.

Research also shows that the vegetable oil industry spearheaded an aggressive campaign to discredit saturated fats and promote polyunsaturated vegetable oils.  The media flooded the public promoting polyunsaturated propaganda.  Dr. Bruce Fife writes about the refining process of these oils.  “The oil is separated from its source with heat and hydraulic pressure.  After the first pressing, the remaining pulp is treated further with additional heat, pressure, and petroleum solvents.  The oil is then boiled to evaporate the toxic solvents.  Chemical preservatives are added to retard oxidation.  Modern processing removes all of the non-oil components of the seed, making the oil colorless, tasteless, odorless, and completely lacking in nutrients.”  These oils are also known to cause inflammation in the body.  Inflammation causes breakdown at the cellular level.  Not pretty.

If you’ve not experimented with using coconut oil yet, I believe you’ll be in for a delight.  What are you waiting for?  Send me an email if you have questions about this unsung hero.

Prayer Power
Father, we thank You for all of your good and wonderful gifts.  We thank You that You have provided what we need to walk in divine health.  May we be diligent in seeking out truth and walking in what we learn.

Link of the Day
The Great Fat Debate - Why Virgin Coconut Oil Is Best

Blessings on you as you look into making an oil change.