What You Think About What You Eat Is Even More Important Than What You Eat!
Thoughts, or memories of thoughts, run through your head twenty-four hours a day – even when you sleep. You can't get away from thoughts, and thoughts affect your physiology all of the time. Man's level of thought is what separates him from other species.
The impact of thoughts on physiology can be demonstrated by this simple example. Think of a lemon. See yourself slicing that lemon in half. Now, imagine picking up one half and squeezing the juice into your open mouth. If you do this with your eyes closed and really concentrate, you can, and probably will, begin to salivate. Salivation is your body's natural response to neutralize the acid of the lemon. Just the mere thought of pure lemon juice in your mouth can change your body's physiology.
What you think about, you bring about. Your body responds constantly to your mind's messages. Your verbal expressions and thoughts actually send messages to your body, which it displays in physical symptoms. In fact, specific feelings and emotions have been linked with particular symptoms and diseases.
It seems that negative feelings are generally associated with the production of disease. So, then the opposite postulate would be that positive feelings produce health. Feeding the physical body positive thoughts from the conscious mind leads to health.
What you are eating is your business. What others are eating is theirs. Worry about yourself. Don't judge others on what they are doing. These toxic judgments will render your good diet virtually worthless. Your thoughts are much more toxic that any “bad” food you might consume. And, if you make a choice to eat something that falls outside of the healthy guidelines, don't beat yourself up over it. Enjoy it! It's not what you eat occasionally that affects your health - it's what you eat every day.
The 11 Foods You Should NEVER Eat!
Margarine Products – Margarine is man-made and is produced by taking a good food product like liquid oil, putting it under high temperature and high pressure, and then bubbling hydrogen through it to make it a solid. New studies now show that margarine can raise blood cholesterol and increase vascular and cardiac stress. Cooking products like Crisco as well as commercially produced peanut butter also fall into this category. They just won't spoil – bacteria won't even eat it!
Artificial Sweeteners – Nutrasweet, Equal, Aspartame, etc., are essentially neurotoxins. This means they are toxic to the nervous system. In 1988, 80% of complaints received by the FDA were due to artificial sweeteners. They are stimulatory, without question! And, studies are showing their link to brain tumors.
Junk Food – Classified as soft drinks, processed snacks, pizza, and fast food, «junk food» is all made with parts of foods and are prepared with margarine, mayonnaise, and other artificial ingredients. To utilize these “foods” internally the body has to use vitamins, minerals, and enzymes needed elsewhere in your system, because the junk food is virtually void of these things. And, soft drinks are very, very acid, and will make your living system acid as well.
Mayonnaise - Simply put, most mayonnaise is made up of mainly fat and artificial or chemically altered ingredients. We are better off to get our fats from cold pressed virgin olive oil which contains three essential fatty acids.
Caffeine - Coffee, colas, and teas are all stimulatory. In other words, they rev up the body artificially when it doesn't need to be. The more outside stimulation the less internal regulation. And, as time goes on, it will take more and more of the same substance to get the same effect. Two cups of coffee a day increases the chances of heart disease by 50%. Cut it down, and then cut it out!
Chlorine and Fluoride - These are both found in our water supply, and they need to be eliminated. Chlorine oxidizes and kills bacteria in the colon - the bacteria we need. Fluorine is quite frankly a poison. Over time it assaults our immune system.
MSG - Monosodium glutamate - This flavor enhancer is very stimulatory to the body and is addictive. Some people have tremendous allergic reactions to it because it is an inorganic salt that the body cannot break down.
High Fat Dairy Products - We have been fooled into believing that if we do not drink enough milk, we will not get enough calcium and we will end up with osteoporosis. However, studies indicate the countries where people drink the most milk have the most osteoporosis. Sure milk has calcium, but it also has a lot of protein and phosphorus, which has a negative affect on calcium in the body. Calcium should come from the vegetable world. If you were to pasteurize and homogenize milk and feed it to a calf, it likely won't live for more than 6 months. Really, the way we alter milk, it is not even good for the species it was designed for.
Alcohol Products - Alcohol is a negative energy substance. You get a temporary spurt of energy, but you body loses more than it gains. Alcohol stimulation is usually followed by a let-down.
Aluminum - Make sure you don't cook your foods daily in man-made aluminum product cookware. If every meal you eat is cooked in aluminum, you are going to have aluminum accumulation. Aluminum is also found in most over-the-counter antiperspirants and deodorants. Studies indicate that accumulation of Aluminum in the body have been linked to Alzheimer's disease.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup - Watch for the upcoming article on high-fructose corn syrup.
Increase the Quality of What You Eat
Want to know more about what constitutes “good” food? Here are some of the qualities you can look for when you're looking at what to eat!
Wholeness - Food should be as nearly complete and as close as possible to the form it was when it came from the garden or tree. Avoid fragmented, processed, or “instant” foods.
Rawness - Although it is difficult to eat raw food exclusively, we can, with relative ease, eat about 30% of our daily consumption raw. This amount will give the body material, which it can use to make enzymes to digest the remainder of the foods. In fact, when you begin each meal with something raw, it allows your body to start manufacturing enzymes that can be carried over and used to produce personalized enzymes. Note: Spinach should always be eaten raw.
Ash - The food should have an alkaline ash. That means that the end product of digestion is alkaline in nature. Fruits and vegetables, with the few notable exceptions of cranberries, rhubarb and plums, satisfy this requirement.
Quantity - You will be less inclined to overeat if you confine your diet to fruits and vegetables. Good food is usually self-limiting, however, it is possible to overdo – as with any excess, overeating should be avoided.
Compatibility - Even good foods can have adverse effects if they are improperly combined at a meal. Never eat protein and starch at the same meal, and always eat melon alone. Make sure that food is combined in such a way that it does not act as a “poison” to the body. The more sick a person is, the more important proper food combining becomes, and the more important it is to eat only one food at a meal.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Could Asparagus Be An Answer To Your Health?
Could Asparagus Be An Answer For Your Health?
The U.S. National Cancer Institute reported that asparagus is the highest-tested food containing glutathione which is considered one of the body's most potent anti-carcinogens
and anti-oxidants.
Glutathione, or GSH, is a naturally occurring protein that protects every cell, tissue, and organ from toxic free radicals and disease. It is a tripeptide of three amino acids: Glycine, glutamate (glutamic acid), and cysteine. These precursors are necessary for the manufacture of glutathione within the cells. Glutathione has been called the “master antioxidant” and regulates the actions of lesser antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E within the body. It has many functions, including the following: regulates and regenerates immune cells, helping to detoxify the body, important in DNA synthesis and repair as well as protein and prostaglandin synthesis, may have anti-viral properties by slowing or stopping the replication of pathogens, research data indicates that GSH improves symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and possibly retard the progression of the disease.
Source: WHITAKER WELLNESS CENTER.
Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, a substance that acts like a cell-growth normalizer which is believed to be active in controlling cell growth. That may account for claims of its action on cancer and as a general body tonic.
Asparagus has been credited as helping to reverse Cancer (including Hodgkin’s Disease and Lymphoma), Kidney disease, Kidney stones, Parkinson’s disease, and many other diseases; however, this has not been tested or proven by the medical community. It is also not known if other medical or alternative treatments were factors. One fact remains: asparagus has much to contribute in the way of nutrition which makes it an excellent choice as a building block for health and healing.
RECOMMENDED: Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree; store in the refrigerator. For health issues, take 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. Larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases. The whole food may also be eaten. Improvement may be observed in from 2-4 weeks.
Asparagus tea powder may be purchased at www.chi-health.com. For orders call Chi's Enterprise, Inc. (800) 457-5708, 1435 N. Brasher St., Anaheim, CA 92807
NOTE: Since asparagus is cooked, canned or frozen asparagus may be used. The two leading caners of asparagus, Green Giant and Stokely, were reported to contain no pesticides or preservatives; however, additives are routinely and unnecessarily added to many products throughout the food industry to enhance flavor and increase sales. It is up to each consumer to be diligent in checking periodically to keep a constant watch with companies as to the contents and additives contained in foods purchased.
Regardless of health issues, the body cannot fight disease and repair itself without the tools it needs. The only way the body can get those tools to rebuild is through the food we fuel our body with; not drugs. In order to qualify as a drug, a substance has to have a kill rate of 50% of its critters in testing, a rating known as LD-50 (Lethal Dosage 50%). Once it receives this rating, it is sent back to the company to be marketed to you and me in the form of medications and drugs. Shouldn’t drugs have a heal rate instead of a kill rate to be marketed as a medication? Only nutritious food has a heal rate.
COMMENT: Health is the responsibility of each person. There are many factors that influence health: stress, exercise, diet, environment, accidents, and much more. Of the things we can control, diet and exercise are within our reach. If you are under the care of a medical doctor or health practitioner, research the benefits of vegetables and fruits: fresh, steamed and frozen. Support your health goals by choosing nutrient rich foods that will build and restore your body. If taking drugs, consult your pharmacist or medical doctor to learn of any possible reactions between medications, or interactions with foods. We were not born drug-deficient; but because of our choices we become nutritionally deficient, and that makes us SICK, sometimes VERY SICK.
Visit with Dr. Danise Witherspoon, N.D. at the Natural Health Clinic to learn more: 972-283-0341.
The U.S. National Cancer Institute reported that asparagus is the highest-tested food containing glutathione which is considered one of the body's most potent anti-carcinogens
and anti-oxidants.
Glutathione, or GSH, is a naturally occurring protein that protects every cell, tissue, and organ from toxic free radicals and disease. It is a tripeptide of three amino acids: Glycine, glutamate (glutamic acid), and cysteine. These precursors are necessary for the manufacture of glutathione within the cells. Glutathione has been called the “master antioxidant” and regulates the actions of lesser antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E within the body. It has many functions, including the following: regulates and regenerates immune cells, helping to detoxify the body, important in DNA synthesis and repair as well as protein and prostaglandin synthesis, may have anti-viral properties by slowing or stopping the replication of pathogens, research data indicates that GSH improves symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and possibly retard the progression of the disease.
Source: WHITAKER WELLNESS CENTER.
Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, a substance that acts like a cell-growth normalizer which is believed to be active in controlling cell growth. That may account for claims of its action on cancer and as a general body tonic.
Asparagus has been credited as helping to reverse Cancer (including Hodgkin’s Disease and Lymphoma), Kidney disease, Kidney stones, Parkinson’s disease, and many other diseases; however, this has not been tested or proven by the medical community. It is also not known if other medical or alternative treatments were factors. One fact remains: asparagus has much to contribute in the way of nutrition which makes it an excellent choice as a building block for health and healing.
RECOMMENDED: Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree; store in the refrigerator. For health issues, take 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. Larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases. The whole food may also be eaten. Improvement may be observed in from 2-4 weeks.
Asparagus tea powder may be purchased at www.chi-health.com. For orders call Chi's Enterprise, Inc. (800) 457-5708, 1435 N. Brasher St., Anaheim, CA 92807
NOTE: Since asparagus is cooked, canned or frozen asparagus may be used. The two leading caners of asparagus, Green Giant and Stokely, were reported to contain no pesticides or preservatives; however, additives are routinely and unnecessarily added to many products throughout the food industry to enhance flavor and increase sales. It is up to each consumer to be diligent in checking periodically to keep a constant watch with companies as to the contents and additives contained in foods purchased.
Regardless of health issues, the body cannot fight disease and repair itself without the tools it needs. The only way the body can get those tools to rebuild is through the food we fuel our body with; not drugs. In order to qualify as a drug, a substance has to have a kill rate of 50% of its critters in testing, a rating known as LD-50 (Lethal Dosage 50%). Once it receives this rating, it is sent back to the company to be marketed to you and me in the form of medications and drugs. Shouldn’t drugs have a heal rate instead of a kill rate to be marketed as a medication? Only nutritious food has a heal rate.
COMMENT: Health is the responsibility of each person. There are many factors that influence health: stress, exercise, diet, environment, accidents, and much more. Of the things we can control, diet and exercise are within our reach. If you are under the care of a medical doctor or health practitioner, research the benefits of vegetables and fruits: fresh, steamed and frozen. Support your health goals by choosing nutrient rich foods that will build and restore your body. If taking drugs, consult your pharmacist or medical doctor to learn of any possible reactions between medications, or interactions with foods. We were not born drug-deficient; but because of our choices we become nutritionally deficient, and that makes us SICK, sometimes VERY SICK.
Visit with Dr. Danise Witherspoon, N.D. at the Natural Health Clinic to learn more: 972-283-0341.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Coconut Oil and Its Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT)
Coconut Oil and Its Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT)
One of the first scientifically recognized benefits of MCT (medium chain triglycerides) or MCFA (medium chain fatty acids) is the unique manner in which they are easily digested, absorbed and put to use nourishing the body. MCT are broken down almost immediately by enzymes in the saliva and gastric juices so pancreatic fat-digesting enzymes are not even essential. Therefore, there is less strain on the pancreas and digestive system, and provide a quick source of energy necessary to promote healing. These fats provide nutritional benefits that can improve overall health of both: the sick and the well, the young and the old. Even athletes are now using them to boost performance and control weight.
People who suffer from malabsorption problems such as: cystic fibrosis, or have difficulty digesting or absorbing fats and fat soluble vitamins, benefit greatly from MCT. When lauric acid is consumed in the diet, either in human breast milk or in coconut oil, lauric acid forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin which has been shown may destroy several bacteria and viruses including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. They can also be of importance to people suffering from diabetes, obesity, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis Crohn's disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and some forms of cancer. It may be helpful in cases of chronic fatigue syndrome, Epstein-Barr, and mononucleosis, which are all result of depressed immune system. Some of the viruses that have been destroyed by monolaurin include HIV, measles, herpes simplex virus-1, vesicular stomatitis virus, influenza and cytomegalovirus. There is also evidence that the MCTs in coconut oil may kill yeast infections such as Candida.
Short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids have important antimicrobial properties. They may protect against harmful microorganisms in the digestive tract. Much of the recent research done on coconut oil and lauric acid the most predominant fatty acid chain found in coconut oil has focused on the anti-microbial and anti-viral properties of this unique fatty acid. Today, many strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, and antibiotics are generally ineffective in treating virus infections. Approximately 50 percent of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. It can be higher than this, depending on the source and how it is processed. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid.
Coconut oil may reduce the possibility of heart attacks and blood clots. It may reduce cancer risk since it kills bacteria which free the white blood cells to fight on behalf of the immune system and deal more effectively with cancer cells. Some research studies have shown it to be anti-carcinogenic, especially against colon and breast cancer, and prostrate enlargement. It may help with diabetes in that it may stabilize blood glucose rate and may help lessen excess body weight.
Research and clinical observation have shown that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA's) like those found in coconut Oil, may provide a wide range of health benefits such as:
· Reduce viruses load that cause influenza, hepatitis C measles and others illnesses.
· Kills bacteria that causes pneumonia, earache, throat infections, dental cavities, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrheal and dozens of others diseases.
· Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia and others parasites.
· Anti virus, anti bacteria, anti fungus, and anti natural parasite.
So how much coconut oil should one consume? A therapeutic dosage is 3 to 4 tablespoons a day, which will give an adult the equivalent amount of lauric acid that an infant receives from his mother's breast milk (the highest amount found, with coconut oil being second highest). This provides enough lauric acid to build the immune system which takes several weeks. Look for unrefined coconut oil. Stay away from all hydrogenated oils. Read the label. The more processed the product, the less benefit you will receive.
Saturated fats have many important roles in the body’s chemistry: Saturated fatty acids constitute at least 50 percent of cell membranes. They give our cells necessary firmness and integrity. They play a vital role in the health of our bones. For example, at least 50 percent of our dietary fats need to be saturated for calcium to be effectively incorporated into the skeletal structure. They lower Lp(a), a substance in the blood that indicates proneness to heart disease.
They protect the liver from the toxic effects of alcohol and certain drugs. They enhance the immune system. They are needed for the proper utilization of essential fatty acids. Elongated omega-3 fatty acids are better retained in the tissues when the diet is rich in saturated fats.
Saturated 18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon palmitic acid are the preferred foods for the heart, which is why the fat around the heart muscle is highly saturated. The heart draws on this reserve of fat in times of stress.
HOW MCT WORKS
In the digestive system MCT are broken down into individual fatty acids (MCFA). Unlike other fatty acids, MCFA are absorbed directly from the intestines (without requiring pancreatic enzymes to break them into smaller units) into the portal vein and sent straight to the liver where they are, mostly, burned as fuel much like a carbohydrate. In this respect they act more like carbohydrates than like fats. Mitochondria is the engine of every cell and needs to be fed. Due to it having smaller molecules, coconut oil MCFA’s can penetrate the cell wall of mitochondria without help from an enzyme and feed it the necessary energy. The MCFA can travel to any cell that needs it, so if a heart muscle cell needs more energy; it is available from the coconut oil’s MCFA. Athletes are also experiencing its benefits.
In contrast, other fats require pancreatic enzymes to break them into smaller units; then they are absorbed into the intestinal wall and bundled with proteins to make lipoproteins, then carried by the lymphatic system (bypassing the liver, and not burned up for fuel) and dumped into the bloodstream to go throughout the body. They are distributed to all the tissues of the body. Medium-chain fatty acids produce energy. Other dietary fats produce body fat.
The importance of coconut oil for nursing mothers: One of the major characteristics of human breast milk is its ability to protect since it has antimicrobial substances in milk that protect the child from a world teaming with infectious germs and parasites are the MCFA. When a nursing mother is infected with an illness, her child is also vulnerable. It has been recommended that HIV-infected mothers who are breastfeeding consume 24-28 grams/day of lauric acid and 3 - 4 grams/day of capric acid to prevent the transfer of the virus. Since coconut oil is nearly 48 percent lauric acid and 7 percent capric acid, this requirement would be met if the mother ate about 50-55 grams of coconut oil each day. A tablespoon is equivalent to 14 grams. So 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil a day would provide the recommended amount of both lauric and capric acids. Eating 40 grams (about 3 tablespoons worth) of coconut oil in one meal can temporarily increase the lauric acid in the milk of a nursing mother from 3.9% to 9.6% after 14 hours. Content of caprylic and capric acids are also increased. "The milk has increased amounts of the protective antimicrobials lauric acid and capric acid (the most important ones) which gives even greater protection to the infant." If the mother consumes coconut oil every day while nursing, the medium-chain fatty acid content will be even greater—up to as much as 18%. Coconut oil may also work as an aid for digestion and constipation. If the mother does not eat them while nursing, she will only be able to produce 3% lauric acid and 1% capric acid, and the baby may lose out on nutritional benefits and antimicrobial protection.
Coconut oil is especially important to elderly. Elderly people may get more benefit from their food and supplements if they consume it with coconut oil and it may aid digestion and constipation. As we age, the pancreas does not make as many digestive enzymes, our intestines do not absorb nutrients as well. The whole process of digestion and elimination moves at a lower rate of efficiency. As a result, older people often suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Because MCT are easy to digest and improve vitamin and mineral absorption they should be included in their meals. This is easy to do if the meals are prepared with coconut oil.
Coconut Oil may help restore and improve skin: Virgin coconut oil is attributed with the capability of sustaining connective tissue assisting it to become stronger. It may reduce wrinkles and slackness. In certain skin conditions, it may afford restoration of the damaged skin and scars, some skin diseases, provide relief of eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections and may prevent whitehead growth, and other damage caused by aging and excessive sunlight. It acts as an exfoliate adding to the youthfulness of your skin. It is attributed with the ability to soak into the deeper layers of tissue, kill virus, bacteria and protozoa, and reinforce the skin layers which may result in a skin that is softer with a healthier glow. It may prevent free radical formation that destroys skin cells, as well as act as a protectant from free radical reaction protecting the skin from problems caused by the aging factor and excessive exposure to sunlight. Some have found it may eliminate dandruff, dryness, fungus, heal scalp tissue, protect skin from ultraviolet rays, grow hair on bald heads and serve as a good hair conditioner. Simply massage it into the skin including any wrinkled skin area, cracked heels, hard corns, for regenerative nutrition and moisturizing. Use as a lotion daily. It may take several months for the body to regenerate through the healing process.
SKIN AGING TEST: Aging causes loss of skin elasticity and skin becomes hard and quilted. Pinch skin under arm for 5 min., let go to see how many seconds it takes for it to go back normal. 5 - 9 seconds = age 45 to 60; 10 - 15 seconds = age 60; 35 - 55 seconds = age 70.
Person age 50 ate coconut oil and skin returned to normal after 1 - 2 seconds.
STORY: The Polynesians live in a hot climate and wear very little clothing constantly exposing them to sunlight, but their skin is flawlessly healthy without skin infections or cancer. They eat coconut oil and use it as a body lotion and experience no damage from sunlight exposure. They believe coconut oil gives immediate recovery and healing, and protects them against in daily contact of disease-causing bacteria.
This info-page is a collection of articles from health advocate: Karen McLean. We recognize and thank her for sharing her work. This is a nutritional resource for information only. Consult your medical doctor when making changes that may affect your medications or your health. If you choose recommendations in regard to health from this or any article, you are diagnosing yourself and assume total responsibility for your health. You alone are responsible for your health.
For more information: go to mercola.com and type coconut oil in the Search bar. Combined articles from Dr. Mercola in http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/CoconutOil.html You can find products at Cox Farms, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe and also order coconut oil online at http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm or www.vitacost.com
One of the first scientifically recognized benefits of MCT (medium chain triglycerides) or MCFA (medium chain fatty acids) is the unique manner in which they are easily digested, absorbed and put to use nourishing the body. MCT are broken down almost immediately by enzymes in the saliva and gastric juices so pancreatic fat-digesting enzymes are not even essential. Therefore, there is less strain on the pancreas and digestive system, and provide a quick source of energy necessary to promote healing. These fats provide nutritional benefits that can improve overall health of both: the sick and the well, the young and the old. Even athletes are now using them to boost performance and control weight.
People who suffer from malabsorption problems such as: cystic fibrosis, or have difficulty digesting or absorbing fats and fat soluble vitamins, benefit greatly from MCT. When lauric acid is consumed in the diet, either in human breast milk or in coconut oil, lauric acid forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin which has been shown may destroy several bacteria and viruses including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. They can also be of importance to people suffering from diabetes, obesity, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis Crohn's disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and some forms of cancer. It may be helpful in cases of chronic fatigue syndrome, Epstein-Barr, and mononucleosis, which are all result of depressed immune system. Some of the viruses that have been destroyed by monolaurin include HIV, measles, herpes simplex virus-1, vesicular stomatitis virus, influenza and cytomegalovirus. There is also evidence that the MCTs in coconut oil may kill yeast infections such as Candida.
Short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids have important antimicrobial properties. They may protect against harmful microorganisms in the digestive tract. Much of the recent research done on coconut oil and lauric acid the most predominant fatty acid chain found in coconut oil has focused on the anti-microbial and anti-viral properties of this unique fatty acid. Today, many strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, and antibiotics are generally ineffective in treating virus infections. Approximately 50 percent of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. It can be higher than this, depending on the source and how it is processed. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid.
Coconut oil may reduce the possibility of heart attacks and blood clots. It may reduce cancer risk since it kills bacteria which free the white blood cells to fight on behalf of the immune system and deal more effectively with cancer cells. Some research studies have shown it to be anti-carcinogenic, especially against colon and breast cancer, and prostrate enlargement. It may help with diabetes in that it may stabilize blood glucose rate and may help lessen excess body weight.
Research and clinical observation have shown that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA's) like those found in coconut Oil, may provide a wide range of health benefits such as:
· Reduce viruses load that cause influenza, hepatitis C measles and others illnesses.
· Kills bacteria that causes pneumonia, earache, throat infections, dental cavities, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrheal and dozens of others diseases.
· Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia and others parasites.
· Anti virus, anti bacteria, anti fungus, and anti natural parasite.
So how much coconut oil should one consume? A therapeutic dosage is 3 to 4 tablespoons a day, which will give an adult the equivalent amount of lauric acid that an infant receives from his mother's breast milk (the highest amount found, with coconut oil being second highest). This provides enough lauric acid to build the immune system which takes several weeks. Look for unrefined coconut oil. Stay away from all hydrogenated oils. Read the label. The more processed the product, the less benefit you will receive.
Saturated fats have many important roles in the body’s chemistry: Saturated fatty acids constitute at least 50 percent of cell membranes. They give our cells necessary firmness and integrity. They play a vital role in the health of our bones. For example, at least 50 percent of our dietary fats need to be saturated for calcium to be effectively incorporated into the skeletal structure. They lower Lp(a), a substance in the blood that indicates proneness to heart disease.
They protect the liver from the toxic effects of alcohol and certain drugs. They enhance the immune system. They are needed for the proper utilization of essential fatty acids. Elongated omega-3 fatty acids are better retained in the tissues when the diet is rich in saturated fats.
Saturated 18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon palmitic acid are the preferred foods for the heart, which is why the fat around the heart muscle is highly saturated. The heart draws on this reserve of fat in times of stress.
HOW MCT WORKS
In the digestive system MCT are broken down into individual fatty acids (MCFA). Unlike other fatty acids, MCFA are absorbed directly from the intestines (without requiring pancreatic enzymes to break them into smaller units) into the portal vein and sent straight to the liver where they are, mostly, burned as fuel much like a carbohydrate. In this respect they act more like carbohydrates than like fats. Mitochondria is the engine of every cell and needs to be fed. Due to it having smaller molecules, coconut oil MCFA’s can penetrate the cell wall of mitochondria without help from an enzyme and feed it the necessary energy. The MCFA can travel to any cell that needs it, so if a heart muscle cell needs more energy; it is available from the coconut oil’s MCFA. Athletes are also experiencing its benefits.
In contrast, other fats require pancreatic enzymes to break them into smaller units; then they are absorbed into the intestinal wall and bundled with proteins to make lipoproteins, then carried by the lymphatic system (bypassing the liver, and not burned up for fuel) and dumped into the bloodstream to go throughout the body. They are distributed to all the tissues of the body. Medium-chain fatty acids produce energy. Other dietary fats produce body fat.
The importance of coconut oil for nursing mothers: One of the major characteristics of human breast milk is its ability to protect since it has antimicrobial substances in milk that protect the child from a world teaming with infectious germs and parasites are the MCFA. When a nursing mother is infected with an illness, her child is also vulnerable. It has been recommended that HIV-infected mothers who are breastfeeding consume 24-28 grams/day of lauric acid and 3 - 4 grams/day of capric acid to prevent the transfer of the virus. Since coconut oil is nearly 48 percent lauric acid and 7 percent capric acid, this requirement would be met if the mother ate about 50-55 grams of coconut oil each day. A tablespoon is equivalent to 14 grams. So 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil a day would provide the recommended amount of both lauric and capric acids. Eating 40 grams (about 3 tablespoons worth) of coconut oil in one meal can temporarily increase the lauric acid in the milk of a nursing mother from 3.9% to 9.6% after 14 hours. Content of caprylic and capric acids are also increased. "The milk has increased amounts of the protective antimicrobials lauric acid and capric acid (the most important ones) which gives even greater protection to the infant." If the mother consumes coconut oil every day while nursing, the medium-chain fatty acid content will be even greater—up to as much as 18%. Coconut oil may also work as an aid for digestion and constipation. If the mother does not eat them while nursing, she will only be able to produce 3% lauric acid and 1% capric acid, and the baby may lose out on nutritional benefits and antimicrobial protection.
Coconut oil is especially important to elderly. Elderly people may get more benefit from their food and supplements if they consume it with coconut oil and it may aid digestion and constipation. As we age, the pancreas does not make as many digestive enzymes, our intestines do not absorb nutrients as well. The whole process of digestion and elimination moves at a lower rate of efficiency. As a result, older people often suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Because MCT are easy to digest and improve vitamin and mineral absorption they should be included in their meals. This is easy to do if the meals are prepared with coconut oil.
Coconut Oil may help restore and improve skin: Virgin coconut oil is attributed with the capability of sustaining connective tissue assisting it to become stronger. It may reduce wrinkles and slackness. In certain skin conditions, it may afford restoration of the damaged skin and scars, some skin diseases, provide relief of eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections and may prevent whitehead growth, and other damage caused by aging and excessive sunlight. It acts as an exfoliate adding to the youthfulness of your skin. It is attributed with the ability to soak into the deeper layers of tissue, kill virus, bacteria and protozoa, and reinforce the skin layers which may result in a skin that is softer with a healthier glow. It may prevent free radical formation that destroys skin cells, as well as act as a protectant from free radical reaction protecting the skin from problems caused by the aging factor and excessive exposure to sunlight. Some have found it may eliminate dandruff, dryness, fungus, heal scalp tissue, protect skin from ultraviolet rays, grow hair on bald heads and serve as a good hair conditioner. Simply massage it into the skin including any wrinkled skin area, cracked heels, hard corns, for regenerative nutrition and moisturizing. Use as a lotion daily. It may take several months for the body to regenerate through the healing process.
SKIN AGING TEST: Aging causes loss of skin elasticity and skin becomes hard and quilted. Pinch skin under arm for 5 min., let go to see how many seconds it takes for it to go back normal. 5 - 9 seconds = age 45 to 60; 10 - 15 seconds = age 60; 35 - 55 seconds = age 70.
Person age 50 ate coconut oil and skin returned to normal after 1 - 2 seconds.
STORY: The Polynesians live in a hot climate and wear very little clothing constantly exposing them to sunlight, but their skin is flawlessly healthy without skin infections or cancer. They eat coconut oil and use it as a body lotion and experience no damage from sunlight exposure. They believe coconut oil gives immediate recovery and healing, and protects them against in daily contact of disease-causing bacteria.
This info-page is a collection of articles from health advocate: Karen McLean. We recognize and thank her for sharing her work. This is a nutritional resource for information only. Consult your medical doctor when making changes that may affect your medications or your health. If you choose recommendations in regard to health from this or any article, you are diagnosing yourself and assume total responsibility for your health. You alone are responsible for your health.
For more information: go to mercola.com and type coconut oil in the Search bar. Combined articles from Dr. Mercola in http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/CoconutOil.html You can find products at Cox Farms, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe and also order coconut oil online at http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm or www.vitacost.com
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