But TFAs are not present in natural coconut oil.
In some country like Polynesia and Sri Lanka supplier of this products, shows that dietary coconut oil does not lead to high serum cholesterol or to high mortality or morbidity from coronary heart diseases. Study show no change in serum cholesterol level from intake of coconut oil.
Coconut oil is saturated fat, hence the bad rap. Unfortunately, most dietary guidelines fail to distinguish between different kinds of saturated fats and insist that all saturated fats are harmful. This is misleading: scientist now recognize that just as there is good cholesterol, there are also good saturated fats.
Fats are either short -, medium or long chain based on the number of carbon molecules they contain. Nearly two thirds of the saturated fat in coconut oil is easily broken down and used as fuel by the body, not sored. These types of fatty acids are less likely to cause obesity.
Nearly 50 percent of the fatty acid in natural coconut oil is lauric acid, which is converted to the fatty acids monolaurin in the body.
Lauric acid:
- helps a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast and fungi.
- Destroy the lipid membrane of enveloped viruses like HIV, measles, herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and influenza
- May help in treating AIDS. (still in research)
- Is a major component of human breast milk that help protects children from illness in infancy
