Single Serving of Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Health Significantly, Reverse Alzheimer’s

Story:

A Single Serving of Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Health Significantly, Reverse Alzheimer’s.

Analysis:

The message claims that a single serving of Coconut Oil can boost the brain health significantly and can even reverse Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Studies on Coconut Oil and Alzheimer’s

A 2004 study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging showed evidence of coconut oil aiding Alzheimer’s prevention and even reversal. 20 subjects with AD or mild cognitive impairment were given a drink containing emulsified MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) from coconut oil or placebo. After 90 minutes, significant increases in levels of the ketone body ß-hydroxybutyrate (ß-OHB) were observed when cognitive tests were administered. Ketones are like energy fuel to brain. So the study suggested that an oral dose of MCTs may improve cognitive functioning in older adults with memory disorders, and that additional research is needed to determine their therapeutic benefits for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Picture of Dr. Mary Newport and her Husband Steve Newport — Dr. Mary Newport and her Husband Steve Newport

On 01 January 2013, CBN News published a related article suggesting Coconut Oil as Alzheimer’s remedy, reporting the case of Steve Newport, whose Alzheimer’s has slowed considerably. Steve Newport was given this unlikely treatment of coconut oil by his wife, Dr. Mary Newport, a physician herself. Dr. Newport added Virgin Coconut Oil to her husband Steve’s diet, and just two weeks later, she was surprised to see significant improvement in her husband’s AD. She even published a book titled ‘Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure?: The Story of Ketones‘ explaining her experience of treating her husband’s AD with coconut oil. As reported in the video news report of CBN, she even received good number of appreciation letters from people who have tried her coconut therapy for memory issues related to AD and were successful in improving.

Picture of Virgin Coconut Oil — Virgin Coconut Oil

Health Benefits & Myths of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has several health benefits, but some myths around it have cut down its use as edible oil. People widely believed that coconut oil is not good for consuming because of its saturated fat content, but not all saturated fats are dangerous. Almost two-thirds of the saturated fat in coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids, which help in efficient metabolism of burning fat to energy. Some people think coconut oil is bad for heart, but it’s actually very healthy, as it raises HDL, the good cholesterol. Unlike the unsaturated oils, coconut oil is not even prone to oxidation.

Coconut oil also has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, making it a natural antibiotic without the negative side effects. In fact the Indian Ayurveda experts have always maintained that consuming coconut oil is very good for health and beauty. What more, even the Coconut kernel is nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. The purest form of coconut oil is the one extracted from fresh coconut kernel without any chemical processes.

However, it is important to note that most commercially available coconut oils use chemicals in processing, so you should choose the one with no GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) ingredients, bleaching, deodorizing, refining or hydrogenation. Certified organic coconut oil, like the Virgin Coconut Oil in the United States is a good source of healthy MCTs. Consuming Virgin coconut oil made naturally will not have any disadvantages in general. More importantly, it should be noted that people tolerate coconut oil differently, so you may have to start slowly and then increase the intake to benefit from its therapeutic properties. To avoid upsetting your stomach, Coconut oil is best taken with food. And as always, consult your doctor before making any dietary changes to include coconut oil.

To conclude, yes, coconut oil does have some therapeutic benefit in boosting brain health, and even preventing or reversing memory disorders like Alzheimer’s. More studies are needed to validate its effectiveness. Instead of spending millions of dollars for developing artificial drugs that certainly can have side effects in the long run, the Health organizations should study and focus on natural treatments like this.