Editor’s note: This post was originally published in December 2015. It has been updated and republished in August 2019.
In the 1960s, food manufacturers wanted consumers to buy their margarines and hydrogenated oils. To do that, they had to “discredit” the products people had always used in their homes to prepare their food.
Olive oil, coconut oil, and lard were no longer “good for you,” they said. The marketing campaign for their synthetic products began and coconut oil was portrayed as an artery-clogging and cholesterol-raising substance. People were told that it contained too much saturated fat and contributed to heart attacks.
Flash forward four decades later. In the midst of an obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer explosion, scientists discover that it is not healthy fats found in coconut oil and other natural products that are bad for you.
It was, in fact, the very goods the food manufacturers had been pushing on their consumers for thirty years. The trans-fats contained in these “fake foods” were incredibly dangerous to your entire body. High fat, high sugar, and high carb diets were put under the microscope and found guilty.
Over-processed, pre-made synthetic foods filled with additives, preservatives, dyes, and high levels of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and other unnatural fillers were found to be the true culprits of the Western world’s health decline.
After all these years, coconut oil is getting the positive scientific attention it deserves. There’s a reason cultures around the world have been using it for thousands of years. The benefits of coconut oil have filled entire books. There are very good reasons for that. Let’s talk a little about the history.
Coconut Oil’s Bad Rap
How did the food manufacturers manage to discredit an oil used by civilizations throughout history that didn’t experience the rate of disease that we in the United States currently face?
Dr. Thomas Brenna of Cornell University explained the magic trick the food industry pulled on this amazing oil.
Most of the studies involving coconut oil were done with partially hydrogenated coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil, which has not been chemically treated, is a different thing in terms of a health risk perspective.”
His research made it clear that natural, organic coconut oil was not the culprit. Once coconut oil is chemically altered to a hydrogenated state, it is no longer natural or organic. They are two very different products and have opposite effects on the human body.
Dr. Brenna’s findings were supported by Dr. Ancel Keys.
In the 1950s, Dr. Keys suspected a link between heart disease and hydrogenated oils. He began a series of studies to test his hypothesis. He investigated a Wisconsin dairy farmer whom initially had cholesterol levels that neared 1000, exceptionally higher than the United States “normal” range of 200-230.
Dr. Keys put him on a diet that replaced margarine with coconut oil. His cholesterol level dropped to 300 in one week. He changed the man’s diet again, adding back the margarine that had been part of his daily food intake. Within days, his cholesterol went back up. The topic of cholesterol and heart disease is a topic for another article altogether. Despite what you hear, the research actually indicates that cholesterol does not cause heart disease.
This particular experiment raised public awareness and there were health concerns by consumers. The vegetable oil industry proceeded to divert the public’s attention by criticizing and attacking all tropical oils – particularly coconut oil. The soybean industry followed suit. Soon enough, the public quieted down and the manufacturers went back to “business as usual.”
A group of researchers published a paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1981 about their study of two groups of Polynesians. Both groups were instructed to consume coconut oil as their primary source of energy. The results showed positive circulatory and vascular functions in both populations. There was no indication that high saturated fat intake caused harm.
The “French Paradox” – a study on low death rates related to coronary heart disease despite increased intake of saturated fat – confirmed their findings.
The Unique Coconut Oil Benefits
With the advancement of modern technology and breakthroughs in science, numerous studies in the past decade have proven coconut oil to be a “good” saturated fat and incredibly healthy.
Pure coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is converted to monolaurin by your body. In fact, 50% of coconut oil is lauric acid, a compound usually found in human breast milk, which makes it one of the best food sources of this nutrient available. Lauric acid is beneficial in deterring parasites, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and viruses.
Coconut oil also consists of 86.5% saturated fatty acids, 5.8% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 0% trans-fat. It is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), contrary to vegetable or seed oils consisting of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). LCFAs are stored in the body as LDL cholesterol, contribute to hardening of the arteries, and strain the pancreas and liver.
MCFAs support the immune system with its antimicrobial properties. They are easily digested and converted to energy.
Studies indicate that MCFAs help increase feelings of fullness and lead to a reduction in calorie intake when compared to the same amount of calories from other fats. When MCFAs are metabolized, ketone bodies are created in the liver. Ketone bodies have been shown to have a strong appetite reducing effect. Coupled with its stimulatory effect on metabolism, it’s easy to see why coconut oil makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
In the 1930s, Dr. Weston Price, a dentist by profession, traveled throughout the South Pacific to examine traditional diets and their effects on dental hygiene and overall health. He observed that people whose diets contain high amounts of coconut products were healthy and trim. Despite their high fat intake, there was no existence of heart disease.
Another study in the 1940s found that when farmers used coconut oil as a fattening substance for their livestock, the animals became leaner instead. The high levels of MCFA in coconut oil maintain the thyroid gland’s optimal control of metabolism, ultimately resulting in weight loss.
In the past decades, society has been misinformed to believe that eliminating saturated fats from their diet was necessary for healthy living. We’ve been told that shunning these fats would prevent the occurrence of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Raw, organic, virgin coconut oil is considered a superfood because it helps increase cardiovascular function, heals damaged cells that can lead to cancer and other disease, and cleanses the body.
People worldwide are now realizing the numerous coconut oil benefits. The truth is, it provides us with crucial nutrients not found anywhere else and is indeed a healthier choice for total body wellness.
This information is being suppressed from you by the mainstream media and the medical establishment.
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Article Summary
In the 1960s, coconut oil was falsely portrayed as an artery-clogging and cholesterol-raising substance.
4 decades later, we now realize that the highly processed foods are the culprit.
Research actually indicates that cholesterol does not cause heart disease.
Numerous studies in the past decade have proven coconut oil to be a “good” saturated fat and incredibly healthy.
Coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs).
Studies indicate that MCFAs help increase feelings of fullness and lead to a reduction in calorie intake when compared to the same amount of calories from other fats.
The article on OZONE was outstanding as well as in laymen language. Thank you
Coconut oil benefits are really unique. Glad to stumbled across your page. Know about extra virgin coconut oil that never lets you down.
Ty….once again an excellent article. Having reached the age and status of disposal, 65, I would encourage everyone but especially those who are nearing retirement to get ready for the onslaught. If it were not hard enough already to prepare yourself with Social Security applications for the money you are due after having it taken out of your paychecks for the last 50 years (same with Medicaid and Medicare). It’s all up to you no matter what your station in life. To negotiate the rules and regs. for Part A, Part B and Part D (cost of drug coverage), which are just insurance policies, sold by you guessed it, commercial insurance companies like Aetna, BC/BS, and so many others, you will find that most insurance companies are actively trying NOT to sell you insurance for prescription drug coverage. They want you sick, weak, mentally unstable and
cooperative so that you will sign away your rights and better choices to make these drug companies and insurance companies BILLLIONS of dollars in profit, EVERY YEAR, at your expense. And throw in the FDA to the mix and now your food health is compromised too. The revolving door between D.C. and every major corporate enterprise involved in this major rip-off of old people in the U.S., keeps on rotating so senators and congressmen and women, can still get million dollar bonuses, as they raise the prices of everything from RX drugs to food, and we subsidize that through financing R&D and advertising (just two biz costs that can be taken off big biz taxes and the taxpayer foots the bill) with our tax money. As you can see, it is GREED for MONEY and POWER that drives this system. This is the ONLY “trickle down” system that has ever worked in American society because these choices we are “almost” forced to take, affect the health and well being of our kids and grand kids. If we don’t sign up for these programs, we are destined to end up pushing shopping carts down some major city streets to survive. To end my soap box rant (but it’s all TRUE), start a garden where ever you can. Grow you own food. Get the kids involved, at any age. Impart the significance of everyone but especially your kids to get involved in the political process and understand it. VOTE to kick the bums out who don’t represent your better interests and the interests of your kids. Believe me, you will starve to death or die of a curable disease before you are shot with one of your own guns. Don’t listen to the crap on the radio and TV, it is designed to appeal to your lower base instincts of Fight or Flight, and BIG BIZ knows we have all but forgotten how to Fight. The garbage on TV is meant solely to distract you from what you will soon find is your biggest night mare…retirement.
i too have taken coconut oil as has my wife. i love it but there are some good studies that say we should be excited for it but not overly. more research does need to be done. in our case our cholesteroil did go up. but the good went up more than the bad. does that mean we are in good shape? hard to read it. the good is up’ which is great but the bad also went up although not as much but still higher than it had been so how to interpret?
I have only recently become in utter awe of the benefits of coconut oil! God has given us an amazing plant! Great article and very informative!
Can u help me live better
Make Tumeric Milk (there are several variations of the recipe online). Use Organic Milk, Almond Milk or Coconut Milk. Put 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil in it. Drink everyday.
How much should you take a day
http://coconutresearchcenter.org/hwnl_4-1.htm Go to this website, great information about Coconut Oil.
I couldn’t agree more Tim. Ranting right along with you but so happy to know there is another person who understands the degree to which we are manipulated. Bottom line, we all need to make our good health our responsibility.
The same happened to me and liver went up
Wow!! My Sister Told Me About Coconut Oil!! That You Could Cook With It!! I Also Brought A Jar For My Beauty & Hair & Skin Care!! Thanks Again. From: Donald.
Coconut grows abundantly in many coastal villages in PNG. We use the dry nut daily – for cooking and for hair / skin care. The young coconut is a delicacy in salads. We hardly hear of health issues such as cancer, diabetes ,,,etc.
Tim Sanders I wish more people understood this. Also, in medical school they are not taught an extensive course on nutrition. They are taught how to write prescriptions.
the formula for skin lotion, frankincense, mer, coconut oil and shea butter, what to make…recipe anyone? 10 drops of Frankincense, how many drops of Mer, and how much coconut oil and shea butter?
Excellent information! Keep up the good work!! Thank you so much–I feel more at peace about the whole thing 🙂
Oh so true. At age 74 I have amazingly changed my health with coconut oil. So many uses – my skin looks and feels healthier than since my early teen years just from rubbing it daily with coconut oil. My illnesses have depleted considerably. It has been so beneficial that I amaze everyone with how healthy I have become – zero prescriptions over past few years, thanks to coconut oil.
Thank you Doctor for all you share with our brothers & sisters all over the world. We are still looking forward to hear & learn more from you.
Thanks for the information. Everyone is going back to Natural products from God, and staying Healthy.
Thanks for the information regards the importance of coconut oil my questions the uses of coconut oil,does good somebody who have cancer in the anus if yes how does it uses needed for ur urgent response.
We all have strayed away from the instructions in our life manual-The Bible.Men ought to go back to the status quo on what to eat and what not to eat for them to live healthy.Thank you for this piece of information
I had part of my lung removed in 2017 with cancer now it has come back,I read coconut oil will help I bought a jar, how do I take it and when do I take it, I have just had first chemo they want me to have more in 3 weeks.can you help me.
Hi Thomas –
We appreciate you reaching out to us about this.
I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis – I’ll be sure to pray for you.
Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I’m also attaching the info about the Hope4Cancer clinic in Tijuana, MX if you’d like to reach out to them.
http://www.hope4cancer.com/
https://hope4cancer.com/schedule-a-call/
Please also see the resources below in case they will be helpful to you.
From our beginning, we have supported charities that really help these cancer patients.
HealingStrong:
http://healingstrong.com/
https://www.facebook.com/healingstrong
HealingStrong supports MANY cancer patients and are amazing. HealingStrong, a nonprofit organization, is supported 100% by volunteers, who are experienced in using natural strategies. The organization’s mission is to educate, encourage, equip, and empower those seeking comprehensive natural strategies to heal strong and stay strong.
HealingStrong Connect Groups meet monthly in various areas of the U.S. and South Australia to link others interested in natural strategies, holistic protocols, and local resources. Their groups focus on mind, body and emotional healing based on Biblical promises, as they believe the God of the Bible is our healer. For more information on how to start a group, or become involved in one, please go to: http://www.healingstrong.org/groups, and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/healingstrong.
Cancer Crackdown is so awesome and helps patients without a lot of money get supplements and treatments and even helps them raise money:
http://cancercrackdown.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CancerCrackdown
Also, the Independent Cancer Research Foundation is another charity that we support, also known as Cancer Tutor. They have been a TREMENDOUS help for cancer patients and have a TON of life saving information they give out freely and they do real research into treatments for cancer that are outside of the toxic Big Pharma Big 3:
http://www.theicrf.com/
The best that we can suggest is to contact Healing Strong and Cancer Crackdown for any need in financial resources.
We also support Mary Beth’s “Nick Gonzalez Foundation” which is bringing Nick’s protocol to the people…which is one of the most powerful cancer killing protocols out there.
I hope this is helpful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again if there’s anything else we can help with.
Wishing you endless blessings and love!
Ty, have you heard of the Chi Vitalizer Machine? Is it a hoax? I need some advice concerning this machine. Thanks
Coconut oil is awesome! My split thumb responds by closing up in just two days following an application of coconut oil and a bandage. I put it on any cuts and scrapes or skin irritations. It also helped me keep two bruised toenails that were falling off—all I did was apply the oil to the nails and wrapped them with a bandage (it helps to put the oil right on the band-aid and then wrap…the oil can interfere with the adhesive on the band-aid). They actually reattached to the skin beneath them and are now growing out like normal toenails do! Coconut oil can be used for many ailments, internal as well as external.. I suggest people go to http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org to learn more about the healing powers of coconut oil. Bruce Fife, N.D., who started the Coconut Research Center, has written two books that have a wealth of information: Coconut Cures, and The Coconut Oil Miracle. They give uses for the oil as well as have many case histories of the oil actually healing a vast array of health problems.
So the high cholesterol study was done on a dairy farmer that ate margarine. Why wouldn’t a dairy farmer be eating butter ?
I did not think that margarine would cause cholesterol levels to rise. I thought that butter would because it comes from an animal.