Coconut Cholesterol and the Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut cholesterol, as some people call it, refers to the saturated fat content of coconut milk and meat. Cholesterol itself is a fat-like substance that is only found in animal cells, like humans and other mammals. Humans make all the cholesterol their bodies need. They do not need to consume any more in our diets.

The reason why coconut has not been shown to increase the cholesterol levels of those who consume it as a mainstay of their diets is hypothesized to have something to do with lauric acid. Lauric acid makes up approximately fifty percent of the fatty acids in the food. It is a medium chain fatty acid that can also be found in mother's milk. The body processes some fatty acids differently.

Some tropical people get as much as sixty percent of their calories from coconut sources. High coconut cholesterol, excess body weight, and heart disease should be evident. Nevertheless, there has been anecdotal evidence that people who consume coconut oil, coconut milk, and consume the meat of the coconut have a noted improvement in their HDL: LDL ratio. Moreover, their HDL levels also known as good cholesterol are higher overall.

High bad cholesterol LDL and too low HDL cholesterol are risk factors for heart disease according to the American Heart Association and many other health organizations.

In addition, those who love coconut find it interesting that people who eat it as a diet mainstay do not have increased health problems. This would be especially interesting for those who live in countries where coconut is not frequently found in their regular diet. If coconut cholesterol studies bear fruit, they will be able to consume foods they love that are good for them.

There are anecdotal reports of people noticing a reduction in joint pain and even weight loss by consuming coconut oil. The link between coconut cholesterol and health benefits is being studied. Natural health practitioners and those interested in living more naturally are looking forward to learning if there is a causal link, and how they should best utilize coconuts cholesterol. Currently most people get their coconut through delicious eastern cuisine or cooking with coconut oil. Supplements could be more prominent in the future.

Ken Fong
thecholesterolscoop.com What is Cholesterol Series.