WHY COCONUT OIL IS SO GOOD FOR US
Some of the main benefits that numerous  researchers have discovered from the fatty acids in coconut oil are described below:  
MCFA=Medium Chain Fatty Acids.

Digestion
Most all fats in our diet are absorbed directly into the blood stream where they are distributed throughout the body.
MCFA, however, are not. Because of their small size digestive enzymes are not necessary to break them down and they are transported directly to the liver where they are, for the most part, burned as fuel much like a carbohydrate. In this respect they act more like carbohydrates than they do fats.

Because of the ease of digestion, coconut oil has been a lifesaver for many people. It is used medicinally in special food preparations for those who suffer digestive disorders and have trouble digesting fats. For the same reason, it is also used in infant formula for the treatment of malnutrition. Since it is rapidly absorbed, it can deliver quick nourishment without putting excessive strain on the digestive and enzyme systems, and helps conserve the body's energy that would normally be expended in digesting other fats. Coconut oil is one of the major ingredients in many infant formulas commonly used today.

MCFA can also improve the absorption of other nutrients. The absorption of calcium and magnesium and also amino acids has been found to increase when infants are fed a diet containing coconut oil. Coconut oil has been used to enhance absorption and retention of calcium and magnesium when a deficiency of these minerals exists.
This is especially true in the case of rickets which involves a vitamin D deficiency and the demineralization of the bones. For those who are concerned about developing osteoporosis as they get older, coconut oil may be useful in
helping to slow down this degenerative process by improving mineral absorption.

 Weight  loss
One of the remarkable things about coconut oil is that it can help you lose weight. Yes, there is a dietary fat that can
actually help you take off unwanted pounds. That fat is coconut oil. Coconut oil can quite literally be called the world's only low-fat fat.
Unlike other fats, MCFA in coconut oil are converted to energy rather than packed on the body as fat tissues. So when you eat coconut oil it provides energy, much like a carbohydrate, and does not contribute to body fat.
Coconut oil also has fewer calories than any other fat. Because of the small size of MCFA, coconut oil supplies slightly fewer calories than other fats. Coconut Oil is truly a low-fat fat.

The most remarkable effect coconut oil has in regards to weight loss is that it stimulates the metabolism. The faster the metabolism the more calories are burned and the less calories available to be converted into body fat. By eating coconut oil you rev up your metabolism and thus burn more calories. You can eat more and weigh less.

 Cardiovascular Health
All of the criticism that has been aimed at coconut oil is based solely on the fact that it is primarily a saturated fat and saturated fat is known to increase blood cholesterol. No legitimate research, however, has ever demonstrated any proof that coconut oil consumption raises blood cholesterol levels.
The MCFA of coconut oil are burned almost immediately for energy production and so are not converted into cholesterol and do not affect blood cholesterol levels. Numerous studies have demonstrated that coconut oil has a neutral effect on cholesterol levels.
An even more important factor in relation to cardiovascular health is the blood's tendency to form clots. Special proteins in the blood called platelets cause clotting when they become sticky. Numerous studies have demonstrated that all dietary fats -- beef fat, lard, butter, vegetable oil, and even canola and olive oils -- promote platelet stickiness. The more you eat, the stickier the blood gets, and the greater the risk of developing blood clots. The omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil, are an exception. 

They have the opposite effect on blood platelets. This is the main reason why they have been recommended for those at risk of heart disease. Too much, however, which is easy to do with dietary supplements, can interfere with normal blood clotting, and that can be just as dangerous. When this happens, blood vessels weaken and can rupture with the slightest degree of stress. Twenty-five percent of all strokes are caused by excessive bleeding within the brain.
Another group of fats that don't promote platelet stickiness are the MCFA. These fats are burned up immediately
after consumption and, therefore, do not affect platelet stickiness either one way or the other. Of all the dietary fats, MCFA are the most benign. 

People who traditionally consume large quantities of coconut oil as apart of their ordinary diet have a very low incidence of heart disease and have normal blood cholesterol levels. This has been well supported by epidemiological observations recorded in many studies. Those populations who consume large quantities of coconut oil have remarkably good cardiovascular health. Absent are the heart attacks and strokes characteristic in Western countries. 

In Sri Lanka coconut has been the chief source of fat in the diet for thousands of years. The average consumption in the island country has been reported to be 90 coconuts per capita annually. When the consumption of coconut oil is also taken into consideration, the total consumption in terms of coconut is 120 annually. Their heart disease
rate is far lower than that of non-coconut eating populations.

In the state of Kerala, in India, where large quantities of coconuts and coconut oil have traditionally been consumed, an average 2.3 out of 1,000 people suffered from coronary heart disease in 1979. A campaign against
the use of coconut oils on the grounds that it is an "unhealthy" saturated fat decreased coconut oil consumption during the 1980s. Vegetable oils replaced it in household use. As a result, the heart disease rate shot up to 7 per 1,000 people by 1993. By substituting vegetable oils for coconut oil, the heart disease rate tripled! In Delhi where the consumption of coconut products is negligible, 10 out of 1,000 people had heart disease in the same time period.
In Western countries where vegetable oil is the main source of fat, heart disease accounts for nearly half of all deaths. It seems that if you want to protect yourself from heart disease, you should replace your polyunsaturated
vegetable oils with coconut oil.

Immune System Support
One of the unique characteristics of coconut  oil is its antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil is, in essence, a natural
antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal food. Coconuts grow in warm tropical climates where bacteria and other organisms live in abundance. Coconuts have developed a natural resistance to this swarm of potentially harmful
microorganisms by using nature's own antimicrobial defense force -- medium-chain fatty acids.

Human breast milk and the milk of other mammals also contain MCFA. These fatty acids protect the newborn baby from harmful germs at its most vulnerable time in life while its immune system is still developing.
Another reason coconut oil is added to infant formula is that it helps protect them from infections.

MCFA strengthens and supports the immune system.  The antimicrobial and anti-parasitic properties of the MCFA aid in reducing the stress that would otherwise be placed on the immune system. The immune system wages a constant battle with disease causing microorganisms. Coconut oil provides artillery to help fight these invading organisms, thus reducing stress on the immune system which allows the immune system to function more
efficiently. Studies with coconut oil have shown it to improve immune response to pathogenic bacteria. Coconut oil is ideal for immune suppressed individuals. 
  
CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COCONUT OIL AND WHICH BRANDS WE RECOMMEND.

Owen & Jaime

We know that eating a wide variety of foods is essential to ensure that the body gets all the Key Nutrients which are necessary in keeping us healthy and nourished. Everyone needs the same set of nutrients, but the quantities of these nutrients vary depending on age and other factors.

Make sure to get the right amounts of Key Nutrients that your body needs. In this section, get familiar with the Key Nutrients, their functions, and the different food sources of these nutrients. 

Protein
Functions: necessary to make enzymes, antibodies, body fluids, and hormones; important in building and maintaining body tissue.
Food sources: lean meat products, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, dried beans, nuts (soaked or roasted) 

Calcium
Functions: make bones and teeth healthy; helps in blood clotting
Food sources: milk, yogurt, cheese, leafy vegetables 

Iron
Functions:
needed to make haemoglobin - the substance which transports oxygen  to the muscles and other parts of the body
Food sources: lean red meat, fish, poultry, shellfish, oysters, whole grains, cereals. 

Zinc
Functions: necessary in forming enzymes and growth and repair of tissues; cell reproduction
Food sources: lean meat, seafood, eggs, whole grains, green and leafy vegetables 

Vitamin A
Functions: helps keep skin, hair, and membranes healthy; helps eyes adjust to dim light
Food sources: dark green and yellow vegetables (broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes), liver, yellow fruits, eggs, milk 
 
Vitamin C / Ascorbic Acid
Functions: boosts the body's resistance to infection; improves iron absorption; helps in holding cells together
Food sources: citrus fruits, green and red peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower

Vitamin D
Functions: helps make bones and teeth strong and healthy
Food sources: milk, cheese, eggs, liver 

Folic Acid / Folate
Functions: Necessary in developing red blood cells; helps reduce risk of having spinal birth defects
Food sources: legumes, liver, dark green and leafy vegetables.

These are just some of the Key Nutrients that play a big role in the overall growth and development of a person. To avoid any nutrient deficiencies, the best thing that you can do is to eat a wide range of nutrient-rich foods.
With balanced diet and enough exercise, you will feel and look better and healthier.