Fifteen years ago, when Bruce Fife, ND, began to get interested in the benefits of coconut oil, there wasn't really anything written about it and all people really heard about was that it was BAD for you... basically, that it's a saturated fat that would raise your cholesterol and up your risk for heart disease.
Oh, how things have changed.
What Bruce came to realize, after much research, is that coconut oil is actually a good fat, and has all sorts of health benefits.
What are some of these benefits?
One of the biggest is coconut oil's anti-microbial effects, which means that it can protect you from bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause infections.
Another plus is that it's extremely beneficial for the brain. Much of the recent research has produced evidence that the unique medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil can promote brain health and ward off diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Want to lose a few extra pounds? Coconut oil has been shown to aid in weight loss. Many people are shocked to hear this, because, after all, it's a fat. But, it actually helps stimulate your metabolism so you burn fat and calories at a faster rate.
How can you use coconut oil? Well, you can cook with it, bake with it, and even put it on your toast as a replacement for butter or margarine.
So, if you're looking to incorporate more coconut oil into your diet, what is the amount you need each day to realize the benefits such as boosted brain health or faster weight loss?
For someone who is struggling with a chronic condition such as Alzheimer's, Bruce recommends five tablespoons spread throughout the day, taken with food.
If you're hoping to use coconut oil for weight loss, three to five tablespoons is the optimal dosage.
One cautionary note, however, is that if you're not used to eating coconut oil (or any type of oil, for that matter), you may want to start slowly and build up to those amounts. Jumping from zero to five tablespoons immediately could cause diarrhea or other gastric discomfort.
Listen in as Bruce discusses why coconut oil is so healthy, as well as some of his favorite ways to use it.
Wednesday, 03 December 2014 11:33
Weight Loss & More: The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has gone though quite a metamorphosis over the last 15 years... all for the better.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 4
- Audio File: naturally_savvy/1449ns3d.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Bruce Fife, CN, ND
- Book Title: The Coconut Oil Cookbook
- Guest Website: Coconut Research Center
- Guest Bio: Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D., is an author, speaker, certified nutritionist, and naturopath. He is the author of The Coconut Oil Cookbook and The Coconut Oil Miracle. He is the publisher and editor of the Healthy Ways Newsletter. He serves as the president of the Coconut Research Center, an organization whose purpose is to educate health care professionals and the public about the health and nutritional aspects of coconut. Fife was the first to gather together the medical research on the health benefits of coconut oil and present it in an understandable and readable format for the general public. He is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the health benefits of coconut oil.
- Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: Yes
- Host: Andrea Donsky, RHN and Lisa Davis, MPH
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Naturally Savvy
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