History of Coconut Oil

Can you buy coconut oil at your local supermarket?

What's the real story behind the history of coconut oil?

If it's so popular in tropical countries, why can't you find it on your local supermarket shelves?

History says that the coconut tree has been used for thousands of years by people in the Pacific Rim and Asian countries.

The coconut meat supplied them with food, the leaves were used to weave baskets and mats, and the flowers on the trees produced sap which was used to make syrups.

The most interesting story is the use of coconut oil, which was made from pressing the meat of the coconut nut.

So let's take a step back in time when life was simpler and less complicated....

Back when Coconut Oil Ruled the Day

Years ago, coconut oil was always used for cooking. In the 1950's, you could buy it at your local supermarket. Everyone cooked with it. Housewives used butter and coconut oil to fry in, and it was also used in baking.

Everything changed when some medical studies reported that eating saturated fats causes high triglyceride levels.

The research claimed all saturated fats raise your cholesterol levels and should be eliminated from your diet; including butter and coconut oil.

Coconut oil's history shows some of these studies were based on hydrogenated coconut oils, a highly processed form of coconut oil completely different than Virgin Coconut Oil.

When these studies were published, the American edible oil industries jumped at the chance to promote their polyunsaturated vegetable oils on the general public.

With help from the edible oil industry, the United States Government soon adopted new dietary guidelines stating that:

"All saturated fats cause heart disease and should be replaced with polyunsaturated fats."

This sounded the death knell for coconut oil...and the history of coconut oil shows this.

Like a stray dog nobody wanted, poor ol' coconut oil was left out in the cold. But it's time for Virgin Coconut Oil to make a come-back because modern research has proven that not all saturated fats are the same!

Virgin Coconut Oil - An Oil of a Different Breed!

Coconut oil is a source of healthy fats

Did you know Virgin Coconut Oil has special fats that don't raise cholesterol levels or contribute to heart disease?

That's right! There are now studies showing there may be health benefits from coconut oil on cholesterol levels.

Virgin Coconut Oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs).

These types of fats follow a 'healthier' pathway in your body which means more efficient fat burning and weight loss.

When you digest MCFAs, they're immediately transported to your liver to be metabolized; they don't get stored in your body cells like typical fats.

MCFAs don't raise your cholesterol levels or contribute to heart disease. So this is basically one healthy fat your body will love.

Veggies, veggies everywhere....

Vegetable oils are now a common food oil found in you local supermarket.

Corn oil, safflower oil and canola oil are all excellent sources of polyunsaturated fats; which health agencies tout as 'healthy fats'.

Margarines are made from vegetable oils and so are lots of baked goods and processed foods.

Look at almost any ingredient label and you'll find the most commmon fat source will be a polyunsaturated vegetable oil.

Are you Eating Too Much Omega 6 Vegetable Oils?

The problem with consuming a diet high in vegetable oils is you may be getting excessive amounts of omega 6 fatty acids.

Research now shows that too many omega 6 fatty acids may promote inflammation in your body.

Some scientists believe this can lead to an increased risk for heart disease and inflammatory conditions in your joints and skin, like arthritis and eczema.

Could this be the reason for the high rates of heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other inflammatory conditions in a country that is over-flowing with low-fat foods?

Research has shown residents of tropical regions enjoy lower rates of cardiovascular disease, compared to Western societies. Could natives of these tropical areas know something we don't about the health benefits of virgin coconut oil? And is there something to learn from this history of coconut oil?

Add virgin coconut oil to your diet today!

Things are changing though....Virgin Coconut Oil is now gaining popularity as a healthy fat among health-conscious consumers.

This tropical oil is one of the healthiest dietary oils in the world, free of trans-fatty acids and contains no cholesterol. The history of coconut oil shows there is a place for this healthy oil in our diets.

Want to use Virgin Coconut oil in your diet? Check out my List of Health Benefits of Coconut Oil for more details.

I hope you found my webpage on "The History of Coconut Oil" informative and will help in your decision to incorporate this healthy oil in your diet.

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