coconut in support of good health in the 21 st century.pdf

COCONUT: IN SUPPORT OF GOOD HEALTH Mary G. Enig IN THE 21ST CENTURY st Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21 Century by Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.* 12501 Prosperity Drive, Suite 340, Silver Spring, MD, 20904- 1689 USA Tel: (301) 680-8600 Fax: (301) 680-8100 Abstract Coconuts play a unique role in the diets of mankind because they are the source of important physiologically functional components. These physiologically functional components are found in the fat part of whole coconut, in the fat part of desiccated coconut, and in the extracted coconut oil. Lauric acid, the major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut, has long been recognized for the unique properties that it lends to nonfood uses in the soaps and cosmetics industry. More recently, lauric acid has been recognized for its unique properties in food use, which are related to its antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal functions. Now, capric acid, another of coconut’s fatty acids has been added to the list of coconut’s antimicrobial components. These fatty acids are found in the largest amounts only in traditional lauric fats, especially from coconut. Also, recently published research has shown that natural coconut fat in the diet leads to a normalization of body lipids, protects against alcohol damage to the liver, and improves the immune system’s anti-inflammatory response. Clearly, there has been increasing re