Coconut Continued

So with all the Coconut hype... everyone wants to know "Where is the evidence?"  A great deal of professionals find the website www.pubmed.gov quite resourceful.  So when the word "coconut oil" is typed into the database there are thousands of studies listed.  So why are all the doctors asking to see the evidence? when it is right there.  I was reading an article lately on the drug "Aricept" which is highly used to treat Alzheimer's.  When the FDA unveiled this drug there were less than 10 studies available to support this.  I am not sure if this statement is 100%, but nothing surprises me anymore.  Coconut research goes way back to the 30's and 40s when  it was discovered when added to the diet it improved absorption of various nutrients.    In the 1950's researchers investigated breaking coconut oil down to pure MCT oil.  MCT's where then discovered to digest differently than other fats, they seemed to digest rapidly and begin breaking down immediately.  It was in the 60's and 70's that MCT's were researched (more so) and used to treat malabsorption syndromes including: Cystic fibrosis, tropical sprue and pancreatic insufficiency.

As I read more... I started to read about how athletes use coconut oil in their beverages to increase energy and boost metabolism.  So as you look at the back of your commercially produced energy bar or beverage you may find coconut oil or MCT's being utilized in the ingredient list. 

I then went on to read about "real life" stories about people using coconut oil to treat various illnesses such as lupus and diabetes.  The testimonies go on... and on.

Coconut oil has been granted "GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status by the FDA and has been around for the past 60 years with no noted adverse affects.  I have yet to read an obituary in the paper:  "woman dies of coconut oil ingestion, after mixing it in her coffee for the past 20 years".   I am going to keep on reading about this for now....and make an educated decision later.. and you can ask me about it at that time.  But I will also leave it to the consumer to make their own decisions.. and if this product is making one feel better than be it. I would still keep in mind the good old Dietary Guidelines for Americans  that no more than 10 percent of their total dietary calories a day should  come from saturated fats.   If you have any success stories or know people using coconut oil.. share your story... we are curious.