Superfoods

Types of coconut compounds and their health benefits

September 18, 2019

Table of Contents

Benefits of coconut compounds

The main benefits of coconut compounds are weight loss, good for heart and skin. Prevents hair fall. Coconut is composed of three main compounds namely Medium-chain fatty acids, Lauric acids, and Monolaurin.

1. Medium-chain fatty acids (MFAs)

Medium-chain fatty acids are glycerol molecules attracted to three fatty acid chains from 6 to 12 carbons. MCFA present in coconut is unique. The liver easily absorbs and matabolise the MCFA and convert it into ketones. Ketones are alternative sources of energy (1).

a. Prevents Alzheimer’s

Eating coconut boost brain health hence called food for brain. The MFAs present in coconut easily absorbed and metabolized by the liver, and can be converted to ketones. These ketone helps in nourishing the brain and prevents neurodegenerative diseases (2)

b. Epilepsy

Ketones help treating refractory childhood epilepsy. Diet therefore rich in coconut can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children (3).

2. Lauric acid a medium-chain fatty acid

It is a type of medium-chain saturated fatty acid. Lauric acid composed almost half of the oil (65%) of coconut. Therefore coconut is also known as medium-chain vegetable oil. Medium-chain fatty acids are healthy for the body.

Health benefits of Lauric acid

a. Increase HDL

Increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL)cholesterol in the body. Therefore good for heart (4).

b. Weight loss

Lauric acids prevent fat deposition in blood vessels (5). And promotes the reduction of harmful abdominal obesity (6).

c. Anticancer

Helps in the treatment of colon and breast cancer (7). Therefore, the consumption of coconut improves the quality of life of breast cancer patients and reduced the symptoms related to the side effects of chemotherapy (8).

d. Prevents hair fall

Lauric acids in coconut oil penetrates deep into hair scalp and prevents protein loss. Therefore is good for hair (9).

e. Improves vision

Coconut oil helps in reducing the inflammation of the eyes. Hence prevents dry eye problems (10).

3. Monolaurin

Monolaurin is a type of monoester formed from medium-chain fatty acids (a). These are active components derived from lauric acid of coconut oil that is found to be antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal in nature (11).

Health benefits of monolaurin

a. Kills bacteria

Effective against staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria. It also inhibits the growth of listeria bacteria. Unlike other antibacterial compounds, monolaurin does not affect gut probiotic (12).

b. Kills fungus

Kills many fungi, specifically ringworm. Therefore is good for the skin.

c. Stops virus growth

Monolaurin is also effective against many deadly viruses like HIV, herpes simplex-1 and measles.