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Lauric acid
Lauric acid or systematically dodecanoic acid, the saturated fatty acid with a 12-carbon atom chain, thus falling into the medium chain fatty acids, is a white, powdery solid with a faint odor of bay oil or soap.
About Lauric Acid
A good quality Coconut Oil contains 50% Lauric acid, Coconut Oil is the most abundant natural source of lauric acid available.
Conventional thought used to consider fats like coconut oil to be unhealthy and contribute to heart disease.
We now know that this isn’t true. In fact, coconut oil is actually a heart-healthy food that can keep your body running smoother in a few different ways.
It has been shown that lauric acid increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels, and protect your heart.
Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need.
Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function. When the thyroid does not function optimally, it can contribute to higher levels of bad cholesterol.
When lauric acid is present in the body, it is converted into monolaurin, a monoglyceride compound which exhibits antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties. It acts by disrupting the lipid membranes in organisms like fungus, bacteria and viruses, thus destroying them.
Lauric acid helps to fight against the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which has been associated with gastritis, stomach ulcer, stomach cancer and heart disease.
Researchers in the Philippines have even begun studies to prove the effectiveness of lauric acid against HIV/AIDS because of its strong antiviral properties.
Lauric acid is used for treating viral infections including influenza (the flu); swine flu, avian flu, the common cold; fever, blisters, cold sores and genital herpes caused by HSV, genital warts caused by human papilloma virus (HPV); and HIV/AIDS.
It is also used for preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to children.
Other uses for lauric acid include treatment of bronchitis, gonorrhea, yeast infections, chlamydia, intestinal infections caused by a parasite called Giardia lamblia.
The compound monolaurin is an effective treatment for candida albicans and fungal infections like ringworm and athlete's foot. Monolaurin also specifically targets bacterial infections as well as lipid-coated viruses like herpes, the measles, influenza, hepatitis C and HIV.
Plus, lauric acid is basically non-toxic, which gives it a distinct advantage over modern pharmaceutical drugs that are typically used to fight viruses, bacterial infections and fungal infections.
Without a plentiful source of lauric acid, the body cannot produce monolaurin, and all of these important benefits are lost.
Many people who regularly consume coconut oil experience less sickness due to the boost in immune system.
Breast milk is the only other natural source that contains such a high concentration of lauric acid, which could explain the drastic decrease of infections of all types in breast-fed babies.
A Missing Element in Today's Diet
The lauric acid content of foods and infant formulas has been rapidly decreasing over the years.
Manufacturers and consumers alike have turned from using coconut oil and have replaced it with cheap vegetable oils, obliterating lauric acid intake in the process.
There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for lauric acid, but as a guideline, Dr. Mary G. Enig suggests adults and growing children can benefit from an intake of 10 to 20 grams of lauric acid per day.
It's interesting to note that nursing babies consume up to 1 gram of lauric acid per kilogram of body weight per day.
Renowned coconut oil experts like Mary Enig and Bruce Fife recommend the average person eat about three tablespoons of coconut oil each day.
This amount will not only provide protection against bacteria and viruses, but it will also increase your metabolism and improve the condition of your skin and hair, in addition to many other benefits.
To reap the full benefits of using coconut oil choose a high-quality source that offers coconut oil in its best form: organic, cold-pressed and extra virgin.
Our Product, Coconut Coffee is 100% Raw Extra Virgin, Organic, Cold Pressed and Gravity Filtered.
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