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Frequently Asked Questions on Virgin Coconut Oil

What is Virgin Coconut Oil (VCNO)?

Virgin coconut oil is the naturally processed, chemical-free and additive-free product from fresh coconut meat or its derivative (coconut milk and coconut milk residue) which has not undergone any chemical processing after extraction.

It is the purest form of coconut oil, water white in color, contains natural Vitamin E and with very low free fatty acid content and peroxide value. It has a mild to intense fresh coconut scent depending on the type of process used for production.

What is the difference between VCNO and Copra derived cooking oil?

Copra derived coconut oil has to undergo chemical refining, bleaching and deodorization processes to make it suitable for human consumption. Its is yellow or pale yellow in color and does not contain Vitamin E since this is removed when the oil is subjected to high temperature and the various chemical processes.

What is the proposed interim quality standard for VCNO?

  • COLOR - Water White; 1 Yellow, 0.1 Red
  • PEROXIDE VALUE - 1 and below
  • FREE FATTY ACID - 0.5% maximum (as lauric)
  • TOTAL PLATE COUNT - <10cfu/ml of oil
  • MOISTURE - 0.2% maximum
  • CONTAMINANTS - free from iron, copper, lead and arsenic

Why is coconut oil also called a “Nutriceutical” substance?

Aside from the instant energy that it provides to the human body, it also has some medicinal properties. It was found that the medium chain (C8 - C12) fats in coconut oil is similar to the fats in mother's milk that gives babies immunity from diseases and has similar effects.

What is the most important component of coconut oil and why?

Lauric fatty acid (C12) because since 1984, increasing number of literatures are appearing regarding the antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties of Medium Chain Fatty Acids (C8, C10, C12) with lauric acid (C12) and its monoglyceride form monolaurin being mentioned as the most potent against lipid coated microorganisms which are not normally cured by ordinary antibiotics. Among the vegetable oils traded in the world, coconut oil is the richest source of MCFA (64%) and lauric acid (48-53%).

Is the Lauric fatty acid in VCNO reduced if it is processed using high temperature?

No, the lauric fatty acid content of any coconut oil is highly dependent on the variety of coconut and not on the process used. In a study done by the PCA Zamboanga Research Center, it was found that hybrid coconuts contain higher lauric fatty acids compare to local tall varieties.

What do the experts say regarding the coconut oil derived lauric fatty acid and its monoglyceride form, monolaurin?

According to Professor Jon Kabara, Department of Pharmacology, Michigan State University who pioneered research on monolaurin:

  • Monolaurin, as a dietary supplement has shown very good results as an antibiotic and antiviral agent particularly in its potency against lipid-coated/enveloped viruses.
  • It does not cause resistance organism to appear and was also shown that it can reduce the resistance of germs to antibiotics.
  • When coconut oil is consumed, the body makes the disease fighting monolaurin.

According to Dr. Mary Enig, a noted nutritional biochemist, formerly with the University of Maryland, now with the Nutrition Department, Enig Associates:

  • 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.
  • The antimicrobial fatty acids and their derivatives are essentially nontoxic to man and they are produced in vivo by humans when they ingest those commonly available foods that contain adequate levels of medium chain fatty acids like coconut oil.
  • The medical properties of lauric acid and monolaurin have been recognized by a small number of researchers for nearly four decades and this knowledge has resulted in more than 20 research papers and several U.S patents.

What are the lipid coated viruses and bacteria and how does medium chain fatty acids and their monoglycerides like monolaurin and monocaprin produce killing or inactivating effect on this type of microorganism?

LIPID is the medical term for fats. Lipid coated microorganisms have an envelope of fats covering its nucleotides (RNA and DNA). This is the reason why antibiotics could not easily penetrate and kill lipid coated pathological organisms.

Several researchers reported that the medium chain fatty acids and monoglycerides produce their killing/inactivating effect by “lysing the plasma lipid bilayer. The antiviral action attributed to monolaurin is that of solubilising the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope of the virus, causing the disintegration of the virus envelope”.

What are the lipid coated microorganisms which have been shown to be inactivated by lauric fatty acid and it's monogleride, monolaurin?

LIPID COATED VIRUSES

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Visna Virus

Measles Virus

Cytomegalovirus

Herpes Simplex Virus

Epstein-Barr Virus

Herpes Viridae

Influenza Virus

Sarcoma Virus

Leukemia Virus

Synctial Virus

Pneumonovirus

Human Lymphotropic Virus (Type II)

Hepatitis C Virus

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

 

 

LIPID COATED BACTERIA

Listeria Monocyatogenes

Streptococcus Agalactiae

Helicobacter Pylori

Groups A, B, F & G Streptococci

Hemophilus Influenza

Gram-positive Organisms

Staphylococcus Aureus

Gram-negative Organisms (if pre-treated with chelator)

Source: Fife, B. 2001 “The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil” Piccadilly Books, Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO 80936, U.S.A.

What are the bacteria inactivated by MCFA and it's monoglycerides like monocaprin and monolaurin?

BACTERIUM

DISEASES CAUSED

Streptococcus

throat infections, pneumonia, sinusitis, ear ache, rheumatic fever, dental cavities

Staphylococcus

staph infection, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, toxic shock syndrome

Neisseria

meningitis, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease

Chlamydia

genital infections, lymphogranuloma venereum, conjunctivitis, parrot fever, pneumonia, periodontitis

Helicobacter Pylori

stomach ulcers

Gram-positive Organisms

anthrax, gastroenteritis, botulism, tetanus

Source: Fife, B. 2001 “The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil” Piccadilly Books, Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO 80936, U.S.A.

What is the conecting link of coconut oil with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)?

According to Dr. Conrado Dayrit, the coronavirus which has been identified as the virus causing the SARS is also lipid coated which means that lauric fatty acid and monolaurin could possibly have an inactivating effect on it.

The pathogenic organisms causing influenza and pneumonia are both part of the list of lipid-coated viruses and bacteria which are found to be inactivated by lauric fatty acid and monolaurin which in turn is derived by the human body from coconut oil. It should be noted that the symptoms being exhibited by SARS infected patients are similar to symptoms of pneumonia and influenza.

THEREFORE, by inductive reasoning, it can be said that lauric fatty acid and monolaurin which are derived by the body from coconut oil can be a POTENTIAL CURE FOR SARS.

When is it the best time to take Virgin Coconut Oil?

It depends on what benefit from the VCNO you want to achieve …

  • If you want to use it for controlling weight, take it 30 minutes before mealtime.
  • If you are using it as treatment for constipation, take it before bedtime.
  • If you just want to boost your immune system, take it anytime of the day in single or divided doses.

What is the recommended dosage to obtain health benefit?

  • 50 ml or 3.5 tbsp of virgin coconut oil or
  • Eating the meat of one half mature coconut or
  • Eating 66 grams desiccated coconut

Important Note:

Information provided herein is not meant to encourage anybody to substitute medicines prescribed by their doctors with VCNO. It should be noted that VCNO is a functional food and should be used as such. DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 3.5 TBSPs PER DAY AS ANYTHING IN EXCESS IS ALSO BAD.

Prepared by:

DIVINA D. BAWALAN BSChE, MSEgyE
Senior Science Research Specialist
Philippine Coconut Authority