Last year, CocoTherapy CEO & co-founder, Charisa Antigua conducted an in-depth interview with world-renowned lipids expert, Dr. Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D. In the eye-opening interview, Dr. Fife busted some of the myths surrounding coconut oil and explained why it's a healthy dietary supplement.
If you missed the interview you can check it out here. We also published two blog posts that highlight some of the main topics discussed in the interview: Are All Saturated Fats the Same? and How Are Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Processed by the Body? In today's post, we'll look at one more topic that was touched upon in the interview – the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of coconut oil.
False Claims That Coconut Oil Is Pro-Inflammatory
First up, let's take a look at an excerpt from the interview where Dr. Fife debunks recent claims that coconut oil is pro-inflammatory:
Charisa: Let’s talk about the author’s claim that coconut oil is pro-inflammatory. I’ve always believed that coconut oil is anti-inflammatory! Why would they say that?
Bruce: Although they claim it is pro-inflammatory, coconut oil has shown to be anti-inflammatory in other studies. They alluded to the possible danger of using coconut oil for Alzheimer's, saying it promotes the development of plaque. However, other studies have shown that coconut oil actually reduces the formation of plaque in the brain and improves brain function in Alzheimer's patients. Hundreds of testimonials also support these findings.
Studies on Coconut Oil and Inflammation
In this section of the post, we'll highlight three separate animal studies that demonstrate the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of virgin coconut oil.
Study 1: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil
In a 2010 study, scientists investigated some of the pharmacological properties of virgin coconut oil. They did this by applying the oil to the inflamed ears or paws of rats. The researchers concluded that virgin coconut oil had a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect in rats with acute and chronic inflammation. It also helped prevent the formation of granulomas (structures formed during inflammation). In addition, coconut oil was found to help relieve pain and inhibit fever that often accompanies inflammation.
Study 2: Effects of coconut oil on glycemia, inflammation, and urogenital microbial parameters in female Ossabaw mini-pig
In a 2017 study, researchers fed obese female Ossabaw mini-pigs a high-fat diet rich in coconut oil. The results of the study found that although the pigs were of an unhealthy weight, they remained normoglycemic. This means that they had a normal amount of glucose in their blood. They also demonstrated decreased markers of inflammation, and had healthier urogenital tracts than lean pigs. The researchers concluded that dietary supplementation with coconut oil may help control the adverse effects of obesity.
Study 3: Virgin coconut oil supplementation ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced systemic toxicity in mice
A 2016 study investigated the beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on methotrexate-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rats. Methotrexate (MTX) is a medication used to treat certain types of cancer, severe psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The researchers found that dietary supplementation with virgin coconut oil markedly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation caused by MTX. For this reason, virgin coconut oil may help minimize side effects in people undergoing MTX therapy.
Final Words
In order to enjoy the anti-inflammatory benefits of coconut oil, it's important to choose a high-quality, therapeutic-grade virgin coconut oil such as CocoTherapy coconut oil. Our oil is sourced from our USDA-certified organic family farm in the Philippines, and carefully manufactured in our own facility.
We’ve been producing therapeutic-grade virgin coconut oil for over 3 generations, and we know from experience that consuming organic CocoTherapy virgin coconut oil is highly beneficial as part of a balanced diet. To conclude today's post, we'll leave you with a thought-provoking quote from Dr. Fife taken from last year's interview:
"Keep in mind that coconut oil is predominantly composed of MCFAs – all of which are saturated fats. Mother's milk is a good source of MCFAs. Something like 60% of the fat in mother's milk is saturated. Did nature purposely put MCFAs and other saturated fats in milk to kill infants? All mammals' milk contains MCFAs and is high in saturated fat. If saturated fat was so deadly why are we alive? How did we ever survive childhood when saturated fat-rich milk was our only food?"
We hope you enjoyed today's post and learned something new! Want to find out more about the amazing health benefits of coconut oil? Check out our recent mega-post, Best of the CocoTherapy Blog 2019.
