By Mary Charlotte O. Fresco
MediaCore, STII

Medical experts now regard coconut, particularly its oil, worldwide as a powerful tool against deadly viral diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, herpes, and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

This is just one of the surprising facts revealed by Dr. Conrado Dayrit, a renowned Filipino medical doctor and father of Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, on the health benefits of virgin coconut oil. 

The revelation was made during the 53^rd anniversary celebration of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science, Inc. (PhilAAS) held recently at the University of Santo Tomas along España, Manila.

The event provided an excellent platform for Dr. Dayrit as the country's leading health experts and medical practitioners were in attendance.  The Department of Science and Technology supported the celebration.

Dr. Dayrit, who had launched a study focusing on the capability of virgin coconut oil to retard the development of AIDS among HIV patients claimed that viral counts in 15 HIV-patients considerably decreased after taking dosage of virgin coconut oil over 6 months.

Results of Dr. Dayrit's study is instrumental in diffusing the negative image cooked up against coconut oil particularly on its alleged heart wrecking saturated fat content.       “ The fat present in coconut is lauric acid. It is NOT cholesterol,” Dr. Dayrit stressed. 

Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) converted into monolaurin when processed by the body.  Manolaurin is used by human or animal body processes to kill the lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza.  It is also effective against pathogenic bacteria like listeria monocytogenes infesting dairy cattle and poultry and helicobacter pylori that causes peptic ulcer.

 Coconut oil is a healthier choice over American brand cooking oils derived from corn, soybeans, sunflower and canola, Dr. Dayrit explained. 

“These (American) cooking oils, which disguise themselves as vegetable oils and are found in shelves of most grocery stores contain polyunsaturated fats. These fats are converted by the body to linoleic acid that depresses thyroid activity, “ Dayrit emphasized.

According to American endocrinologist Ray Peat, unsaturated fats block thyroid hormone secretion causing the body to slow down its metabolic rate. When metabolism is depressed, the body's tendency is to build deposits of high-fat fats that encourage weight gain.

“That is the reason why most Americans suffer from obesity and various heart ailments, “ Dr. Dayrit added.

Coconut oil is also a “natural fat burner” and body's energy booster.  It can help people lose weight.  Replacing the fats that one intake with coconut oil is one of the most efficient ways to lose excess body fats. This is because coconut oil is composed mostly of medium chain fatty acids which are easily digested and absorbed by the body.

Coconut oil also helps the body pump up energy since its digestion is different from that of carbohydrates and proteins.  MCFAs are not packaged into lipoproteins and do not circulate in the bloodstreams like other fats.  Instead these are sent directly to the liver and immediately converted into energy, Dr. Dayrit explained.

Other health wonders coconut oil could do include reduction of cardiovascular disease risks, prevention of bacterial, viral, and fungal skin diseases (ringworm and warts), and strengthening of body's immune system against infections.