Once thought to be bad for health, the Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is now proven by various researches to be a stable, healthy, and most versatile unprocessed dietary oil in the world today. VCO is abundant in saturated fats that helps maintain proper cholesterol levels, support the thyroid functions, ease digestive disorder, avert hypoglycemia cravings, and provides many other health benefits.

It contains lauric acid, and has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Its medium-chain fatty acids quickly metabolized in the body and are converted into energy instead of being stored as fat.

Unlike the refined coconut oil, the VCO is not hydrogenated, bleached, refined, or deodorized. It is produced by extracting the coconut milk by grating and hand-pressing the coconut meat. The milk is then left to ferment between 18 to 24 hours, during which time the oil separates. The premium oil has a very light texture and since no heat is applied it retains all the flavor and scent of fresh coconut. In order to prevent the oil from becoming rancid, there is a need to reduce the final moisture content of the oil to 0.1% or less.

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Today, Virgin Coconut Oil is accepted as a gourmet cooking oil with a wonderful taste, aroma, and properties that make it ideal for frying and baking. Moreover, respective studies by nutritionists, and health experts like Dr. Mary Enig, Dr. Bruce Fife, and Dr. Jon Kabara confirmed the other health benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil such as:

• Reduces risk of atheroscleorosis, health disease, and related illnesses
• Reduces risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions
• Helps prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal (including yeast) infections
• Helps control diabetes
• Supports healthy metabolic function, and improves digestion & nutrient absorption
• Supplies important nutrients necessary for good health, and provides an immediate source of energy
• Promotes weight loss, and supplies fewer calories than other fats
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Helps prevent against skin cancer and other blemishes, helps prevent premature aging & wrinkling of the skin by keeping the skin soft and smooth
• Functions as a protective anti-oxidant

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Furthermore, Dr. Jon Kabara’s researches have confirmed the use of medium fatty acids and monoglycerides found primarily in VCO (just like in mother’s milk) to have miraculous healing power. The monolaurin contained in VCO are found in cosmetic, pharmaceuticals, and in clinical medicines. Literature references for the use of monolaurin are now appearing at an increasing rate showing application in dental cares, peptic ulcers, benign prostatic hyperplasia, genital herpes, hepatitis C, as well as HIV/AIDS.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS. The information in this article is not meant to encourage readers to substitute VCO for the drugs or anti-biotics prescribed by doctors in treating the illnesses. Please take note that Virgin Coconut Oil IS NOT A DRUG, but as a functional food and nutriceutical substance since it has medicinal properties, and should be only used as such. Also remember that anything in excess is bad so do not take more than 3 tablespoon of VCO per day.

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After decades of neglect, and abusive rhetoric in the past against the coconut oil, the medical community and food processors (specially in the Western world) are finally focusing on the health benefits of the virgin coconut oil. In fact in 1995, the American Oil Chemist Society predicted that coconut oil will be the “new health oil of the next millennium.” Definitely, this suggests a bright future for the coconut industry, (once referred as a sunset industry) and for millions of Filipino coconut farmers.

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The great painter, Van Gogh, when very sick, wrote to his brother: “I promised myself to consider my illness as non-existent. Art is jealous. She does not want us to choose illness in preference to her, so I do what she wishes. Enough time has been lost, my hands have become too white. People such as I are not allowed to be ill, so to speak. So I have set to drawing regularly from morning until night.”

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A man watched Michelangelo shape a statue. He asked him, “What do you do if your chisel has taken away a bit too much of the nose?”
Michelangelo answered, “ “It does not happen.”
The man insisted, “ “Suppose it has happened. Can you repair the fault?”
The sculptor answered again, “ “It does not happen.”
The man could not understand. “What if it happens?”
Michelangelo shouted angrily at him, “Shut up, and leave me alone! It does not happen!”
QUOTES
“We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for ours to amuse them” - Ben Franklin

“Children are the most expensive form of entertainment” - Mihaela Josof