When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared to patients treated with corn or safflower oils. Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics. (JAMA 1967 202:1119-1123; Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552)

- Weston A. Price Foundation

"Based on ill-founded research and commercial interests coconut and other tropical fats have been blamed for raising blood cholesterol and the risk of atherosclerosis, which made them very unpopular. And yet tropical fats have been used by indigenous people for thousands of years. These people generally are known for very low incidence of atherosclerosis and heart disease."

About 50% of fatty acids in coconut is lauric acid. Recent research shows that in the body lauric acid gets converted into a highly potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal substance, called monolaurin. Such pathogens as Candida Albicans, Helicobacter Pylori, HIV virus, measles virus, herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, influenza and many others are susceptible to monolaurin. Lauric acid is also one of the natural ingredients of human breast milk, protecting the baby from infections.

Other fatty acids, found in coconut, are caprylic and myristic acids, which also have pronounced anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. For example, caprylic acid has been in use as an anti-fungal, anti-candida supplement for decades in the form of capsules and tablets."

-Dr. Natashia Campbell-Mcbride MD, from her book Gut And Psychology Syndrome