Unjustly maligned for decades, coconut oil is reemerging as a miracle fat that boosts energy, burns fat, is antibiotic, and helps with thyroid problems. In the past, poorly done, misleading studies were used to discredit the saturated fats in coconut oil in order to displace it in our diet with soybean oil. Now that soybean oil has caused an epidemic of health problems, healthy coconut oil is being reintroduced. After a yearlong study of coconut oil, I recently approved a superior product and added it to my own diet.

Coconut oil has been safely used for thousands of years. Natives in tropical climates who consume lots of coconut oil don’t suffer from the heart disease, cancer, colon problems, and other health challenges that we do. Because it is highly saturated, coconut oil is very stable, stores well, and is suitable for cooking. But don’t let the saturation bother you. These saturated fats are different. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are easy to absorb, digest, transport, and metabolize in the body. Unlike other saturated fats, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil speed up the body’s metabolism and are used by the body to produce energy rather than being stored as fat. Coconut oil does a body good. Let’s have a look at the reasons why:

Heart Healthy

Population studies show that coconut oil lowers cholesterol, and reduces risk of heart disease. Americans consistently have higher cholesterol levels than coconut eating cultures.

Weight Control

Coconut oil helps you to lose, maintain, or gain weight depending on your body’s need. It contributes to weight loss by speeding metabolism and being used as fuel rather than stored as fat. For underweight people, coconut oil helps to gain weight, especially useful to those suffering from AIDS or cancer.

Infection Fighting

The medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found in coconut oil are the same as those in human mother’s milk, and they have extraordinary antimicrobial properties. By disrupting the lipid structures of microbes, they inactivate them. About half of coconut oil consists of lauric acid. Lauric acid, its metabolite monolaurin, and other fatty acids in coconut oil are known to protect against infection from bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi, and parasites. While not having any negative effect on beneficial gut bacteria, coconut oil inactivates undesirable microbes such as H-pylori, Candida albicans, and Giardia. Natives in Southeast Asia who drink filthy water, loaded with bacteria and parasites, are nonetheless healthy, mostly due to the protective effect of the coconut oil in their diets.

Thyroid Support

Coconut oil helps people with low thyroid function. Regular oils such as soybean, canola, safflower and corn suppress thyroid function. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil stimulate metabolism, boost energy, and promote weight loss. While not a cure, some people have been able to reduce and even eliminate their thyroid medications.

Cancer Protective

Coconut oil appears to protect against cancer and not to promote cancer. Animal studies have shown that when animals are fed carcinogens and a variety of oils, the animals that do not develop cancer are those on coconut oil.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Coconut oil appears to have anti-inflammatory effects. For the past 20 years it has been known that coconut oil has been beneficial to patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease. Coconut oil appears to have a direct effect in suppressing inflammation and repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation.

Good for the Skin

Coconut oil rejuvenates skin and wrinkles and slows the aging and wrinkling of skin. Used as a lotion, it protects against sun damage and strengthens underlying tissues. It moisturizes, heals sores and injuries, and prevents production of “liver spots,” (oxidized oils). When liver spots occur, this same oxidative damage is also happening in other tissues such as the brain, heart, eyes, and blood vessels.

Among other properties, coconut oil:

• Does not require refrigeration, and is stable at room temperature from one to five years.
• Increases lung function by increasing the fluidity of cell surfaces.
• Regulates blood sugar and prevents hypoglycemia by providing a supply of fuel not affected by insulin.
• Boosts energy in chronic fatigue and suppresses herpes and Epstein-Barr viruses.
• Doesn’t oxidize easily, thereby protecting the body from lipid peroxidation.

Selecting a healthy, high-quality coconut oil was no easy task. Obtaining reliable information about production techniques and quality was difficult. These products come from far away third-world countries, and from small producers who may speak poor English and have difficulty answering technical questions. I found that even some usually reliable sources in the U.S. were not offering the best oil because they ran up against the same problems, didn’t do their homework, and made poor choices.

The virgin coconut oil I have approved is the least processed oil on the market. This extraordinary oil is not heated above normal air temperature, and it is made form freshly harvested coconuts. Most oils are made from copra (dried coconut), which can be contaminated with mold. Coconut oil is a sensible addition to anyone’s diet, and the purity, flavor, texture and quality of the oil I have selected is truly superior. A therapeutic dose is three tablespoons a day.

Raymond Francis is an M.I.T.-trained scientist, a registered nutrition consultant, author of Never Be Sick Again, Never Be Fat Again, Never Fear Cancer Again, and an internationally recognized leader in the field of optimal health maintenance.

Reprinted with permission from Beyond Health® News
Copyright 2005, Beyond Health

Recommended Supplements:

• Coconut Oil 

All of the cells in our body require the proper pH balance to function at an optimal level. If our body is acidic or too alkaline, chemical reactions including enzyme activity, cellular repair, and cellular reproduction are inhibited. Raymond Francis writes, “On the pH scale, 7 is neutral; 0 to 7 is acidic, and 7 to 14 is alkaline. The normal pH inside a cell is 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. Maintaining normal pH in the fluid inside the cell as well as the other body fluids is crucial for keeping the body systems functioning normally.”

While most of the body can still operate, however poorly, outside of the optimum pH zone, blood cannot. Dr. Shillington writes, “Your blood operates between 7.3 and 7.5 on the alkaline side of this pH scale. If it goes out of this range, you’re dead!”

Fast foods and processed foods are highly acidic. So how do we survive eating a Big Mac and a Coke? Our bodies pull alkalizing minerals—calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium from soft tissues, organs, glands, and bones to neutralize the acid and return our blood to the proper pH balance. If we continually eat a diet high in acidic foods, chronic acidosis will result. “Eventually, as time goes by, your body will leech your teeth and bones of their much needed calcium to balance this out-of-whack situation,” writes Dr. Shillington. “This is the ’cause’ behind arthritis, bone loss, tooth decay, liver and kidney failure, and a multitude of other diseases too numerous to mention.  According to my up-to-date research, every disease has some connection to an acid/alkaline imbalance.”

The typical American diet is very high in protein. Most meat eaten is not organic and the animals are not fed their natural foods. Cows’ main diet staple is grass, but we proudly hail the “best choice meat”; as “grain fed.”;  Grains are not the natural diet of cows. When they eat grains, their bodies become acidic and they are more likely to become ill. They are then shot full of antibiotics (in addition to hormones) and we eat meat which is more acidic than nature intended.

In addition, our industrial society pollutes water, feeds us chemical laden foods sprayed with poisons, wraps and stores foods in toxic plastic and Styrofoam, and encourages us to eat fast foods and processed foods. Is it any wonder chronic illnesses and devastating disease has reached epidemic proportions?

Though the belief that chronic acidosis is the cause of chronic illness or the basis for much of our disease today is not upheld by mainstream conventional medicine, conventional medicine does agree that acid diets pull calcium from bones and that alkaline diets help prevent osteoporosis, kidney stones, and age-related waste of muscle mass.

When you think about acidity of foods, you may immediately think of citric acid in oranges, lemons, and limes. Citrus fruits are acidic, but they turn alkaline when digested. The same is true for tomatoes. It doesn’t matter whether a food is acidic or alkaline. What matters is how it is chemically metabolized in the body. You may search through books on the subject and through sites on the Internet to find lists ranking foods on the pH scale. Unfortunately, the lists are not comprehensive nor are they in agreement, but they all do say to increase fruits and vegetables.

So how do you use this new information? How can you find out if your body is acidic? You can test your pH using the same test strips you might have used in high school chemistry class or to test the pH in your aquarium. Some recommend testing both saliva and urine. Raymond Francis recommends measuring your first morning urine before you eat. “This test offers an indicator of your cellular pH and can be used to monitor changes as you work to normalize your pH. First morning urine should be in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. If readings fall below 6.5, you are too acidic. Occasional readings above 7.5 are normal, but consistent readings above 7.5 are an indication of tissue breakdown, and a pH over 8.0 is a serious matter.”;

What’s the easy way to make sure your body is not too acidic or alkaline? How do you make sure your body has the right amount of omega 3s and omega 6s? How do you make sure your food has just the right amount of vitamins and minerals? How do you decrease the number of toxins you ingest? How do you rid your body of all virtually all disease and illness? Does it seem overwhelming? It’s not. It’s simple. Eat more raw, fresh, organic foods!

Recommended Supplements:

• Shillington’s Body Balance+
• Shillington’s Total Nutrition Formula

Many alternative health care practitioners believe one of the most effective treatments for a wide array of diseases and ailments is hot and cold hydrotherapy, but very few are willing to say it can help cure cancer and many other diseases. Stating a non-medicinal treatment is a cure is illegal in the United States, and the FDA and big pharmaceutical companies tend to go after anyone who makes such claims. But the truth is there are many things you can do to make so called incurable diseases disappear. Whichever detox or treatment modality you choose, consider including hot and cold hydrotherapy.

Hot water increases blood flow to the surface of the body. Cold water drives the blood from the surface to the core of the body. Alternating hot and cold water increases blood flow and speeds up circulation. It brings fresh blood with oxygen and nutrients to the organs and glands and carries away toxins and pathogens. Dr. Shillington suggests starting with water as hot as you can stand for a minimum of two minutes. Then turn off the hot water for two minutes of cold—the colder the better. Alternate back and forth for a total of 20 minutes, ending with cold.

Dr. Shillington says, “For serious cases of cancer do this whole sequence three times a day. Use a shower wand or just stand in the shower and have the stream of water focused on an afflicted area. By itself, this procedure has wiped out major breast tumors. If I only had one therapy to use, this is it.”

Do this for almost any ailment you have. Use this procedure for muscle pain, kidney problems, aches and pains, tissue damage, and lumps or tumors. You’ll be amazed at the results!

Distilled Water

I have been drinking distilled water exclusively for a long time, however, I met with a consultant from the N company who told me distilled water is too acidic. They have several unique types of water filtration systems. According to your post, you feel that distilled water is best but what do you think of these N filter systems? I value your opinion.

Susan

DR. SHILLINGTON ANSWERS: The only time Distilled Water gets too acidic is when it is left out without a cover since it picks up CO2 very easily. As soon as you make your distilled water, put it into an old gallon apple juice glass bottle, put the top on it, and you’ll have no pH problems with it. As far as the N system you mentioned, I am down on all MLM and this one is no exception.

Distilled stored in glass bottles is BEST.

Yours in Knowledge, Health and Freedom,

Doc

Enzymes

Dr. Kelly, you mentioned in last month’s article that there are three main kinds of enzymes, but you only mention two. I am a vegetarian, and I do not eat meat. Do you have a recommendation?

Adam

DR. KELLLY ANSWERS: Adam, the third kind of enzyme, the one I did not bring up, is plant based digestive enzymes. And I recommend them when eating plants like fruits and vegetables unless the produce is fresh, and I mean just picked from the ground or the tree fresh. Pineapples and papaya retain their enzymes better then others, but most produce releases most of its enzymes as it sits on the shelves. In fact, an orange has lost about 50% of its enzymes within the first 30 minutes of being picked.

Dr. Kelly

Fish Oil

Why fish oil? I can’t stand the smell of that stuff! It smells like fish!!! I take flax seed oil. Andrew DR. KELLLY ANSWERS: Our bodies need fatty acids EPA and DHA. Flax seed oil is ALA which can be partially converted to EPA and DHA, but at less than a 15% conversion rate. I recommend Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil. You are getting your DHA and EPA without any need for conversion this way. And it doesn’t smell fishy at all. If you are taking a fish oil that smells fishy, you are taking rotten fish oil. Dr. Kelly

Sensitive Teeth

I have very sensitive teeth. I can’t eat cold foods at all. What’s wrong with my teeth and what can I do? I take calcium supplements, and I do eat veggies and drink milk. Can I still be low on calcium? Patricia

RYAN HARRISON ANSWERS: Sensitive teeth can have several causes. Most commonly, as a person’s gum line recedes, the roots of teeth can end up exposed. These roots can be very sensitive to hot and/or cold or to pressure. Another cause is the exposure of a tooth’s root when the tooth’s enamel is broken, cracked, or chipped. Finally, as with many other health issues, there can also be an emotional or psychological component; the pain manifests in the teeth, but really starts somewhere else. For teeth that are sensitive due to receding gums or pores in the tooth itself, most dentists prescribe a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate, which fills pores and helps numb the pain. Unfortunately, like many other components of standard dental care, potassium nitrate is a toxic chemical.

Its MSDS registration lists it as “harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin” and states that it “causes irritation to skin, eyes and [the] respiratory tract.” Is this really something you want to put in your mouth, where chemicals are quickly and easily absorbed through oral membranes? More natural approaches to calming sensitive teeth include herbal, nutritional, and energetic recommendations. As far as herbs go, you might find a blend of nervine (nerve-calming) herbs to be very helpful. Capsules containing equal parts of herbs such as lavender, hops, valerian, chamomile, and skullcap, when taken regularly, can help decrease pain and soothe irritated nerves. Be careful, however, in your dosage and usage of these herbs. They can also have sedative effects. Check with a knowledgeable herbalist before starting any herbal regimen. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that tooth enamel can be “rebuilt” – a process referred to as “remineralization” – if the proper steps are followed.

I personally have regrown my own tooth enamel. I had a cavity that was so bad there was a visible hole in my tooth, a rather large one. At the time I had no access to healthy food. When I did again have access to healthy food and was back to living an organic lifestyle, in a few months my teeth looked good as new.” – Editor’s Note

In large part, this requires adherence to some dietary instructions that reduce the acidity of saliva while also introducing foods and/or supplements high in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Additionally, some essential oils such as myrrh, clove, and goldenseal may be used to help cleanse the mouth and safely reduce pain. Speak with a qualified naturopath to determine what would work best for you. Finally, I would suggest that your first step be approaching the issue from a psychological angle. While it may seem strange, it’s well proven that a person’s state of mind can affect her physical wellbeing. And though we are making great strides in understanding the mind’s relationship with the body, it’s still pretty hard to tell when a physical ailment is (or isn’t) caused by some kind of mental/emotional stressor.

There’s a very powerful, efficient, and surprisingly simple energetic technique that helps alleviate a host of physical conditions by removing mental/emotional charges called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). It has an impressive track record for calming the body and mind and reversing even deep-seated complaints, sometimes within minutes. A professional EFT practitioner will be able to help you explore this possibility.

Cold Sores

How can I get rid of cold sores?

Andy

RYAN HARRISON ANSWERS: Cold sores are caused by a Type I herpes simplex viral infection. Typically, cold sores appear after a sensation of tingling or itching and then blister and heal over a course of two weeks. During this time, cold sores are highly infectious and the virus can be easily transmitted by contact. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to help heal and prevent cold sore break outs. Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) is well known for its ability to prevent a break out and to boost the immune system. It quickly and efficiently mobilizes the body’s defenses and helps disarm the herpes virus. The downside? It tastes awful! To use it, mix 1 part of the extract with 9 parts of water. With a cotton swab, dab any blisters that you may already have and then drink the rest of the mixture. (Brace yourself for the bitter aftertaste. It’s certainly okay to follow it with water.)

It’s worth noting that GSE has a mixed reputation.

I recently came across an article about it that suggests GSE is less than healthful. You can check out terressentials.com to read more. But before you read it, let me add that I had never heard of or read an advanced practitioner of natural/holistic health suggest GSE is anything but a marvelous natural product with a myriad of uses, and have only had good experiences with GSE. OLM will do some research on this and get to the bottom of it. Other approaches include the use of essential oils to help disinfect and speed healing. Essential oils with strong antiseptic properties such as tea tree oil, bergamot, lemon balm, and chamomile are great. They act as disinfectants, help relieve inflammation, and also discourage viral proliferation. Tea tree oil is one of a very few “neat” oils – meaning it can be used undiluted on the skin. Most other oils should be diluted using a carrier oil. Either way, you can dab them on cold sores to help speed the healing process.

Nutritionally, cold sores can be helped by taking immune-boosting supplements such as vitamin C (2,000-3,000 mg up to four times daily), zinc (5-20 mg up to three times daily during outbreaks), and beta-carotene (5,000-10,000 IU daily). You can help prevent cold sores by limiting your intake of chocolate, dairy products, cereals, almonds, and chicken, as they suppress an acid that retards the growth of the virus.

SunlightHeadaches

I have really bad headaches when I get into the sun. I am hearing more and more how important the sun is, but it hurts me. What should I do? Can I get over my sun allergy?

Tina

RYAN HARRISON ANSWERS: Sunlight is a tricky thing. Too much of it and you can end up burned and blistered, increasing your risk of skin cancer. Too little of it and you could end up with a vitamin D deficiency, which also relates to an increased risk of cancer. And that doesn’t even mention the possibility of a “sun headache.” What’s a girl to do? Headaches caused by sunlight typically are the result of the sun’s heat dilating blood vessels in your brain and raising skin temperature.

Additionally, if you spend a good amount of time squinting due to bright sunlight, the muscles of your face and around your eyes may contribute to your headache. You can prevent sun-induced headaches by wearing sunglasses (to prevent squinting) and a hat or cap, and by limiting your exposure to direct sunlight. If it’s too late for that and you already have such a headache, try retreating to a dark, cool room and sipping a large glass of ice water to help bring down your body’s temperature. If you can, soak your feet in cool water, as well. And let your eyes relax either by closing them or allowing them to settle on something far away. Herbal preparations of lavender, feverfew, skullcap, and white willow bark can help relieve pain and tension.

And if you’re worried about vitamin D deficiency, be sure to take a broad-spectrum multivitamin that includes it in at least an amount that guarantees the RDA. People who are deficient in vitamin Bs and/or vitamin D can get headaches from sun exposure, too. Otherwise, if you feel that you have a legitimate allergy to the sun, I’d suggest you contact an EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner. EFT is an energy psychology technique that is easy to learn and apply and which has a strong anecdotal base suggesting its usefulness in helping people reverse allergic responses.