Thai cuisine and the cuisine of similar island nations is heavily coconut based. Islanders drink coconut milk, eat the meat of the coconut, and cook with coconut oil. Therefore one would expect people living on tropical islands to experience high cholesterol and have high rates of heart disease. Studies have shown that not to be the case, although the anecdotal tales of better health are the most persuasive currently.
There is no actual Coconut cholesterol in foods, because cholesterol is only found in animal cells. Coconut is often associated with cholesterol because it contains saturated fat, which has been linked to increased amounts of cholesterol in people. People do not need to eat cholesterol due to the fact that their body produces all they need naturally.
Lauric Acid is suspected to be the reason why consuming coconut cholesterol doesn’t harm the health of those who consume large amounts of it. Our bodies process fatty acids in different ways. And lauric acid is a component of mother’s milk. It’s the same fatty acid that makes up fifty percent of the fatty acids in coconut.
It is not uncommon for some tropical island dwellers to get sixty percent of their caloric intake from coconut foods. Unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart disease, and excess weight would be expected considering the saturated fat content of coconut, but that isn’t always the case. Many people report favorable cholesterol ratio (HDL:LDL) with a diet high in coconut cholesterol. They also claim higher levels of HDL, which is known as the good cholesterol.
Cholesterol has long been known to be a risk factor for heart disease. The American Heart Association and other health organizations all over the world tout the importance monitoring LDL also known as bad cholesterol, and maintaining high levels of HDL, which is considered the good cholesterol.
However, those who love coconut don’t always experience poor health with a diet high in coconut. Many tropical people experience good health on a diet high in coconut foods. Those in countries where coconut oil, milk, and meat aren’t already a mainstay of their diet are interested in learning more about its possible benefits.
There are anecdotal reports of people noticing a reduction in joint pain and even weight loss by consuming coconut oil. The link between coconut cholesterol and health benefits is being studied. Natural health practitioners and those interested in living more naturally are looking forward to learning if there is a causal link, and how they should best utilize coconuts cholesterol. Currently most people get their coconut through delicious eastern cuisine or cooking with coconut oil. Supplements could be more prominent in the future.