Using coconut oil as brain food

The brain accounts for two percent of your body’s mass, but for 20 per cent of its basal metabolic rate. It needs lots of fuel. When you’re healthy, that fuel comes from glucose, a blood sugar but Alzheimer brains have trouble metabolizing glucose. And without enough fuel brain neurons die.


Apart from providing easily accessible food for the brain, beautiful skin and hair, non-hydrogenated coconut oil provides an amazing array of other advantages:

• May improve cholesterol raising your HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lowering your LDL (“bad”) levels.
• Contains lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties. Lauric acid may inhibit growth of certain bacteria, fungus, yeast, viruses and protozoa.
• Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
• Assists digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Reduces inflammation and helps protect against osteoporosis.
• Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

There is evidence to suggest that it has a beneficial effect on Alzheimer's sufferers.

BUYING COCONUT OIL


• Buy coconut oil that is labeled "extra virgin"  “virgin,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” It will be expensive, but we are using it as medecine, so it needs to be pure and cold pressed. It should give off the odor of coconut.

Do not buy  “refined,” or “all natural” with no odor.

• Coconut milk, flaked or grated coconut, and fresh coconut are all good sources of coconut oil.

• Coconut oil contains omega-6 fatty acids. Your body also needs omega-3 fatty acids. You can get your omega-3 supply by eating salmon twice a week, or taking fish oil or flax oil capsules, 2-3 per day. Walnuts and walnut oil also contain omega-3 fatty acids.

OPTIONAL 

• Add  MCT oil. Medium Chain Triglyceride oil is  a concentrated part if coconut oil. You can buy MCT oil at health food stores or online. MCT oil does not store in the body as fat. Instead, it’s quickly converted to energy, and may be helpful for losing weight. Mix 16 ounces of MCT oil with 12 ounces of coconut oil. If the coconut oil is solid, put it out covered in a warm place or melt over a very gentle heat.

TAKE CARE WHEN INTRODUCING INTO THE DIET

• Coconut oil contains 117 – 120 calories per tablespoon, which is about the same as other oils. Keep its caloric content in mind, if weight is an issue. You will have to limit other sources of oil if you use this therapy.

• If you overwhelm your digestive system by taking too much oil too fast, you could experience indigestion, cramps, or diarrhea. Start with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or MCT oil per meal. Slowly work up your level to 4-6 tablespoons a day, spread out over 2–4 meals.

REPLACE OILS USUALLY USED WITH COCONUT OIL

• Add it to porridge and hot cereals. 
• Use iinstead of butter on bread, vegetables and pasta. 
• In soups and sauces. 
• Add to smoothies, yogurt or kefir. 
• Use in salad dressings. 
• Stir fry or sauté with coconut oil
• Add flaked or grated coconut to cereal, salads, and yogurt.