Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
Coconut is classified as a nutritious “functional food.” Some of the benefits of coconut include vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in dietary fiber. Unlike most other dietary fats that contain long-chain fatty acids, coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA).
MCFA is unique in that the liver can easily absorb, metabolize, and convert it to ketones. Ketone bodies are an important alternative energy source in the brain. It may also be beneficial to people who have or already have memory problems such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Researchers have also found that coconut may be beneficial in treating obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated LDL (aka “bad” cholesterol), insulin resistance, and hypertension. All of these diseases are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even AD. In addition, the phenolic compounds and hormones (cytokinins) present in coconut may help prevent the aggregation of β-amyloid peptides, which can hinder the development of AD.
Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
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