Coconut oil helps treat type II diabetes because it provides energy, it isn’t stored as fat, and it doesn’t disrupt blood sugar levels. Pancreatic enzymes aren’t required to digest coconut oil, so blood sugar levels aren’t elevated. Diabetics can enjoy eating coconut products and reap several benefits in the process.
Coconut Oil is Different from Other Dietary Oils
Although it is technically a fat, coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) rather than long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) found in other fats. This enables the body to convert it straight to energy and not store it as fat. While LCFAs (in most dietary fats) travel through lymph and are stored as fat tissue, MCFAs (in coconut oil) travel through the blood directly to the liver and are converted to energy. Eating coconut oil provides energy like a carbohydrate without having the blood sugar impact that carbs normally do.
Mike Foale, author of The Coconut Odyssey, reports that because coconut oil is so readily converted to heat energy, it can be substituted for sugars as an energy source and not cause a sugar-related insulin release. The Australian Center for International Agriculture Research discovered that blood sugar concentration extremes are avoided in diabetics when coconut oil is substituted for sugar in the diet.
Bruce Fife, author of The Coconut Oil Miracle, considers high-quality coconut oil an ideal food for diabetics. He writes, “Coconut oil has no adverse effect on blood sugar. When it is added to other foods it lowers the glycemic index of these foods and helps control blood sugar in diabetics.”
Coconut Oil vs. Other Fats
Polyunsaturated fats cause problems for diabetics. When these types of fats in the diet are incorporated into the cellular structure, the cell’s ability to bind with insulin is compromised, as is its ability to acquire glucose. Diabetes is perpetuated by polyunsaturated fats in the diet.
Not so with coconut oil. Not only does it not contribute to diabetes, it helps to regulate blood sugar and help control the disease. Coconut oil, because it is readily converted to heat energy, boosts the metabolism to encourage weight loss and further help regulate diabetes.
Coconut Oil is Friendly to the Pancreas
Coconut oil doesn’t require pancreatic enzymes, and this lessens the stress on the pancreas at meal time and helps it function more efficiently. Coconut oil can supply energy directly to the cells, without needing enzymes or insulin. Fife writes that coconut oil “…has been shown to improve insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose. Coconut oil in the diet enhances insulin action and improves binding affinity compared to other oils.”
Incorporating Coconut Oil Into Your Diet
Nearly every fat or oil that you use in cooking can be replaced by coconut oil. This includes cooking oils, margarine and shortening. Coconut oil stands up to high heat, so it can be used for cooking and baking. The distinct flavor of high quality coconut oil dissipates during cooking, so the flavor of your food will not be overpowered. Learn more about cooking with coconut oil, and you’ll be able to find recipes specifically incorporating coconut oil.
Additional Benefits of Coconut Oil
Not only will coconut oil help manage type II diabetes, but it also has additional benefits:
- increases metabolism
- aids in natural weight loss
- boosts the immune system
- conquers Candida Albicans yeast overgrowth
- remedies some skin conditions
- improves the health of hair and skin
- increases energy
- fights infections
Adding coconut oil to your diet not only helps regulate your blood sugar levels, and benefits your body on many other levels as well. Bake, sauté and fry with coconut oil, and improve your health in the process.
Sources:
- Bruce Fife, The Coconut Oil MIracle (New York: Penguin, 2004)
- Seigfried Gursche, MH, Coconut Oil: Discover the Key to Vibrant Health (SummerAlive, 2008)
- Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, Digestive Wellness (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005)
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Join the Conversation