Coconut Oil Increases Beneficial Properties in Human Breast

COCONUT OIL FOUND BENEFICIAL FOR LACTATING MOTHERS

The unique composition of human breast milk fat includes the fatty acids, lauric acid and capric acid, which have potent antimicrobial properties These fatty acids offer the nursing infant protection from viruses such as herpes and HIV, protozoa such as giardia lamblia, and bacteria such as chlamydia and heliocobater

A study published in 1998 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that lactating mothers who eat coconut oil and other coconut products, have significantly increased levels of lauric acid and capric acid in their breast milk Thus, the milk supply has increased amounts of the protective antimicrobials , which will give even greater protection to the nursing infant

Pregnant females store fat to assure successful lactation Any lauric acid and capric acid in the diet becomes part of the adipose stores The milk fat of a lactating mother is made up of these stores as well as her current diet If her diet doesn’t contain lauric acid, then generally her milk fat will contain around 3% lauric acid and round 1% capric acid

When a lactating woman adds foods rich in lauric acid to her diet, the amount of lauric acid available in her breastmilk increases substantially to levels three times the original level and nearly double the amount of capric acid In countries where coconut oil is a diet staple, levels of lauric acid in the mother’s milk can be as high as 21% and capric acid can be as high as 6% giving her infant even more protection against viruses, bacteria, and protozoa

Coconut oil can be used instead of butter in cooking and baking You can stir it into oatmeal or even use it as a spread Also, this oil’s antimicrobial properties are beneficial for the skin Pregnant women in many cultures the world over rub cocnut oil on their expanding bellies to keep skin soft and prevent itching

REFERENCES

Fife, Bruce The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil

Francois CA, Connor SL, Wander RC, Connor WE Acute effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acids of human milk American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998;67:301-308

Bach, AC, et al 1989 Clinical and experimental effects of medium chain triglyceride based fat emulsions-a review Clin Nutr 8:223

About The Author

Cori Young is an herbalist living in the Pacific Northwest

For more information on healing with herbs, visit her website,

Herbal Remedies Info (http://wwwherbalremediesinfocom)

cori@herbalremediesinfocom

Tags | antimicrobials, chlamydia, clinical, expanding, giardia, journal, miracles, nutrition