frig brunette: Could Coconut Oil Be the Unlikely Hero for Alzheimer's?

There have been recent reports in the press of an unlikely treatment for Alzheimer?s disease, which produces results like nothing seen before. Those experimenting with this home-trialed remedy have experienced a much higher brain function, including improved memory and awareness, better moods, and a renewed grasp on daily life. And the treatment in question? Simply a few large spoonfuls of coconut oil everyday.

Coconut Oil: What is it?

Coconut oil is very simply an oil derived from the meat of the coconut. It is used worldwide in a number of ways, as a cooking ingredient, as a moisturiser for skin and hair, in soaps and in candles.

Alzheimer?s and Coconut Oil:

So how could this simple vegetable oil help with one of the most prevalent age-related diseases that exists? Well, the truth is, we are still not entirely sure. At this stage, the results are purely anecdotal, and no thorough clinical study has been carried out to validate these claims.

However, we are not just talking about a few anecdotes here- there are simply hundreds of reports, primarily across the United States, which tell the same story: namely, after a few weeks of taking a spoonful of coconut oil twice a day, the family are able to reclaim a little bit of quality time with a family member that they thought they had lost to the disease.

Although the exact science behind the discovery is not yet known, there is a main theory that could back-up coconut oil?s usefulness as a treatment. Professor Kieran Clarke from the physiological biochemistry department at Oxford University, suggests that the answer lies in the high levels of fat found in the oil.

The food we eat everyday is converted to energy in the body- this happens most easily with carbohydrates, which are broken down to sugars and provide, in this case, our brain cells with all the fuel they need to carry out their individual functions.

When we don?t eat for a while, our cells will support themselves by using our stored fat as an alternative fuel source. This fat does not break down as sugars, but rather as ketones, which will feed the brain cells until we supply it with a ready supply of sugars again. Coconut oil contains large amounts of the right sort of fat that can be broken down into ketones.

In the case of people with Alzheimer?s, it seems to be the case that these ketones can feed the brain cells in a way that the sugars from food are no longer able to. And the result is that the brain can operate at a much higher function, and some of its previous health can be temporarily restored.

Coconut oil is also very high in polyphenols; antioxidants that can soak up free radicals. Free radicals are tiny atomic particles that crash around inside cells as a result of the numerous chemical reactions that occur as a cell carries out its functions.

These particles can cause devastating amounts of damage, and are thought to contribute significantly to the deterioration of brain cells in diseases such as Alheimer?s and dementia. So the presence of antioxidants in high levels will slow this process, and in theory slow the progression of the disease.

Coconut Oil: The Jury is Still Out

While reports are both moving and continually positive, it is important to remind ourselves that at this point they are simply personal accounts, and no actual study has been conducted to support them. However, research has started and no doubt definitive answers will begin appearing soon.

In the meantime, there are several health considerations to bear in mind before anyone commences on a home-trial of their own. Firstly, coconut oil is obviously extremely calorific, and can dramatically increase your daily calorie-intake before you even take food into consideration- this should certainly be factored into any healthy diet, to ensure you don?t acquire any undesired weight-gain!

Adding large amounts of fat to your diet can also have an impact on your digestive system, and could result in sickness or diarrhea.

Most importantly perhaps, coconut oil is very high in saturated fats, which contribute to our cholesterol levels, and can have a huge effect on the health of our hearts. So if you suffer from any pre-existing cholesterol or heart problems, this should be avoided.

If You Are Worried, See Your Doctor:

We must stress that if you are suffering from any problems that you suspect may be related to Alzheimer?s, you should first and foremost visit your doctor.

Memory problems are often not the sign of degenerative disease, but of factors entirely unrelated; so don?t be worried, and don?t self-diagnose or self-treat. Get to your doctor, and once you have received a medical opinion, you can decide the right course of action for you.

What the Press Says:

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