In 1987 Lim-Sylianco published a 50 year literature review showing the anti-cancer effects of coconut oil. Under laboratory conditions animals were subjected to chemically induced cancers of the colon and breast (I don't condone these experiments). In tests 32% of the corn oil eaters contracted cancer while only 3% of the coconut oil eaters got cancer. The researchers concluded that this was down to the thyroid-suppressive and hence immuno-suppressive effect of polyunsaturated fats. Coconut Oil contains mostly saturated fat and doesn't suppress the Thyroid gland or immunity system.
A study of the inhabitants of 2 South Pacific Islands (Pukapuka and Tokelau) followed the health of islanders for 20 years prior to the widespread introduction of 'western food' and particularly polyunsaturated fat. In many cases the diets of the islanders consisted of up to 60% saturated fats from coconut oil. The report found the islanders to be lean and healthy people who hardly ever died from heart disease, obesity, cancer or diabetes. The authors of the report conclude:
"Vascular disease is uncommon in both populations and there is no evidence of the high saturated fat intake having a harmful effect in these populations." For the reference see
resources.
Several studies have been published about the Inuit People of Greenland. Their fish based diet is high in saturated fats and cholesterol and yet there is a very low rate of heart disease and obesity amongst the population. Rather the saturated fat in the fish stimulates the thyroid gland which allows the Inuits' bodies to convert cholesterol into anti-aging steriods - pregnenolone, progresterone and DHEA. The same happens with a high coconut oil diet.
Coconut oil is similar to mother's milk in that both contain significant amounts of Lauric acid. Lauric acid is not present in corn, soy and sunflower oils. Lauric acid is what protects the new born infant. Lauric acid has an anti-viral property. It also protects against bacterial, protozoal, yeast and fungi attacks. Thus coconut oil in your diet helps protect you from disease.
Consider that polyunsaturated oil and partially hydrogenated fats go rancid in just a few days whereas saturated oils such as coconut oil don't go rancid because they possess anti-oxidant properties. Margarine goes rancid in your body, coconut oil doesn't.
Coconut Oil is rich in vitamin E. For this reason coconut oil is now very popular. Coconut oil is used in a wide variety of
beauty treatments and beauty products because of coconut's anti-aging effects.