Some of you may have heard Jimmy Moore’s interview with Dr. Mary Newport, who halted and partially reversed her husband’s Alzheimer’s disease by feeding him coconut oil. My mom just sent me a newsclip that gives a brief version of the same story:
We tried giving coconut oil to my dad, but he was too far gone. If only I’d known 10 years ago what I know now, Dad and I might still be enjoying playing golf together.
Ketones have been shown to help with Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and other brain issues … yet your average nutritionist will still tell people to avoid ketogenic diets in general and coconut oil specifically. Too much saturated fat, doncha know. Eat your grains and cook with canola oil.
That’s why the average nutritionist is a menace.
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Otto,
I have been on rather very LC diet for about 4,5 years, and weight loss is very minor benefit compare to the resolving basically all my health issues, like asthma, frequent urinary tract infections, pre-menopause symptoms, leg edema, it is boring to mention all of it. I never thought about myself as a sick person, except some allergies and migraines. All my health markers have been excellent all the time.
It is a convenient diet, there are always LC options in restaurants and fast-food places, I cook the same food for my family members as for myself, but skip the starchy part. I don’t think fruits are so important. I eat veggies for taste, but I think not eating unnecessary carbs is more important that consuming some fresh produce.
I exercise and got adopted to exercising in ketogenic and fasted states.
I love coconut cream in my coffee and it mixes well. No oil on the top. I also love the flavor of coconut, but I don’t like the added coconut flavor in most of the foods that I fry. The refined oil may not be as beneficial, but I enjoy cooking (actually eating) with it much more.
Firebird7478- you might want to try cod liver oil for depression. I was on Wellbutrin for nine years. Now I take cod liver oil- but not every day. I usually do ten days on, ten days off, ten days on- just so that I don’t get tired of it. However, in foggy winter- I sometimes take it for two months straight. I drink it cold and in one gulp. No depression anymore. And no more anxiety or stomach issues from the Wellbutrin. I’m celebrating my three year anniversary of getting off meds this month. Oh- and I like to use coconut oil for my weekly massage 😀
I don’t think there’s a danger in eating coconut oil and I’ve added it to my diet in the hopes that it helps. But I am disturbed by the lack of evidence based scientific inquiry here. Every Internet search brings one back to Dr. Newport. That is one anecdotal incident (I did find one other anecdotal you tube video of an Australian man who was also helped, and it references Dr. Newport.)
I understand funding issues and the fact that nobody is going to spend big money on something that can’t be patented and sold for profit, but there are all sorts of studies looking at the benefits of things like chocolate, for example. It would not be hard for some grad student in medicine or nutrition to devise a simple double blind study, but none exist. Why???
There are trials on MTC oils, apparently, but not on coconut oil per se. It’s difficult to get funding for a study that wouldn’t benefit one particular corporation.
Your movie was the talk around our MSPU Boot Camp in Atlanta recently. I have to say that I have decided to stop by Visalus diet and switch back to what I really enjoy. Thanks to your movie.
Now I hope this will help turn my MSP Coaching buisness in the right direction because I will have more energy and awareness of what is happening around me.
Stuart
To all those people who can’t “stand the taste or smell of coconuts,” and though I do understand the concept of different strokes for different folks, summer time at the relaxing, sunny beach must be pure hell for you.
Loathing the mild tropical scent of coconuts while loving breezy, island/ beach setting is akin to hating the smell of hotdogs while being someone who loves to go to the baseball park…
I dunno, maybe those people hate beaches altogether.
I’ve been adding a large spoonful to a bowl of ground Flaxseed and Stevia, and mix it with boiling water to make a breakfast cereal. It’s a little pasty, but it tastes good and keeps me going for 5 hours. I’ve had a noticeable improvement in short term memory since starting the use of Coconut oil three months ago. Good stuff!
Sounds like a decent breakfast.
Two questions that I hope somebody can answer for me. I’m in Australia and I haven’t seen coconut oil here, but I have seen coconut butter in my health food store. Is this the same thing?
Also, I’ve had my gall bladder removed (thanks to being on a low fat diet [doctor recommended I may add] at the time that totally wrecked my poor gall bladder). Can the body still process these saturated oils without one and still get all the benefits? While I read a great deal of good info about saturated fats and oils and how beneficial they are, I’m concerned that not having a gall bladder may not allow me the same benefits.
Coconut butter is more like pureed coconut with some of the oil. Removing the gall bladder can affect your ability to metabolize fats, so you’d want to be careful there. I heard someone (sorry, can’t remember who) on Jimmy Moore’s show say that fats can be re-introduced slowly after gall bladder surgery.
Coconut butter, like full-fat coconut milk, does contain some coconut oil. But you should also be able to order coconut order online if it’s not available in your community. If you buy it in the cooking oil section (online or locally) make sure it’s not hydrogenated; the non-hydrogenated kind if the type that is beneficial.
Re: gall bladder surgery, a friend of mine had her gall bladder removed; she takes digestive enzymes that assist her in digesting fats. I believe she also takes bile (an emulsifier).
Back to the topic of coconut oil, I purchase the “refined”(tasteless) version (by Spectrum). Does this have the same (or similar) health benefits as the “unrefined”?
Thank you!
I haven’t heard of it.
Otto,
I have been on rather very LC diet for about 4,5 years, and weight loss is very minor benefit compare to the resolving basically all my health issues, like asthma, frequent urinary tract infections, pre-menopause symptoms, leg edema, it is boring to mention all of it. I never thought about myself as a sick person, except some allergies and migraines. All my health markers have been excellent all the time.
It is a convenient diet, there are always LC options in restaurants and fast-food places, I cook the same food for my family members as for myself, but skip the starchy part. I don’t think fruits are so important. I eat veggies for taste, but I think not eating unnecessary carbs is more important that consuming some fresh produce.
I exercise and got adopted to exercising in ketogenic and fasted states.
Personally I take coconut oil in pill form (because I’m to lazy to go get lunch) combined with isopure (zero carb protien drink)
And lately I’ve been taking about 140g of saturated fat via coconut oil daily.
I’m only 27 but I’ve noticed the health benefits already.
I love coconut cream in my coffee and it mixes well. No oil on the top. I also love the flavor of coconut, but I don’t like the added coconut flavor in most of the foods that I fry. The refined oil may not be as beneficial, but I enjoy cooking (actually eating) with it much more.
One of my co-workers and I were discussing this and she knew of someone who mentioned to their doctor they wanted to start giving coconut milk to his wife who was suffering from Alzheimer, but the doctor said no because it was bad for the heart. I never ask doctors for advice on nutrition or exercise. An exercise in futility.
Indeed. Most of them don’t have a clue.
I don’t think there’s a danger in eating coconut oil and I’ve added it to my diet in the hopes that it helps. But I am disturbed by the lack of evidence based scientific inquiry here. Every Internet search brings one back to Dr. Newport. That is one anecdotal incident (I did find one other anecdotal you tube video of an Australian man who was also helped, and it references Dr. Newport.)
I understand funding issues and the fact that nobody is going to spend big money on something that can’t be patented and sold for profit, but there are all sorts of studies looking at the benefits of things like chocolate, for example. It would not be hard for some grad student in medicine or nutrition to devise a simple double blind study, but none exist. Why???
There are trials on MTC oils, apparently, but not on coconut oil per se. It’s difficult to get funding for a study that wouldn’t benefit one particular corporation.
@Sereena,
I have been commenting several times on different blogs about my experience of eating fatty foods after my gallbladder was removed. Tom is right, gradual increase is the key. Body has a great ability to adjust. Right after my surgery I had a diarrhea after each meal, no matter what the fat content was, for at least couple of months. I asked my doctor for enzymes, but he said “No”. His reason – on enzymes I would never manage to adjust to live without gallbladder. It is logical to assume the same is right about eating fats. It is really important to give you some time. I am eating high fat foods now, but do not gorge on it.
To all those people who can’t “stand the taste or smell of coconuts,” and though I do understand the concept of different strokes for different folks, summer time at the relaxing, sunny beach must be pure hell for you.
Loathing the mild tropical scent of coconuts while loving breezy, island/ beach setting is akin to hating the smell of hotdogs while being someone who loves to go to the baseball park…
I dunno, maybe those people hate beaches altogether.
Back to the topic of coconut oil, I purchase the “refined”(tasteless) version (by Spectrum). Does this have the same (or similar) health benefits as the “unrefined”?
Thank you!
I haven’t heard of it.
Personally I take coconut oil in pill form (because I’m to lazy to go get lunch) combined with isopure (zero carb protien drink)
And lately I’ve been taking about 140g of saturated fat via coconut oil daily.
I’m only 27 but I’ve noticed the health benefits already.
re: Sereena’s gallbladder question
I had my gallbladder removed too…it wasn’t until I found out I was very deficient in vit D and started researching that I learned that it’s hard for the body to metabolize and use the good fat-based stuff (vit A, D, E, K; MCFAs, etc) without a gallbladder. (I know, I know: duh!)
I adopted a LCHF diet several months ago, and definitely noticed discomfort when I ate a lot of fat at once. There are enzyme supplements to help with fat breakdown — I take Lypo Gold by Enzymedica. It’s got a ton of fat-digesting enzymes, and it definitely makes a difference for me. Digest Gold works too (one time the store was out of Lypo Gold). I usually take it when I take my fat-soluble vitamin supplements too; I’m hoping it helps with absorption of those.
I buy them on Amazon.
Good info, thanks.
One of my co-workers and I were discussing this and she knew of someone who mentioned to their doctor they wanted to start giving coconut milk to his wife who was suffering from Alzheimer, but the doctor said no because it was bad for the heart. I never ask doctors for advice on nutrition or exercise. An exercise in futility.
Indeed. Most of them don’t have a clue.
@Sereena,
I have been commenting several times on different blogs about my experience of eating fatty foods after my gallbladder was removed. Tom is right, gradual increase is the key. Body has a great ability to adjust. Right after my surgery I had a diarrhea after each meal, no matter what the fat content was, for at least couple of months. I asked my doctor for enzymes, but he said “No”. His reason – on enzymes I would never manage to adjust to live without gallbladder. It is logical to assume the same is right about eating fats. It is really important to give you some time. I am eating high fat foods now, but do not gorge on it.
SUSTAINABLE MCT (palm) OIL?
My mother started showing signs of early onset Alzheimers about ten years ago. She is now 70 and in the locked down ward of a nursing home. Many of her siblings also suffer from either Alzheimers or valscular dementia. At 43, I started having memory “issues” last year, so when I came upon Dr. Newport’s book last month, I quickly started on a regimen of coconut oil. I’m now adding 3 T. to my food at every meal and I have seen a small improvement already– I no longer wonder every morning which of the keys on my keyring will open my office door.
However, I discovered that melted coconut oil does not make for a great salad dressing: it hardens when it comes into contact with cold food. So I tried buying some mct oil. When I discovered that it was a combination of fractionated palm and coconut oil, I was concerned, because I learned recently that most palm oil is not harvested sustainably. It is a cause of rainforest deforestation, huge greenhouse gas emissions, and pushing orangutans, sumatran tigers, and Sumatran rhinoceroses close to the brink of extinction. I tried contacting the company, Alpha Nutrition in BC, to ask where their mct oil came from, and I soon spoke to the company’s owner, who was very defensive, and did confirm that his source was not sustainable. So I’d rather not buy any more mct oil from them.
So I’m wondering if anyone in Canada or the US knows of any sustainable sources of mct oil?
re: Sereena’s gallbladder question
I had my gallbladder removed too…it wasn’t until I found out I was very deficient in vit D and started researching that I learned that it’s hard for the body to metabolize and use the good fat-based stuff (vit A, D, E, K; MCFAs, etc) without a gallbladder. (I know, I know: duh!)
I adopted a LCHF diet several months ago, and definitely noticed discomfort when I ate a lot of fat at once. There are enzyme supplements to help with fat breakdown — I take Lypo Gold by Enzymedica. It’s got a ton of fat-digesting enzymes, and it definitely makes a difference for me. Digest Gold works too (one time the store was out of Lypo Gold). I usually take it when I take my fat-soluble vitamin supplements too; I’m hoping it helps with absorption of those.
I buy them on Amazon.
Good info, thanks.
I use Lou Ana’s! In fact, I need to buy some more. Maybe this was discussed, but I thought Ketones were produced in the liver, and didn’t come out of a jar!! I guess I can’t expect reporters to get all their facts straight. That’d be like asking too much?
Coconut oil is converted to ketones in the liver.
For salad dressing perhaps a mixture of coconut and olive oil?
Hey Tom i was wondering what do you think of this new documentary of Sugar featuring David Ludwig on 60 min.
http://www.2buildmusclefast.com/p/sugar-is-toxic.html
I was happy to see him getting national exposure.
@darMA “I checked out Dr. Newport’s site a few times after her story first came out. Would anyone be surprised that she indicated her husband was on statins??”
Of course, the next question is: Which came first, the statins or the Alzheimers?
You know where I’d place my bet.
SUSTAINABLE MCT (palm) OIL?
My mother started showing signs of early onset Alzheimers about ten years ago. She is now 70 and in the locked down ward of a nursing home. Many of her siblings also suffer from either Alzheimers or valscular dementia. At 43, I started having memory “issues” last year, so when I came upon Dr. Newport’s book last month, I quickly started on a regimen of coconut oil. I’m now adding 3 T. to my food at every meal and I have seen a small improvement already– I no longer wonder every morning which of the keys on my keyring will open my office door.
However, I discovered that melted coconut oil does not make for a great salad dressing: it hardens when it comes into contact with cold food. So I tried buying some mct oil. When I discovered that it was a combination of fractionated palm and coconut oil, I was concerned, because I learned recently that most palm oil is not harvested sustainably. It is a cause of rainforest deforestation, huge greenhouse gas emissions, and pushing orangutans, sumatran tigers, and Sumatran rhinoceroses close to the brink of extinction. I tried contacting the company, Alpha Nutrition in BC, to ask where their mct oil came from, and I soon spoke to the company’s owner, who was very defensive, and did confirm that his source was not sustainable. So I’d rather not buy any more mct oil from them.
So I’m wondering if anyone in Canada or the US knows of any sustainable sources of mct oil?
I use Lou Ana’s! In fact, I need to buy some more. Maybe this was discussed, but I thought Ketones were produced in the liver, and didn’t come out of a jar!! I guess I can’t expect reporters to get all their facts straight. That’d be like asking too much?
Coconut oil is converted to ketones in the liver.
Canuckette, Nutiva is a good brand that collects as well as produces in a reasonably sustainable manner in accordance with fair trade practices. As for the salad dressing. I don’t know where you’re getting the problem from. Maybe it’s the brand you’re using? I’ve melted coconut oil for many years, occasionally mixing it with apple cider vinegar and or animal-based lards without it going back to a solid state while eating it. Very yummy and you feel really good as well as full afterwards! 😀
For salad dressing perhaps a mixture of coconut and olive oil?
Hey Tom i was wondering what do you think of this new documentary of Sugar featuring David Ludwig on 60 min.
http://www.2buildmusclefast.com/p/sugar-is-toxic.html
I was happy to see him getting national exposure.
@darMA “I checked out Dr. Newport’s site a few times after her story first came out. Would anyone be surprised that she indicated her husband was on statins??”
Of course, the next question is: Which came first, the statins or the Alzheimers?
You know where I’d place my bet.
Canuckette, Nutiva is a good brand that collects as well as produces in a reasonably sustainable manner in accordance with fair trade practices. As for the salad dressing. I don’t know where you’re getting the problem from. Maybe it’s the brand you’re using? I’ve melted coconut oil for many years, occasionally mixing it with apple cider vinegar and or animal-based lards without it going back to a solid state while eating it. Very yummy and you feel really good as well as full afterwards! 😀
bigmyc, I live less than 10Km from stunning beaches and, to the great concern of my parents, spent most of my high school days sunning, swimming and basically doing absolutely nothing except lying flat on the sand. So in my case. dislike of coconut and hatred of beaches shows no positive correlation.
I’ll give it another try tough, perhaps just like beer it’s an acquired taste and I did manage to develop a liking to Guinness after all.
I liked Guinness from the first sip. Still do, although I drink far less of it now.
bigmyc, I live less than 10Km from stunning beaches and, to the great concern of my parents, spent most of my high school days sunning, swimming and basically doing absolutely nothing except lying flat on the sand. So in my case. dislike of coconut and hatred of beaches shows no positive correlation.
I’ll give it another try tough, perhaps just like beer it’s an acquired taste and I did manage to develop a liking to Guinness after all.
I liked Guinness from the first sip. Still do, although I drink far less of it now.
Interesting but a little confusing. I have read elsewhere about how important DHA is for cell membranes in brains and retina. That is the long, six-times poly-UN-saturated fat abundant in wild fish (and terrestrial game meats too).
But I learned this interesting thing from the book _The Queen of Fats_: each of the double-tailed phospholipid molecules in a membrane always has one unsaturated tail, and usually one saturated tail. Perhaps there really is a preferred one-to-one optimum?
Eat your fish and your coconuts, I guess, it works for the Kitavans.
Interesting but a little confusing. I have read elsewhere about how important DHA is for cell membranes in brains and retina. That is the long, six-times poly-UN-saturated fat abundant in wild fish (and terrestrial game meats too).
But I learned this interesting thing from the book _The Queen of Fats_: each of the double-tailed phospholipid molecules in a membrane always has one unsaturated tail, and usually one saturated tail. Perhaps there really is a preferred one-to-one optimum?
Eat your fish and your coconuts, I guess, it works for the Kitavans.
I thought the warning about hydrogenated coconut oil was weird — who would try to hydrogenate something that is already 92 percent saturated? But apparently this really happens to make the melting point even higher, says Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#Hydrogenation
Yup. Lousy thing to do to an otherwise good oil.
I thought the warning about hydrogenated coconut oil was weird — who would try to hydrogenate something that is already 92 percent saturated? But apparently this really happens to make the melting point even higher, says Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#Hydrogenation
Yup. Lousy thing to do to an otherwise good oil.
I love this story. My grandfather recently passed away from complications from Alzheimers and my parents both seem to be on this track. I was annoyed that they kept showing ways to add coconut oil to starch– a terrible combination in my opinion, but I guess you can’t alwasy have everything.
Get them on the coconut oil, minus the starch. Can’t hurt to try.
I love this story. My grandfather recently passed away from complications from Alzheimers and my parents both seem to be on this track. I was annoyed that they kept showing ways to add coconut oil to starch– a terrible combination in my opinion, but I guess you can’t alwasy have everything.
Get them on the coconut oil, minus the starch. Can’t hurt to try.
I use LouAna coconut oil which is tasteless and cheap.
http://www.louana.com/product-detail.aspx?productID=75&catID=44&pcatID=37
Walmart carries it.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lou-Ana-All-Natural-Cocnut-Oil-31.5-fl-oz/10448863
Some Ralphs (part of Kroger) also carry it.
I use LouAna coconut oil which is tasteless and cheap.
http://www.louana.com/product-detail.aspx?productID=75&catID=44&pcatID=37
Walmart carries it.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lou-Ana-All-Natural-Cocnut-Oil-31.5-fl-oz/10448863
Some Ralphs (part of Kroger) also carry it.
I posted your article on Facebook and got an immediate response from one our friends whose father has been on Coconut Oil for a year. His Alzheimers symptoms are improving but he is also on other meds so it’s hard to know what is helping.
I posted the following article on Insulin Resistannce and Alzheimers/Memory loss late last year. They were accomplishing the same thing by increasing insulin. The culprit is of course insulin resistance…
http://bit.ly/pzlLHP
Indeed, but as with diabetics, I’d rather find a way to reduce the need for insulin than pump more of it into the body.
I posted your article on Facebook and got an immediate response from one our friends whose father has been on Coconut Oil for a year. His Alzheimers symptoms are improving but he is also on other meds so it’s hard to know what is helping.
I posted the following article on Insulin Resistannce and Alzheimers/Memory loss late last year. They were accomplishing the same thing by increasing insulin. The culprit is of course insulin resistance…
http://bit.ly/pzlLHP
Indeed, but as with diabetics, I’d rather find a way to reduce the need for insulin than pump more of it into the body.
I had my gallbladder removed. Your body adjusts. I think it took a year or two until I stopped getting the runs after eating a fatty meal. But now I don’t have any problems.
I had my gallbladder removed. Your body adjusts. I think it took a year or two until I stopped getting the runs after eating a fatty meal. But now I don’t have any problems.
I went to the market two weeks ago after reading your post. I spent a whopping six dollars on a two-pound jar of coconut oil. Nice effect! Less dry, itchy skin. Fewer aches and pains. Dropped a few pounds. Sleeping better. I haven’t felt this good in some time!
I had no idea.
I went to the market two weeks ago after reading your post. I spent a whopping six dollars on a two-pound jar of coconut oil. Nice effect! Less dry, itchy skin. Fewer aches and pains. Dropped a few pounds. Sleeping better. I haven’t felt this good in some time!
I had no idea.