The Hazards of High Heels

By Michael Roizen, MD, and Mehmet Oz, MD

Stevie Winwood may have thought the “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” was, in 1971 slang, “groovy.” But the low moan of high-heeled girls rockin’ emergency rooms across North America isn’t so melodic. According to a study from the University of Alabama Department of Public Health, from 2002 to 2012 the number of reported high-heel injuries doubled. High heel tip-overs caused 123,300 emergency department visits, including 19,000 in 2011. Over 80% of those injuries were to the ankle or foot; around 20% involved the knee, torso, head or neck.

 

Most of the time the person limped away with a strain or sprain, but 19% of the time bone fractures occurred. That doesn’t include the chronic discomfort, pain and sometimes long-term damage to joints, bones and soft tissue that happens to around 50% of well-heeled women. And the most surprising fact is that half of the injured don’t make it out their front door; they’re injured at home! Gals 20 to 29 are most likely to fall off their pedestals; those 30-39 are the second most frequent fallers.

 

You’d think this would make fashionistas consider alternatives, but the opposite’s true. Organizers of the chic Cannes Film Festival try to insist all women walking the red carpet wear high heels (this year film producer Valerie Richter says she was initially turned away because she was wearing flats!). Maybe the festival should be renamed "Can’t" and women should just say “Au revoir.”

Source: http://blog.doctoroz.com

Slow Cooker Pumpkin, Chickpea, and Red Lentil Curry

Yield: Serves 4-6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Onion & garlic are optional (for those who don't eat)

Creamy, hearty, and full of flavor, this vegan Indian-inspired Crock Pot recipe is so easy to assemble. A perfect weeknight dinner for fall (or any season!)

Ingredients:

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 medium cloves garlic, minced

2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1 cup red lentils, rinsed

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 tablespoon curry powder*

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste

1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk (I use full-fat for this recipe; lite will probably still taste great but might result in a thinner curry)

For serving:

White rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice

Fresh lime wedges

Cilantro leaves

Directions:

Add all ingredients except the coconut milk to a 3-quart or larger slow cooker. Cook on low 8-10 hours or in high 5-6 hours. Stir in the coconut milk and cook on low for another 30 minutes.

The curry will be a bit thin at first; it thickens up as it sits.

Scoop over rice and serve with cilantro and fresh lime wedges to squeeze over the top.

* Curry powder brands can vary greatly, but I've tried several in this recipe and it always turns out great. So just use your favorite brand/blend and you should be good to go.

Source: www.kitchentreaty.com

A Mind Map on the Laws of Mind Mapping

Creative Thinking Mind Map
Source: Head First by Tony Buzan
Mind Map by: Alan & Emily Burton

Group Mind Map Consolidating 5 smaller Groups (Total 30 People) on the Key Elements of Team Success for Their Organisation.
Consolidated by: Jennifer Goddard
Mind Map by: Ian Adams

An overview of statistics 

Source: Revise GCSE Mathematics Intermediate Level by Sheila Hunt & Philip Hooper with Tony Buzan.
Mind Map by: Phil Chambers

Mind Maps are Helpful to Remember Songs
Song: Yellow Submarine by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Mind Map by: Jennifer & Jasmine Goddard

Reviewing Science & Chemical Formulas
Source: Revise GCSE Science Single Award by Eileen Ramsden, David Applin & Jim Breithaupt with Tony Buzan
Mind Map by: Patrick Mayfield 

The Bard: The World of William Shakespeare
Source: Revise GCSE English by Steve Eddy, Marg Hartley & Ruth Coleman with Tony Buzan
Mind Map by: David Creasey, Donna Kim-Brand & Anne Jones

Exercises for Relaxation & Destressing
Source: Power of Physical Intelligence by Tony Buzan

Helping to Learn a Language
Source: Revise GCSE French Cardine Woods with Tony Buzan
Mind Map by: Christine Richsteiner

Mind maps

Friday, November 5, 2010

Mind Maps

I'm sure you are no stranger to this visual thinking tool. A mind map is used for idea generation, visualization  and organization, and is great for a structured planning of writing, classifying notes, problem solving and studying, and has been vastly applied throughout our education process for its efficiency. It usually consists of a network of branched out categories with the main topic/theme in the middle. Here are a couple of examples of mind maps:

Tony Buzan, the inventor of mind mapping, claims that the mind map is a vastly superior note taking method because it does not lead to a "semi-hypnotic trance" state induced by other note forms. There are some guidelines to follow in order to create a good mind map:

a) Start in the center with an image of the topic.

b) Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your mind map.

c) Keep the topics label as short as possible.

d) Vary text size, color and alignment.

e) Use multiple colors throughout the mind map, for visual stimulation and also to encode or group.

f) Use emphasis and show associations in your mind map.

Mind maps can be classified into two categories: logical and associated. A logical mind map consists of words directly linked together based on stereotype. It is useful for taking down notes and organizing information. On the other hand, an associated mind map connects words that seems to have no related meanings, but are actually associated by memory. The two mind maps shown above are logical mind maps, as you might've guessed. Here's an example of an associated mind map:

I wasn't complete sure about the random word method at first because it seems to divert too much from logic. The truth is, associating two totally different things together produces more interesting and unexpected outcomes. This is why associated mind maps are perfect for idea generation and unconventional brainstorming.

We've tried out the method in class, first with a logical mind map and illustration of our friend sitting beside us.

Images courtesy of Heng Pei Ling.

Then, our lecturer gave us the task of creating an invention that would become something common in the future based on a mortar and a pestle with the help of this associated mind map:

This was what i came up with:

Click to enlarge

Exercise: A suit designed for running can be made with pestles around the body and a cap and dumbbells using mortars.

Coconut: The mortar and pestle can be used as a coconut crusher.

Brad Pitt: Brad Pitt will set new trends in the future with an Oscar outfit made of a mortar and pestle.

7 Key Foods To Improve Gall Bladder Health

Gallbladder issues are very common these days. Every time I run my Heal Your Gut course, a large number of participants have had major gallbladder symptoms or even had their gallbladder removed. A big reason why this is the case actually has to do with the overwhelming amount of toxins your poor liver has to deal with.

The more compromised your liver becomes the more problems your poor dear gallbladder will have as well.

One key issue facing you and I today as far as gallbladder health is concerned, is a low-fat processed foods typical American diet. Diet is critical for good health, I know that seems obvious but so many people take it for granted.

A properly prepared nutrient dense diet such as a Paleo/GAPS/ SCD or Weston Price type of diets are all good templates to learn more about a real food diet. One key component all of these protocols incorporate are good fats.  Unfortunately, you have been duped and told to eat less fat as well as been bombarded by bad fats. These bad, rancid fats and oils can cause atrophy/damage to the gallbladder.

Another problem with a modern diet is a lack of fiber. Processed lifeless foods don’t contain fiber, which is needed to help keep that train rollin’ (if you know what I mean). When you are backed up your poor liver has even more of a toxic load to deal with.

Add to that that many of you don’t drink enough water, let alone clean water free of contaminants and then you’ve got even more trouble. Oh, and I did I mention the issue of food allergies/sensitivities -yet another big ole problem that causes your gallbladder to take a hit.

Instead of going heavily into all the nitty gritty’s surrounding what can lead to poor gallbladder function, I’d like to focus on some key foods you can consume to improve gallbladder health. If you want to help support your gallbladder and give it the raw ingredients it needs to perform it’s duties, try adding in some of these foods (so long as you tolerate them that is).

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1. Cholagogues – These are foods/herbs that help stimulate bile. (See list below)
2. Raw or ‘runny’ egg yolks – An easily assimilated source of fat, lecithin and choline for the gallbladder (use only if tolerated -otherwise you can supplement).
3. Milk Thistle (Silymarin) – Helps to normalize liver function, detoxify the liver and improve solubility of the bile. It also helps to tone the spleen, liver and gallblader. Try it in tea or tincture form as a daily support.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar – the malic acid helps to soften or dissolve gallstones. Try including a daily Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic. As well as using apple cider vinegar in salad dressings and consume regularly.
5. Beets – If you’ve spent any time reading my site you know how much I LOVE beets, especially as a liver/gallbladder support. Why? Beets help to build healthy bile.
6. Cranberries – Cranberry contains malic acid which can help to break down any stagnant bile or bile stones.
7. Healthy Fats – The gallbladder secretes the bile in the presence of fat. Without fat, it won’t do it’s main job and then what? You get thick sludgy bile that gets backed up and serious problems can arise down the road. What fats should you be eating? Read more here!

Cholagogues

• Black radish – or radishes of all types can stimulate bile production and aid in the digestion of fats.
• Daikon radish – often used in kimchi.
• Dandelion greens or Tea –  Dandelion helps to release stored bile and is very gentle in doing so.
• Chicory
• Mustard Greens
• Turnip greens
• Artichokes

Recipes For A Healthy Gallbladder

• Beet Kvass
• Kimchi
• Fermented Radishes
• Spiced Apple & Beet Slaw
• Spice Pickled Beets
• Cran-Water – Use 4 ounces unsweetened cranberry juice to 28 ounces pure filtered water and drink 1 – 2 quarts daily.
• Artichokes
• Homemade Mayonnaise
• Eggnog Smoothie
• Steamed Artichokes
• Spiced Artichokes
• Homemade Aioli
• Grilled Artichokes with Garlic Aioli
• Black Radish Slaw

 

Foods To Avoid For Gallbladder Health

•  Gluten
•  Bad Fats/Rancid Oils
•  Sugars
•  Any foods you may have an intolerance or allergy to

It will be key to avoid these foods in addition to adding in the supportive foods as mentioned above. Remove & replace first and then you can take even further measures to restore and rebalance the health of your gallbladder!

 

 Heal Your Gut

More than 90 million Americans suffer from digestive disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health, yet very few of us know where to turn for help and information. The importance of digestive health is vastly under-appreciated in today’s medical community and society. Are you one of them?

As the very seat of our immunity, good digestive health is imperative to live a truly healthy life. Impaired digestion can trigger problems ranging from mild stomach upsets to life-threatening cancer.

Millions of people suffer day in and day out not knowing just how critical healing the gut truly is.

Poor digestion can be a factor in symptoms such as attention deficit disorder, arthritis, asthma, chemical sensitivities, eczema, liver problems, autoimmune conditions and mood disorders.

The greatest opportunity to recovery from health ailments and to ‘heal your gut‘ occurs when YOU actively participate in the healing process. With my support I believe you and I can work to get you on the road to better digestion.

Colon cleansing

SLIMMER JUST IN 3 WEEKS: PERHAPS THERE ARE 15 KG OF TOXINS HIDDEN IN YOUR BOWELS. IT’S HIGH TIME YOU CLEANSED THEM!

On the off chance that you need to ensure yourselves from numerous manifestations of infections, you ought to cleanse your bowels from mucus, fecal material, and different parasites.

For a time of 70 years, 100 tons of food and 40.000 liters of fluids pass through our bowels, which implies that 15 kilograms of fecal material and toxic debris are generally filled in the stomach. These substances poison the blood and make unrecoverable harm to the entire body.

There are numerous signs that indicate the need of bowel cleansing:

• frequent constipation;
• your hair, skin and nails are in bad state;
• damaged metabolism;
• hearing and sight diseases or problems;
• being overweight or underweight;
• kidneys’ and liver diseases;
• diabetes;
• arthritis, cancer and other diseases.

With the assistance of clisma, just a little piece of the colon (40-50 cm) can be cleansed, while the bowel cleansing treatment, completed with unique surgical instruments, is exceptionally pricy and not so much innocuous for the bowel microflora.

The utilization of 1-3 tablespoons of linseed flour day by day for 3 weeks, can totally cleanse the internal organ and the small digestive system from the mucus that has been filling in them for a long time, the fecal material and parasites, and in the meantime completely protect the bowel microflora.

This strategy permits quick standardization of your body weight and fat burning. What’s more, it absolutely influences the regulation of the lipid digestion system. Linseed flour can ingest and dispose of the poisons from your body and bring down the cholesterol level in your blood.

This cure can help you on the off chance that you experience the ill effects of gastritis, colitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, urinary tract diseases, cystitis, pyelonephritis, overweight, or harmed digestion system.

Eat this instead of breakfast for three weeks:

1. first week: 1 tablespoon of linseed flour blended with 3.3 oz / 100 ml kefir;
2. second week: 2 tablespoons of linseed flour blended with 3.3 oz / 100 ml kefir;
3. third week: 3 tablespoons of linseed flour blended with 5 oz / 150 ml kefir.

Good Advise: Meet the doctor who prescribe vegan diets!

Meet the doctor who prescribes vegan diets

It’s not every day you’re lying on the table in a hospital gown at your doctor’s office and he or she suggests that kale might make your ailments disappear. If only…

But for Robert Ostfeld, MD, the director of the Cardiac Wellness Program and associate professor of Clinical Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, that’s kind of what he does. (Okay, it’s a little more complicated than that.)

Dr. Ostfeld, who’s based in New York City, sees a lot of patients with cardiac issues like heart disease (as well as diabetes). But in addition to prescribing things like cholesterol-lowering meds, he also tells his patients to follow a vegan diet—and he’s seen some awesome results.

“Outside of emergency surgery, I’ve never seen anything come close to the breadth of benefits that a whole food plant-based diet provides,” says Dr. Ostfeld.

“When I got [to Montefiore], I started doing what I was trained to do. I encouraged patients to take guideline-based medications…[but] people weren’t get profoundly better. It was after that, I stumbled across The China Study.” (You know, that groundbreaking book that made a lot of connections between food and disease.)

So Dr. Ostfeld decided to start the Cardiac Wellness Program, with the goal of preventing and reversing disease with the help of a whole foods, plant-based diet. We spoke with him about some of his findings and successes.

Dr. Robert Ostfeld 

What kind of results have you seen so far?
“The kind of patient turnaround we see is inspirational,” Dr. Ostfeld says. “It’s totally rejuvenated me as a physician.” Some of the symptoms that have improved for his patients include less chest pressure, patients who can now take fewer medications, and better cholesterol levels.

“We had one particular patient go from 19 medications to three, in the course of a year,” he says. Many patients also notice some added bonuses—like better skin (woot!) or chronic back pain disappearing, he says.

So how does it work? I’m envisioning you and your patients happily drinking green smoothies together…
“I’ll typically see a new patient in the office for an hour. We’ll go through their issues, talk about the whole foods, plant-based diet. We have a session on periodic Saturday mornings where we go into the lifestyle in much more detail. It’s an event: We have a nutritionist, we have a patient who’s been successful speak, and we serve a lunch—and we don’t charge for this. We fund it through tax deductible donations,” Dr. Ostfeld says.

“When patients really embrace it and they feel so much better, they become the best sort of ambassadors for living this way.”

Where do prescription drugs fit in?
None of this is to suggest that Dr. Ostfeld believes diet is the only answer to solving things like heart disease. “We are only lowering doses [of medications] if their blood pressure, etc., are appropriately reduced. We’re only going to do things that are medically justified,” he says.

Which includes running all sorts of blood tests after a patient has been following the diet for some time, so Dr. Ostfeld can see the progress and how things are improving.

“Sometimes patients will cry tears of joy with how much happier and how much better they feel,” Dr. Ostfeld says. “Nobody cried tears of joy when I wrote them a script for cholesterol-lowering medication.”

How skeptical are patients and colleagues about the approach?
“I get resistance and push back from both. Sometimes [patients] look at me like I have five heads,” Dr. Ostfeld says. “Disappointingly…the benefits are not well-known in the medical community. Some physicians are very open-minded to it and others are not. We should be open-minded to all things that help our patients.”

And do you practice what you preach?
“After reading The China Study, I changed my own eating habits, too,” he says. “I’ve been on a whole foods, plant-based diet for about four years. It’s wonderful from a healthy, environmental, and ethical standpoint. Those things resonate differently with different people. I like being able to touch on all three of those,” Dr. Ostfeld says. “It also gives me more credibility with my patients when I am also walking the walk.” —Molly Gallagher

How To Eat Right For Your Blood Type

Peter D’Adamo is a very famous neuropathic medic and wrote Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight.

He is a firm believer in the fact that blood types are crucial for our health and well-being and that certain food is harmful to one blood type but helpful to other. Also, he claims that even the manner of exercising can be closely connected to your blood type, or on the contrary, your blood type can cause you some illness.

Some experts do not agree with this method of nutrition but since his book was published, 7 million sold copies speak for themselves.

How Do Blood Type Diets Works?

D’Adamo has a theory that says that every person has his own way of responding to food, and that is closely connected to our blood type. Lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins), in his opinion, can attach to different blood type in a different way. It can be extremely harmful for your health if certain lectins contact certain blood type.

Dr. D’Adamo thoroughly explains these changes and side-effects in his book, still, his main goal is to analyze which foods are appropriate for each blood type and in which amount should they be consumed.

The Four Basic Blood Types:

1. BLOOD TYPE A:

Twenty thousand years ago, when agriculture was developed, this blood type had the change of a lifetime. This means that blood type A should concentrate on having a vegetarian way of life- the people are also known as “the agrarians”.

People with type A blood should avoiding eating meat, and eat fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains. To be more precise, organic and fresh foods, because as D’Adamo explained, these people have a sensitive immune system.

2. BLOOD TYPE 0:

Being one of the oldest blood types, dating since 30 000 years ago, it requires a protein-filled nutrition, unlike any of the other blood types. The people are also known as “the hunters”.

These people should focus on eating more high-protein foods, such as lean meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and reduce the consumption of grains, beans, and dairy products. D’Adamo recommends different supplements that will assist in cases of stomach ache, and other issues these people usually have.

3. BLOOD TYPE B:

The people commonly known as “the nomads” possess the quality to be quite adaptable to dairy products and have the most versatile digestive system of all. This blood type first appeared ten thousand years ago.

People in this group should avoid corn, wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds. According to D’Adamo, chicken may also cause certain problems. He recommends eating green veggies, eggs, certain meats, and low-fat dairy products.

4. BLOOD TYPE AB:

Since this is the most recently developed blood type, their diet varies between Blood type B and A. Because this blood type is only a thousand years old, the people are called “the enigmas”.

Diet based on tofu, seafiid, dairy, and green veggies. D’Adamo explains that these people often struggle with stomach acid, and should avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoked meat delicacies.

If you do not know your blood type, your medic or physician can easily determine it for you.

FOODS RECOMMENDED FOR EACH BLOOD TYPE:

 BLOOD TYPE A:

Consume: vegetables, whole grains instead of small ones (pasta or bread). Also, consume berries, figs, avocados, apples and nectarines. Proteins that are allowed are nuts and soy.

Stay Away From: Any kind of meat is not recommended as well as dairy products and kidney beans.

BLOOD TYPE 0:

Consume: Red meat, poultry (chicken/turkey), seafood and other proteins are highly recommended. When it comes to vegetables kale, spinach, kelp and broccoli are a good choice.

Stay Away From: legumes (beans, peanuts, lentils), dairy and egg products, as well as wheat and grains.

BLOOD TYPE B:

Consume: fruits, green vegetables, certain grains, red meat, fish, turkey.

Stay Away From: seeds of any kind, chicken, peanuts, lentils and corn. Also try to avoid buckwheat.

BLOOD TYPE AB:

Consume: turkey, tofu, seafood and fish. Also, vegetables, beans, watermelon, figs, apples and bananas and legumes are a good option.

Stay Away From: buckwheat, corn, red meat (you may experience stomach acid). Be careful with consuming too much alcohol and caffeine.

Organic food applies to all blood types but a nutritionist can help you expand your diet if necessary. Food groups generally are strict, so you if you are dieting you don’t have to worry about calories. Also, get informed about the positive and negative influences of your food choice. If you are dieting as a family, but have different blood types, the Atkins diet is the most recommended, because it avoids entire food groups.

Nutrition in accordance with your blood type can be fit for one person, but unsuitable for other. To get a grip of the whole concept, reading Dr. D’Adamo’s book may be very helpful. Your nutritionist or medic can also help in giving you proper advice for any change you want to make, especially if you have any medical condition. 

 

Get Rid Of a Headache And Lower High Blood Pressure With This Simple Natural Remedy

If you have strong and unbearable headache or high blood pressure, try this natural remedy that will eliminate the pain in just 20 minutes.

You need some gauze or fine cotton fabric that you will later use as a compress. Fold the gauze in 8 layers, and the compress should match your forehead.

Dissolve 2 level teaspoons of salt in 8.5 oz/ 250 ml of hot water (60-70°C). Now you have 8% salt solution.

Headache is often caused by the food you eat, like diet soda, alcohol and others.

Wash your forehead, ears and neck with some warm water. Soak the gauzes in the salt solution, squeeze out the excess and apply the compresses on your forehead, neck and around the ears. It is better if you lay down while the compresses do their job.

You will soon feel some relieve, but leave the compresses for a while. Lay for another 20 minutes. After you remove the compresses, rinse your neck, ears and forehead.

High salt intake often causes swelling and high blood pressure, but salt compresses have the opposite effect. They affect your health condition through the skin and stimulate the elimination of excess fluids from the body. You can treat swollen feet in the similar way.

Fat in food

Fat in Food: The Truth about Coconut Oil

Does coconut oil live up to the health claims?

David Schardt • December 3, 2014

Posted in Fat in Food.

 Print This Post

“Miraculous.” “Amazing.” “Life Saving.”

For some reason, people love coconut oil.Really love it.

Act Now to download your FREE copy ofFat in Food: Measuring Your Fat and Counting Calories without cost or obligation!

Most of the affection isn’t directed toward conventional coconut oil, which is added to some candies, coffee creamers, movie theater popcorn, and other foods.

Instead, the web has gone gaga over “virgin” oil, which is made by puréeing coconut meat and gently heating it. (To make conventional oil, coconut is cooked and treated with chemicals like hexane to extract the oil.) Here’s what the evidence shows.

Claim: Coconut oil can help you lose weight by speeding up metabolism.

The Facts: Dr. Oz thinks it can. He callscoconut oil “the miracle fat that fights fat.” Yet the only study that tested whether it helps people shed pounds came up empty.

In 2009, a master’s degree student in Brazil gave 40 obese women either coconut oil or soybean oil and asked them to cook with two tablespoons of the oil every day. After three months, the women given coconut oil didn’t weigh any less—and had no smaller waists—than those given soybean oil.

However, the published paper tagged the trivial drop in average waist size (from 39 inches to 38.5 inches) in the coconut oil users as “statistically significant.” It wasn’t.

Yet that’s all osteopath Joseph Mercola needed to shout about “The Amazing Oil That Trims Women’s Waistlines” on mercola.com (where he will happily sell you coconut oil).

Researchers have had more success using oil made entirely of medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs. (Coconut oil is about 60 percent MCTs.) People metabolize MCTs differently from the long-chain triglycerides found in most other oils.

“MCTs are transported directly from the intestinal tract to the liver, where some of them are burned off as fuel and raise the metabolic rate slightly,” explains Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an assistant professor at Columbia University’s Obesity Research Center. How slightly?

“The increase amounts to about an extra 60 calories a day for someone who consumes one to two tablespoons of MCTs a day,” says St-Onge. “It’s likely much less with coconut oil, which is only about half MCTs, but nobody knows. The research hasn’t been done yet.”

In several small studies, dieters who ate one to two tablespoons of MCT oil a day for three to four months lost about one more pound a month than dieters who ate other oils.

That’s partly due to the small rise in metabolic rate and partly due to MCT oil’s modest impact on appetite.

“We estimate that the dieters ate about 40 fewer calories a day on the MCT diets,” says St-Onge. Overall, MCT oil leads to “a small amount of weight loss that can gradually add up,” she notes. “But it’s not a magic bullet.”

And it’s not cheap. MCT oil costs about five times more than other oils.

Claim: Coconut oil is good for the heart.

The Facts: Researchers haven’t looked at whether people who replace other fats with coconut oil suffer fewer heart attacks or strokes. But they have tested what coconut oil does to LDL (“bad”) and HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

In a study from Malaysia (a major coconut-oil exporter), researchers fed young people diets that got 20 percent of their calories from either coconut oil or olive oil. After five weeks, LDL was 8 percent higher on the coconut oil diet. HDL was 7 percent higher. But HDL may not matter.

“Raising LDL cholesterol clearly increases the risk of heart disease, but we’re no longer sure that raising HDL cholesterol lowers risk,” says Dutch fats expert Martijn Katan, of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

“Drugs that raise HDL, for example, haven’t prevented heart attacks as we expected. So coconut oil, which raises both LDL and HDL, may not be as healthy for the heart as an oil like canola or soy, which lowers LDL and has little effect on HDL.”

Claim: Coconut oil can protect the brain from dementia.

The Facts: It’s not likely…despite Joseph Mercola’s claims (“Four tablespoons of this ‘brain food’ may prevent Alzheimer’s”).

No good studies have tested whether coconut oil can prevent or treat Alzheimer’s or other dementias. So why might coconut or MCT oil help?

In Alzheimer’s, the brain loses its ability to use glucose, but it may still be able to use compounds called ketones. “And the liver can convert MCTs into ketones,” explains pharmacologist Alok Sharma, of MCPHS University in New Hampshire. But that doesn’t mean that MCTs or MCT oil can help, adds Sharma.

For one thing, consuming coconut or MCT oil doesn’t raise ketone levels in the brain high enough, says Richard Veech, a senior investigator with the National Institutes of Health.

The only large trial that gave Alzheimer’s patients MCTs or a placebo reported a benefit in those without ApoE4, a version of a gene that increases Alzheimer’s risk. But the study, which was funded by the MCTs’ man¬ufacturer, was riddled with irregularities.

Claim: Coconut oil fights bacteria, as well as viruses like HIV.

The Facts: Howstuffworks.com doesn’t mince words: coconut oil is “an ideal way to prevent infections.” Don’t bet on it.

Coconut oil has never gone up against viruses or bacteria in a well-designed study in people. In mice, it flunked.

Sources: Lipids 44: 593, 2009; J. Nutr. 131: 2853, 2001; J. Atheroscler. Thromb. 10: 290, 2003; Metabolism 56: 985, 2007;Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 87: 621, 2008; Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 94: 1451, 2011; Nutr. Metab. 6: 31, 2009.

If you want to learn more about which fats are healthy and which don’t live up to their claims, check out our post on The Truth about Canola Oil.

 

Other relevant links:

• Studies show that coconut oil raises cholesterol levels.  See: Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Heart?
• Can coconut oil help you lose weight?  See: Coconut Oil and Weight Loss
• Total fats and oils have climbed fairly steadily since 1970.  See: Fats and Oils in the Changing American Diet

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• Fat in Food: The Truth about Canola Oil

Posted in Fat in Food.

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