How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2018 study and survey of 24 students of Ayurveda who experimented with coconut oil. During the study, students ate coconut oil for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Fronds of a coconut palm sway in a tropical breeze, surrounded by endless sandy beaches, summer sun, and the turquoise horizon of crystal clear ocean. Stress and deadlines melt away in the cool shade, restoring your body. A sip of a pina colada recalls a recent pleasant gathering with your friends. You breathe a bit more easily. Coconut is a delight for the senses and the body, the very symbol of tropical paradise. One client shared, "It has a sweet and tropical flavor, that reminds me of an island in the Caribbean by the beach" This idyllic and fun tree nut restores your balance and harmony.

Coconut has been hailed as a "cure all" by Pacific Islanders. This magnificent statement has been validated over thousands of years of beneficial use. It is enjoyed by many cultures as a staple part of their diets. The ancient Ayurvedic texts call coconut by the Sanskrit term kalpa vriksha, which translates to "the tree that supplies all that is needed to live." More specifically, coconut oil is sweet, cool and nourishing yet unusually light. It makes an ideal liver tonic.

Unusually Light & Refreshing

Coconut's lightness is surprising, as most oils are heavy. Coconut oil feels refreshing. One student writes, "it's like a nice dip into a cool pool on a hot summer day" Coconut oil is actually ideal for late summer, as it simultaneously clears residual summer heat (pacifying Pitta), and nourishes your body for the winter months ahead (pacifying Vata).

A Balm for Your Nerves

Are you overly nervous and strung out? Your nerves may be parched for fats. All nerves are coated in a fatty layer called the myelin sheath, which guides nerve impulses and insulates the neuron from hyperactivity. When the fatty layer is dried out or deficient, your nerves will be easily agitated and anxious, thirsting for a balm that can ease this overstimulation. A teaspoon of coconut oil restores tranquility, bringing the serenity of the tropics closer to home. One student writes, "It (coconut oil) was pleasant and made me feel at ease." A client writes, "Coconut oil restores me in a very comforting and nourishing way. It's like being wrapped in a silky blanket." With unctuous silkiness and rich enticing aroma, coconut oil may be the ultimate 'neuron' comfort food, with a satisfaction that is 'marrow deep'.

A Boost For Your Energy

While most nourishing, oily foods depress metabolism, coconut oil is unusual in its ability to support the thyroid and improve metabolism.The fats in coconut oil are light, easy to digest, and quickly converted to energy. One client writes, "Coconut oil kept me energetic during the day." Another declares, "I love coconut and noticed that it gave me a good sustained energy throughout the day. I even opted out of coffee the first morning because it felt like my body was awake and energized from the coconut oil"

You'll feel energized by coconut's lightness instead of feeling weighed down. One client notes, "It was lighter than other oils I have consumed. It did not hang heavy on my digestion but felt rather light and soothing to my stomach."

Coconut's stimulating richness restores your vigor and vitality with a nutty aroma that gratifies the senses. It is a nourishing alternative to coffee that treats the root cause of exhaustion without the jitters of caffeine. Try supplementing your diet with coconut oil daily to boost your energy efficiently and effectively!

Strengthen Your Liver & Soften Your Emotions

Coconut oil has a luxurious richness that feeds you and your liver. Ayurveda suggests that an agitated liver should be moistened with fats, and pleased by sweet, delightful aromas like rose petals and coconut. By nature an ambitious organ, the liver falls victim to intense, hot blooded emotions and pitta internal heat conditions. Coconut oil replenishes a liver deficient in fats, and has special cooling properties to soothe an overheated liver. This makes it the ideal liver tonic.

Notice how coconut oil refreshes and relaxes the eyes - this is a sign of its healing effect on the liver. Coconut oil protects the liver from damage done through alcohol. An agitated liver equals agitated emotions. Coconut cools and eases the tension accompanying liver overactivity, restoring grace and kindness. Your relationships will benefit from your new, more yielding & charitable disposition. One student writes, "It made me feel cooler and calmed. It was very good for helping my Pitta emotions."

The Science Behind Coconut Fat

This vital oil, once shunned as being unhealthy because it is high in saturated fats, is now considered by many as a magical health food. The difference between coconut oil and other saturated fats is in the size of the fat molecules. Long chain fats are hard to digest, and pass directly into the lymphatic system. The fats in coconut are medium chain fatty acids (MFCA's). MFCA's are transported via the hepatic portal vein to the liver. They never never enter the lymphatic system or blood stream, so they don't clog arteries like their longer chained relatives. Coconut oil actually lowers cholesterol and improves fat metabolism.

Instead, coconut oil is quickly digested, even without the aid of pancreatic enzymes. The healthy fats and fatty acids in coconut oil are quickly and easily absorbed, digested, metabolized and utilized by your body. This makes coconut oil ideal for nourishing the elderly and those debilitated from disease.

Overweight folks can use it to metabolize the fat they already have. Underweight people can use it to restore body fat. Athletes can use it for endurance and performance. Debilitated people can use it to build strength. Coconut oil also improves your body's ability to utilize blood sugar efficiently, which reduces the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

One client even noticed how it softened & lubricated their muscles, "My muscles felt a bit more smooth and I was able to take some of my yoga postures I typically get into a little more deeply than before. I did not feel as stiff and rigid." Another shared a similar experience: "My muscles felt very soothed after massaging them with coconut oil - I almost felt as if I was on a beach vacation!"