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It's The Latest Celebrity Super Food, But Is The Humble Coconut All It's Cracked Up To Be?

Jan 21 2008 By Brian Mciver

Source:http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/2008/01/21/vita

 IT'S a food which is most commonly enjoyed as the tasty parts of a Bounty, a snowball or at the heart of a tasty shot of Malibu rum.

But the humble coconut has become the latest super food.

Experts and celebrities have all been tripping over themselves to celebrate the goodness of the tropical fruit as the latest miracle munch to cure ailments, boost health and revitalise our diets.

The milk-filled and tasty-fleshed food, has until recently only been enjoyed as a diet staple by Robinson Crusoe and the cast of Lost. But Jennifer Aniston is the latest celebrity reported to have been converted to the joys of coconuts, which is being found to have all sorts of health benefits, from fighting cancer, helping weight loss and improving heart health.

Even sport stars are getting in on the act, with the England rugby team enjoying its metabolism-boosting qualities at the recent world cup. The key to the super food is coconut oil, which has no cholesterol, and while it is calorie rich, it is claimed the oil actually helps you lose weight, because it metabolises very fast, and is believed to actually raise the body's metabolic rate, by burning fat faster. In the past it has been avoided by many because of its high calorie content, and also its high saturated fat content.

But the rethink of its benefits has been significant. The key factor in the ingredient is MCT-Medium Chain Triglycerides - which are absorbed by the liver and are burned just like carbohydrates. Regular oils and butters contain long chain fatty acids, which burn slower. A 2004 obesity research study in 2003 found that overweight men burned fat quicker by consuming virgin coconut oil. In terms of heart health, the oil is unlike most saturated fats in that it has no cholesterol which means that levels are not increased. And some have even claimed that the oil, which has been a staple of indigenous populations of the Asia Pacific region, also has various healing properties that can be beneficial. However, some experts of organisations such as the British Nutrition Foundation have cast doubt over such findings, claiming they may have just short term success, while others feel the health benefits have been exaggerated. [I haven't (yet) found adverse comments on the BNF web site athttp://www.nutrition.org.uk

There have been claims that the oil can help heart health, with antibacterial properties. But one illness which seems to benefit from coconut oil consumption is Candida, the excess growth of yeast. Experts at the National Candida Society encourage suffererers of the condition to include the oil in their diet. Some other claims for coconut oil include that diseases such as diabetes can be helped, as well as thyroid function, vitamin absorption, digestive problems and boosting the immune system. And some of the more excitable proponents have also suggested that it can help fight cancer, although there is currently no proof. Despite all the claims and counter claims, the overall message seems to be that the oil has certain benefits to your diet, and may be worth a try. The fact that it is used by the England rugby team, as well as several club rugby and football sides, shows that there must be some health benefits, and it may be worth finding out more.

Solomon Islands Update November 2006

 No doubt you will have heard plenty of distressing stories in recent times coming out of the Solomons. This really saddens us, given our relationship with the people there. Unfortunately it is the everyday people who lose out with the political problems so evident there. The motto of the Solomon Islands is “To lead is to serve”. Sadly this is not what we are seeing at the moment. Despite this not all is lost, and there are some good things still happening there. Below is one such story, recently printed in the Solomon Star that we have been a part of. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated and needed now more than ever.

Coconut oil producers form an association

THE country’s first certified organic virgin coconut oil producers’ conference was held in Honiara at the end of August. The conference, attended by 35 producers from five islands in the country, discussed topics on quality control, money management, virgin coconut oil products, bio-fuel and staff management of this new and growing industry. Guest speakers at the conference were from the department of agriculture and livestock, department of planning and aid coordination and Kokonut Pacific Australia, which managed the international marketing of the oil. Following the conference the participants formed a Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Producers Association (COVCOPA).

Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands chief executive officer Colin Dyer said the formation of the association is a great “maturing of the industry”. “The formation of the Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Producers Association shows the confidence that these rural producers have in their future,” Mr Dyer said.

Mr Dyer said producers need to stay together and focused on the markets already achieved while developing further opportunities in the domestic markets. “These village entrepreneurs are learning rapidly of the challenges of rural development and are taking positive steps to keep moving forward,” he said. The association is now under the care of an interim committee, who will seek formal registration and develop a draft constitution as soon as possible. The conference was funded by EU Micro Project. Participants hoped that the conference would become an annual event as they have gained so much insight and understanding from the guest speakers including Dr Dan from Kokonut Pacific Australia, as well as from each other. read the full Producer story here also see the biofuel page

This article is adapted form an article printed in the Solomon Star 5 September, 2006

Solomons Strikes Gold!

A Solomon Islands company has won first prize, it was announced at the Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED) which met in Adelaide last week.

The winner of the Ryutaro Hashimoto APFED Gold Award was Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands Ltd for its project “Rehabilitating a rural economy with virgin coconut oil production”.

Mr Colin Dyer, CEO of Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) Ltd (pictured front right) explained that KPSI was a joint venture with a Canberra-based company, Kokonut Pacific (Aust) Pty Ltd. Although only two years old, KPSI has installed 13 village-level virgin coconut oil (VCO) units in four Provinces. Because coconuts are produced throughout the year, the project has created permanent rural jobs for 400 men and women supporting about 3,200 people.

KPSI is helping ‘kick-start’ an ailing economy and has already exported 120 tons of Organically Certified VCO to markets in Australia, Europe and the USA. Sold as an up-market virgin edible oil in the health. Sold as an up-market virgin edible oil in the health food

KPSI Team Honiara with their APFED Award

Visit to the Solomon Islands August 2006

Some of our team have just returned from a field trip to the Solomon Islands. Kokonut Pacific founder and Managing Director Dr Dan Etherington, Production Manager Ian Gray and Financial Director Greg Wright spent a couple of weeks enjoying the heat and humidity of the tropics and dodging mosquitoes! They helped to revamp the facilities at the Honiara Headquarters in order to cater for increased oil sales, and they spent time in the villages inspecting equipment and hearing stories of  their joys and struggles. The commercial production of coconut oil is having a very positive impact on these communities. They still face many struggles, with limited communication, poor transport, inadequate schools and the lack of medical services. But it was inspiring to see the efforts of the last two years bearing fruit. As demand for the oil increases, more producers can come on stream, (there is a waiting list) thus assisting more of these island communities. Your support in purchasing our niulife extra virgin coconut oil is vital for the continued success of these farmers.

Dr Dan Etherington, Jimmy Kutu and Ian Gray in Maoa.

East Timor's brighter future

East Timor's First shipment of Certified Organic DME virgin coconut oil has arrived in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. Kokonut Pacific's integrated approach to working with partners in the islands has made this possible.  The design and manufacture of DME equipment in Australia has been followed by installation and commissioning in the islands, training and ongoing support of operators in virgin oil production, and finally finding a market for the oil. Hundreds of Timorese are benefiting from the enterprise with family income coming from both direct employment and also from the purchase of fresh coconuts. East Timor has had a tough run so we are proud to be contributing to a brighter future — fulfilling our mission to empower and bring hope.

New Press for Fiji

After much planning, a new site in western Fiji is now bringing hope and smiles to the villagers. As with the Solomons, the people were very rich in coconut trees but had no way to access their own oil. Now they have the mechanism - a DME press which is empowering and benefiting the people who operate it as well as their whole village community. The picture on the left shows the red team at work while on the right Kanta, one of our trained project installers, presses oil.

Coconut-the oil of life

For years, coconut oil was thought to be bad for you However, new research shows that this 'good fat' can stimulate your metabolism and have an anti-virus affect. COCONUT oil was once lumped with other saturated fats and blamed for causing cholesterol problems. However it is now known as a 'good fat' that stimulates the metabolism and has many valuable health benefits. Current scientific research suggests that it has significant anti-viral, anti bacterial and anti-fungal properties and that it can even help with weight loss coconut oil strengthens the immune system and enhances thyroid function. Virgin coconut oil tastes good, is easy to digest and is a quick energy source for young and old. For many centuries, traditional healers in India and the south Pacific have used coconut oil for massage to soothe and cool the body. It can also be used to alleviate symptoms of eczema and other skin ailments because the skin absorbs it quickly. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling. Niulife extra virgin coconut oil is made from fresh, mature coconuts and comes directly to Canberra from the Solomon Islands and East Timor. It is Imported by Canberra based company Kokonut Pacific who developed the direct micro Expelling (DME) system to enable farmers in the South Pacific to produce virgin oil within just one hour of opening a coconut. It is cold-pressed, pure and natural, organic and unrefined. Niulife extra virgin coconut oil can be use as a natural health food. a cooking oil, raw and fresh bread spread, stable carrier oil for other dietary supplements a skin moisturiser, a massage oil, a baby oil, a hair oil and a base ingredient for organic cosmetics It is also the best oil for premium soap and shampoo as it has natural glycerine and even lathers in salt water.

Coconut oil as a sports elixir. Niulife extra virgin coconut oil gave a vital energy boost  to the riders in the recent Mont 24 hour mountain bike race.

Last  update 14/8/06

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