Coconut Oil: How will you use it?

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With the rise in technology and access to TV, it seems today’s generation has become more interested in health and nutrition. One of the biggest fads currently discussed in the nutrition world is coconut oil. Celebrities are advocating for the use of coconut oil in everything from food to beauty products. There are claims saying coconut oil can “protect from cancer, dissolve kidney stones, and make you lose excess body fat.” Aside from the claims, there is some basic information you should know about coconut oil to make an informed decision on if it’s right for you. Coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, meaning that it stays solid at room temperature and doesn’t go rancid (unpleasant odor) quickly. One thing that makes it easy to remember how saturated fats work is this phrase: “Solid at room temperature, solid in your arteries.” Since saturated fat makes up a large portion of coconut oil, where do the fat percentages compare to other common fats?

• Coconut oil- 92% saturated fat

• Butter- 63% saturated fat

• Beef fat- 50% saturated fat

• Olive oil- 15% saturated fat

Now that we’ve talked about some information on the nutritional value and content of coconut oil, the main uses for it that we are going to cover are using it as a sunscreen, as part of your beauty regimen, in the prevention/treatment of Alzheimer’s, how it relates to weight loss and cardiovascular health, how it can benefit parenteral nutrition, and the most common use as a fat replacement.

While most Americans may have felt very comfortable using synthetic chemicals on their skin for sunscreen in the past, it is more common today to seek out “natural” sunscreen remedies. Some promote the use of coconut oil as a natural sunscreen, and you will even find coconut utilized in many commercial sunscreens. And why wouldn’t it make sense? Doesn’t the term coconut bring up images of lounging around a pool or the beach and enjoying a drink, potentially IN a coconut glass? This harmonious relationship is actually best for serving drinks, as research shows coconut oil is a poor natural sunscreen. When compared to FDA approved UV absorbers, organic oils like coconut were at least two orders of magnitude lower when blocking UV light. Researchers found that natural oils were insufficient to get an appropriate, significant UV protection.  Better stick to the FDA approved, commercial sunscreens this summer if you hope to prevent sunburns and skin damage.

Coconut Oil. It is not something that would usually come to mind when getting ready for work in the mornings or getting ready for bed at night. However, coconut oil has recently become "all the rage" for uses outside of the kitchen. Coconut oil may be the perfect product for every woman to add to their must have beauty products.

Here are 10 ways that coconut oil can be used that you may not have thought of:

1) Dry hands: Tired of using lotion over and over again? Rub a little bit of coconut oil on your dry hands and they will feel smooth again.

2) Cheekbone highlighter: Who would have thought that? Swipe a little bit on your cheekbones, over your makeup, and get the highlight you love for cheap!

3) To shave your legs: Because shaving cream is over-rated. Why not use coconut oil? It is cheap and gives your legs a shiny, but not greasy look.

4) As a deep conditioner: Dry hair is not fun for any woman to deal with. Throw a dollop of coconut oil in your hair, comb through, and then rinse with shampoo! Good as new!

5) As eye makeup remover: I mean really? Who discovers this stuff! Dab some coconut oil on your cotton swab and then bam! Eye makeup quickly comes off!

6) Body moisturizer: Super cheap and perfect fix to dry skin! Apply as you would lotion.

7) To clean your face: Many women swear by this for a nighttime moisturizer. Rub all over your face and then rinse with your favorite cleanser.

8) Too add shine: Needing to have your hair a little shinier? Dab a little on your ends for a little shine, but not too much in order to avoid the "looking greasy" look.

9) In a body scrub: Needing a solution for a homemade and cheap body scrub? melti 1/2 cup of coconut oil on a very low heat, pour it over 1 cup or brown sugar and stir together. Perfect body scrub.

10) For a little rub down: Just use coconut oil on your body just as you would any other body rub!

So ladies, forget Ulta and Sephora for those high-end beauty products. Buy a bottle of coconut oil and keep it handy. It seems to be the solution for every beauty need.

Coconut oil has many claims that it can cure, reverse, treat or prevent many different things, but did you know one of these claims is that it can be used as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? To understand the theory behind this claim, it is important to know part of the theory behind Alzheimer’s. This theory states that neurons in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient are unable to utilize glucose for fuel and as a result, starve. So the question now is, why do people think coconut oil may be a solution to this problem? The main idea comes from children with epilepsy who have had success treating their symptoms with a ketogenic diet. In this diet, high intake of fats and strict limits on carbohydrates force the body to use fat as a fuel source, which theoretically in Alzheimer’s patients would solve the issue of glucose utilization in the brain. Coconut oil is used in these types of diets to allow a slightly higher level of carbohydrate intake, which makes this very strict diet easier to follow. The downsides to this treatment are its links to high cholesterol levels, and the general strictness of the diet. Note: there is not enough experimental evidence to back up these claims, but currently trials are being conducted in the US to provide some evidence as to if coconut oil and the ketogenic diet are effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

There have been many benefits associated with the inclusion of coconut oil in the diet. Weight loss and heart health are both amongst those proposed benefits. Coconut oil captured the attention of researchers as a solution to weight loss because of the vast amount of medium-chain fatty acids found in the tropical oil. Medium-chain fatty acids are not believed to be stored in fat tissue and are quickly metabolized by the body and used as energy. While a few studies have proven coconut oil may decrease waist circumference, no real evidence exist to uphold the claim that coconut oil promotes significant weight loss. Some have also theorized that coconut oil promotes cardiovascular health because of the absence of trans fat. While this may seem advantageous to someone keeping a watchful eye on their cholesterol, a lack of trans fat does not automatically qualify coconut oil as a favorable substitution. Saturated fat is found in large amounts in coconut oil. It may be able to hide behind the bad rep held by trans fat, but saturated fat cannot escape from the fact that it too raises blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol’s nemesis, LDL, is elevated by the presence of saturated fat. While research has shown coconut oil and other medium-chain fatty acids do not raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as much as long-chain fatty acids because it contains lauric acid, it has not yet been proven that coconut oil promotes heart health.

As we’ve mentioned, coconut oil is composed of saturated fat – about 86-92%. Some of this fat is in the form of medium chain triglycerides, more specifically lauric acid and myristic acid. MCTs can be highly beneficial for the body if a person has chronic pancreatitis, requires total parenteral nutrition or has had occurrences of steattorhea due to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. However, this MCT oil isn’t used from the jar of coconut oil bought at Kroger. The coconut oil must be fractionated and esterified (big words for cut apart and separated) in order to be beneficial for these patients.

Pancreatitis usually is solved by gut rest, which allows the pancreas de-inflame. Sometimes, this method takes longer than expected and enteral nutrition must be initiated. Using a peptide based, MCT oil formula and feeding lower into the intestines, ideally past the Ligament of Treitz, can avoid pancreatic stimulation and allow for inflammation to resolve.

Coconut oil can be a substitute for a variety of foods including butter, olive oil, canola oil, and other shortenings. How is this possible? Let’s look at the properties of coconut oil first. Because coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is solid at room temperature. It is due to this property that coconut oil is able to be substituted for butter or solid fats. In liquid form, coconut oil is used to replace a variety of other fats.

The most commonly seen form of coconut oil in cooking, is replacing butter in a recipe with coconut oil. Most recipes will give you an amount to substitute for. However, if it does not, just remember that coconut oil can be used in a 1:1 ratio with butter. This means, that if a recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon of butter, you can replace it with 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil.

One important note about coconut oil is to beware of the taste and texture of your baked product. Depending on the baked good, the use of coconut oil can easily alter the flavor of the product. Also, it has been documented that coconut oil changes the texture of pastries, such as pie crusts. After reading through the many other uses of coconut oil, the decision now lies in your lap. How will coconut oil impact your life? What will you use it for? Feel free to share how you have previously or plan to use it!

Resources:

Fessler, T.A., (2010). Nutrition Support in Severe Acute Pancreatitis. Today’s Dietitian. Retrieved from: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/011110p36.shtml.

Zeratsky, K. (2015). Can coconut oil help me lose weight? The Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/coconut-oil-and- weight-loss/faq-20058081

Science behind the headlines: How to reduce your risk and other popular topics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2016, from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?pageNumber=4

O'Connor, S. (2014). 10 Amazing Beauty Tricks with Coconut Oil. Retrieved from: www.prevention.com/beauty/coconut-oil-cures-for-your-hair-and-skin

(2016). Substitute coconut oil for butter. Retrieved from: http://www.md-health.com/Substitute-Coconut-Oil-For-Butter.html

Gause, S., & Chauhan, A. (2016). UV blocking potential of oils and juices. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ics.12296.
Schardt, D. (2012, June). Coconut Oil. Retrieved February 9, 2016, from http://www.cspinet.org/nah/articles/coconut-oil.html

Diabesity

Obesity is a very common problem in the United States.  What is even more shocking is that Arkansas has been named one of the most obese states in the country! Many complications, including diabesity can stem from obesity. Diabesity is a term coined in the 1970s for someone who is obese and has developed diabetes.Diabetes related to obesity falls into the Type II diabetes category.  What does Type II diabetes mean? It simply means that the body does not utilize insulin to its fullest potential.  Is it reversible? How do I treat it?

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and in young adults. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which one's body cannot produce insulin. This being said, learning how to live with injections of insulin and other therapy is possible. Researchers have been looking for possible ways to reverse type 1 diabetes. One study was done to determine if type 1 diabetes could be reversed with antibody therapy. The study has been done on mice, and signs of type 1 diabetes being reversed were shown. This study, as of 2014, had not been done on humans yet. Researchers are very hopeful in that this antibody could reverse or even cure type 1 diabetes.

Though both types of diabetes can be very critical, research has proved that type 2 diabetes is in fact reversible. As we know, type 2 diabetes is developed later is life and is usually associated with people who are obese. One of the first hints researchers found that led them to believe type 2 diabetes was reversible was bariatric surgery. In a research study done over centuries ago, people that had type 2 diabetes and underwent bariatric surgery were 90% close to being and remaining diabetes free. Researchers also found that type 2 diabetes could be reversible by diet alone. This has been concluded due to the fact changes in metabolism occur following bariatric surgery. These rapid changes occurred as a consequence of the the quick change in calorie balance. Because of this change in calorie balance, researchers say that the defects to both insulin secretion and hepatic sensitivity of type 2 diabetes could and should be correctable through diet.

While diabesity is traditionally found in the adult population, it’s becoming a growing problem for children as well. How can such a life threatening condition affect the youngest population? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that diabetes is one of the more common diseases that can affect children. While most cases are Type-1, the occurrence of Type-2 diabetes is on the rise as well as the obesity rate.  The CDC also reports that approximately 151,000 individuals have diabetes and are under the age of 20. Children with Diabesity often experience decreased quality of life as well as biological, psychological, and medical complications. While diabesity rates are high currently, they are expected to drastically increase in the following years if immediate action is not taken. Michelle Obama and her “Let’s Move!” program are currently in line to offer community resources and plans to help reverse childhood obesity rates. Some tips to deal with childhood diabesity from Dada in Today’s Dietitan, “don’t talk about child obesity- labels can create negative feelings, provide don’t deprive- provide healthier options without restricting too much, and optimize feeding and parenting to let children be children- encourage activity and other childish activities.”

The primary goal of the Diabesity diet is maintain glycemic control in order to prevent complications of the disease. This is done by keeping blood sugars within normal limits and lowering the patient’s hemoglobin A1c to less than 7%. The next goal of the Diabesity diet is weight reduction toward a healthy BMI.

Carbohydrates are macronutrients that dictate blood glucose levels in the body. So, no more carbs? False. Carbohydrates are also the bodies preferred choice of energy. In patients with diabetes, either type, maintaining a consistent intake of carbohydrates throughout the day can help to maintain glycemic control. This is called a consistent carbohydrate diet. Patients are encouraged to consume a specific amount of carbs per meal and at snack time to meet their bodies carbohydrate needs. By eating a consistent calculated amount at meal times and snacks, glucose levels typically stay within healthy limits, helping to lower A1c.

By monitoring carbohydrates at each meal, patients are more likely to eat a consistent number of calories as well, leading to weight reduction. It’s important also to encourage intake of lean protein and controlled amounts of heart healthy fats to promote further weight reduction.

Treatment options for diabesity do exist, but not always without complication. Sometimes improving an aspect of one disease can have adverse effects on the other. Insulin, which is commonly used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can cause both weight gain and fluid retention. Insulin sensitizers like Metformin are more insulin-efficient and produce less of the hormone which tackles the issue of weight gain, and may even promote weight loss. The hope for diabesity patients does not end there.

Bariatric, or “metabolic” surgery heads the way for such optimism. The goal of these surgeries is to cause weight loss by lessening the amount of food the stomach can hold. In turn this causes a malabsorption of nutrients.

The most commonly performed bariatric surgery is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, more simply referred to as just gastric bypass surgery. The procedure involves a separation of the top of the stomach to create a smaller component of the organ, and a division of the small intestine. Together these two steps work to stimulate satiety, or the feeling of fullness, and conquer hunger. Research indicates this procedure may be the most effective in treatment of diabetes in comparison to its counterparts because patients exhibit the ability to maintain normal levels of plasma glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin. Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch, or BPD-DS is a more complex bariatric operation. A portion of the stomach is extracted and the small intestine is divided. The intricacy of the operation does pose a higher risk than other bariatric operations. However, it has been proven to profoundly demonstrate significant weight loss as well as a resolution or improvement in T2DM. While other procedures exist, these two have been proven to yield the best results in the fight against diabesity.

Now that we know what diabesity is, the big question on everyone’s minds is, “how can I prevent it?” While genetics can play a role in the development of diabetes, there are many lifestyle factors that can be modified to greatly reduce your risk. Listed below are 4 simple lifestyle changes you can make on a daily basis to decrease your risk of developing diabesity:

·         Cut the sugar! Decreasing your intake of sugar sweetened beverages and concentrated sweets will help you and your body ward off type II diabetes. These are things like cakes, candy, sweet tea, regular pop, sugary coffee beverages, etc. These cause our bodies to use higher levels of insulin to control blood sugars, which may lead to insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

·         Get up and get moving! Research has shown that 30 minutes of brisk walking per day can decrease your chances of developing type II diabetes by 30%. (1,2)

·         Ditch the muffin top! (and I don’t mean by buying bigger jeansJ) Studies conducted by the Diabetes Prevention Program have shown that those who were overweight, and lost weight, were found to have a 16% reduction in risk of developing diabetes for every kilogram (2.2lbs) lost! (3)

·         Cut out the [cigarette] pack, Jack! Those who smoke are about 50% more likely to develop type II diabetes than non-smokers. (4)

References:

(2015). Facts about Type 2, retrieved from: www.diabetes.org

Dada, J. H. (2010). Diabesity in Children – Epic Proportions of Disease Necessitate Major Action. Today’s Dietitian, 12(5), 14. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/050310p14.shtm

Taylor, R. M.D. (2013).Type 2 diabetes: etiology and reversibilty. American Diabetes Association Diabetes             Care,36, 4, 1047-1055. Retrieved from: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/4/1047.full

Iyer, S. (2014). Type 1 Diabetes Successfully Reversed with Antibody Therapy;Could There Soon be a                   Cure? Retrieved from: http://www.medicaldaily.com/type-1-diabetes-successfully-reversed-antibody-             therapy-could-there-soon-be-cure-288228

Hall, M. (2013) Understanding Advanced Carbohydrate Counting – A Useful Tool For Some Patients to Improve Blood Glucose Control. Today's Dietitian, 15(12), 40. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120913p40.shtml

Arroyo, K., Kini, S. U., Harvey, J. E., & Herron, D. M. (2010). Surgical therapy for diabesity.

            Mount Sinai Journal Of Medicine, 77(5), 418-430. doi:10.1002/msj.20209

Still, C. (2015, May). Treating patients with "diabesity": Challenges and pportunities. Bariatric    

             Times. p. 3-4.

1.   Tanasescu M, Leitzmann MF, Rimm EB, Hu FB. Physical activity in relation to cardiovascular disease and total mortality among men with type 2 diabetes. Circulation. 2003; 107(19):2435-9. 

2.   Hu FB, Sigal RJ, Rich-Edwards JW, et al. Walking compared with vigorous physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes in women: a prospective study.JAMA. 1999; 282:1433-9.

3.   Hamman, R. F., Wing, R. R., Edelstein, S. L., Lachin, J. M., Bray, G. A., Delahanty, L., . . . Wylie-Rosett, J. (2006). Effect of Weight Loss With Lifestyle Intervention on Risk of Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 29(9), 2102-2107.

4.   Willi C, Bodenmann P, Ghali WA, Faris PD, Cornuz J. Active Smoking and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA. 2007; 298:2654-2664.