Coconut Oil Increases Beneficial Properties in Human Breast Milk
COCONUT OIL FOUND BENEFICIAL FOR LACTATING MOTHERS…
The unique composition of human breast milk fat includes the
fatty acids, lauric acid and capric acid, which have potent
antimicrobial properties. These fatty acids offer the nursing
infant protection from viruses such as herpes and HIV, protozoa
such as giardia lamblia, and bacteria such as chlamydia and
heliocobater.
A study published in 1998 in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition has shown that lactating mothers who eat coconut oil
and other coconut products, have significantly increased levels
of lauric acid and capric acid in their breast milk. Thus, the
milk supply has increased amounts of the protective
antimicrobials , which will give even greater protection to the
nursing infant.
Pregnant females store fat to assure successful lactation. Any
lauric acid and capric acid in the diet becomes part of the
adipose stores. The milk fat of a lactating mother is made up of
these stores as well as her current diet. If her diet doesn’t
contain lauric acid, then generally her milk fat will contain
around 3% lauric acid and round 1% capric acid.
When a lactating woman adds foods rich in lauric acid to her
diet, the amount of lauric acid available in her breastmilk
increases substantially to levels three times the original level
and nearly double the amount of capric acid. In countries where
coconut oil is a diet staple, levels of lauric acid in the
mother�s milk can be as high as 21% and capric acid can be as
high as 6% giving her infant even more protection against
viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.
Coconut oil can be used instead of butter in cooking and baking.
You can stir it into oatmeal or even use it as a spread. Also,
this oil’s antimicrobial properties are beneficial for the skin.
Pregnant women in many cultures the world over rub cocnut oil on
their expanding bellies to keep skin soft and prevent itching.
REFERENCES
Fife, Bruce. The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil
Francois CA, Connor SL, Wander RC, Connor WE. Acute effects of
dietary fatty acids on the fatty acids of human milk. American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998;67:301-308.
Bach, A.C., et. al. 1989. Clinical and experimental effects of
medium chain triglyceride based fat emulsions-a review. Clin.
Nutr. 8:223
About the author:
Cori Young is an author and herbalist who publishes a line of
health & wellness charts which can be seen at
http://www.WellnessWallcharts.com