If you thought that the perks of using organic, extra virgin coconut oil could not get any better, a new study from the University of Copenhagen may pleasantly surprise you. A Danish research team has found that consuming this amazing oil could have significant anti-aging effects.
For their experiment, researchers specifically focused on mice with a “defective DNA repair system.” These mice were used in order to simulate the effects of Cockayne syndrome (CS), a rare genetic condition which causes cells to age prematurely. Children afflicted with this syndrome often do not live past the age of 12, and sadly, there is no cure.
To test the effects of different diets on mice with defective DNA repair, the mice were assigned to one of four diets: a standard diet, one high in fat, a standard diet plus resveratrol and a calorie-restriction diet. Normal mice were used as a control group, and the experiment went on for eight months.
After the eight months, researchers found that the mice with defective repair systems on the high fat diet showed increased ketone production. Ketones serve as a secondary fuel to the body when there is no glucose available. The researchers also observed that the defective mice on the high fat diet weighed the same as normal mice on the standard diet. These results suggest that the high fat diet both boosted metabolism and increased brain function.
According to Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, one of the researchers, “it [CS] eats into the resources and causes the cell to age very quickly. We therefore hope that a diet with a high content of coconut oil or similar fats will have a beneficial effect, because the brain cells are given extra fuel and thus the strength to repair the damage.”
Coconut oil, as well as palm kernel oil, contain medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs), which have been shown previously to be a wonderful source of energy. They also increase metabolism, aid the liver in dumping fat cells, keep you feeling satiated and support the cardiovascular and immune systems – among many other benefits. The potential of this oil to aid children with this dreaded disorder is exciting.
The study’s leader, Vilhelm Bohr, states, “the study is good news for children with Cockayne syndrome, because we do not currently have an effective treatment. Our study suggests that a high-fat diet can postpone aging processes. A diet high in fat also seems to postpone the aging of the brain. The findings therefore potentially imply that patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease in the long term may benefit from the new knowledge.”
While more research is performed as far as coconut oil’s therapeutic potential for CS, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, what is already known is more than reason enough to seriously consider switching all of the oils you cook with, and drizzle over foods with, to coconut oil. Just be sure to always choose organic and extra-virgin, as many low-quality imposters exist.
You may just find yourself experiencing more energy, feeling revitalized and enjoying top levels of wellness overall.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.sciencealert.com/high-fat-diet-could-stop-premature-ageing-in-diseased-mice
http://healthyaging.ku.dk/news/high-fat-diet-postponing-brain-aging
http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/abstract/S1550-4131(14)00452-5?cc=y
