The Hindu Business Line : ‘Cocunut oil not harmful to the heart’

Kochi, Sept. 3 Per capita consumption of coconut in Kerala has decreased considerably in the last 50 years or so, but incidence of cardiac diseases has increased during the period.

Revealing this in his paper on ‘National Relevance of Coconut Oil – Myth versus Reality’, presented at the seminar on ‘Coconut oil in human nutrition’ organised by the Coconut Development Board (CDB), in connection with the World Coconut Day here, Dr D.M. Vasudevan, Principal, Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, said that although coconut oil is termed as saturated fat it contains lauric acid and myristic acid of medium chain length which are totally different in properties from long chain fatty acids.

Coconut oil is the most easily digestible and absorbed class of fats and it does not circulate in the blood stream. It is not stored and not deposited in any tissues. Earlier, in his key note address, Dr B.M. Hegde, former Vice-Chancellor, Manipal University of Medical Sciences, said that cholesterol was mainly genetic.

Coconut oil lowers cholesterol in hypercholesteraemics. It does not alter normal cholesterol levels and increases cholesterol in those with very low cholesterol, he added.

More Stories on : Oilseeds & Edible Oil | Health | Coconut & Copra | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
‘Low’ weakens, may force weak monsoon phase

Impressive growth

Sell onions to avoid storage losses, TN farmers told

Spot rubber gains on global cues

Global tea exports rise 6.11 mkg

Cotton exports may surpass forecast

Increased arrivals may trigger fall in jute prices

‘Cocunut oil not harmful to the heart’

Bears pull down pepper futures a tad

Chinese spot iron ore prices touch new high

FMC hints at tough measures against manipulators

Farming sector

STC gets nod to import wheat at $389.45/tonne