[ARTIKEL] 15 Mar 2022

Prevent High Cholesterol with Coconut

Oil Coconut oil is actually a cooking oil handed down from our ancestors since ancient times. Coconut oil is believed to have various advantages and benefits from cooking at high temperatures to being able to treat various risks of disease. Several studies say that coconut oil can increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body. Therefore, coconut oil is called good for people with high cholesterol.

Lauric Acid Content in Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil

Lauric acid or dodecanoic acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid composed of 12 C atoms. The main source of fatty acids is coconut oil which contains about 50% lauric acid in it.

The lauric fatty acids found in coconut milk and coconut oil also have immune benefits because according to research, the ingredients in coconut milk and coconut oil have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, so they are believed to support the immune system.

A study on the antimicrobial effects of lauric acid from coconut also found the benefits of coconut milk and coconut oil to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. As a result, they found that lauric acid was effective at inhibiting the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Meanwhile, another study found that lauric acid triggers apoptosis, namely cell death in breast and endometrial cancer cells. These findings suggest that this acid inhibits cancer cell growth by stimulating certain receptor proteins that regulate cell growth. (Fadli Rizal, 2020).

Nutritional Value of Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil

In 100 grams of coconut milk there are:

• 324 calories
• 3.2 grams protein
• 5.6 grams carbohydrates
• 18 milligrams sodium
• 514.2 milligrams potassium
• 21.14 grams saturated fat
• 0.261 grams polyunsaturated fat
• 1.014 grams unsaturated fat single
• 0 milligrams of cholesterol

(TKPI, 2017).

In 100 grams of coconut oil there are:

• 870 calories
• 1 gram protein
• 0 grams carbohydrates
• 98 grams fat
• 0 milligrams sodium
• 0 milligrams potassium
• 87 grams saturated fat
• 1.8 grams polyunsaturated fat
• 6 grams monounsaturated fat
• 0 milligrams cholesterol

Source: (TKPI, 2017).

According to the nutritional value of coconut milk and coconut oil, it does not contain cholesterol. Coconut oil and coconut milk do not contain cholesterol which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, because there is no cholesterol in coconut oil, so it is very suitable for daily cooking needs, especially for those of you who attach great importance to health problems. Apart from lowering the risk of high cholesterol, coconut oil will also not make fat piles on the stomach because coconut oil is more easily accepted by the body to be converted into energy.

Also read: The Benefits of Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil are Good for the Body's Immune