Excerpt from “The Total Health Program” by New York Times Bestselling Author Dr. Joseph Mercola with Brian Vaszily, Dr. Kendra Pearsall and Nancy Lee Bentley

The High-Standing Coconut
Coconut, the “fruit” of the palm tree, is an exceptionally nutritious food that offers many benefits including helping you fight and prevent disease, and helping you lose weight and keep it off. Coconut meat is a particularly smart choice for Protein Types, as it is high in protein. Islanders have long been prized coconuts for their preventive and curative powers over disease and illness, and this is primarily because they are rich in lauric acid, a proven antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agent.
Coconuts are high in saturated fat that, contrary to popular belief, is a necessary fat for optimal nutrition. There are three different types of saturated fats, and coconuts contain the healthiest type with medium-chain fatty acids that will actually help you lose weight while increasing health! The medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) abundant in coconuts are digested more easily and utilized differently by the body than other fats. Whereas other fats are stored in the body’s cells, the MCFA in coconut oil is sent directly to the liver where it is immediately converted into energy. So when you eat coconuts and coconut oil your body uses it immediately to make energy rather than store it as body fat. Because this quick and easy absorption puts less strain on the pancreas, liver and digestive system, the oil in coconuts “heat up” your metabolic system. Since the coconut
oil actually speeds up metabolism, your body will burn more calories in a day—this will contribute to weight loss, and you’ll have more energy. Meanwhile, studies have shown the opposite for excessive omega-6 unsaturated fats such as canola, safflower, sunflower, corn, and vegetable oils: they can contribute to hypothyroidism and lower your metabolic rate.
Coconuts are high in protein and low in carbs. They are also good sources of folic acid, all B vitamins, and minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.