There is a lot of hype around about various natural substances, each
one touted as a miracle nutrient or miracle drug. Coconut oil has taken
center stage in a lot of areas lately, and you, as I, might be
wondering whether there is any truth to the claims.
First of all, you need to understand that I am very skeptical about
most claims of miracle potions. Especially if they claim too many
things that don't relate to one another. I prefer to see scientific
evidence of efficacy before I jump in.
I am very careful about what I consume. Some people who decide to “go
natural" will use anything that claims to be natural. I don't. I
generally avoid herbs unless I have personal experience or a very high
assurance that they won't harm. I don't use much in the way of over the
counter medications either.
So this fall, when my blood sugar started to climb, and we had no
health insurance, I started asking questions about possible natural
options to bring it down. You see, I am allergic to insulin, so I could
not use that, which I did in fact have a prescription for. The amount
that I could safely eat dropped, and my weight spiraled downward (I had
it to lose, but still...). We could not get insurance for another two
months, and I did not want a pre-existing diagnosis of diabetes if I
could help it, so I really had to wait (the insulin was from a
pregnancy, and I did not have a diagnosis of diabetes).
When people began telling me to try coconut oil, I was very skeptical.
After some intensive research online, where I found all kinds of
claims, I was able to find just enough information that sounded like it
had been given some solid testing, that I felt it was worth trying.
Since it was suggested to help blood sugar, heart disease and high
blood pressure (all of which are frequently interrelated), it sounded
like it was plausible. It was also mentioned that it is suspected to
speed up metabolism.
I went looking for a brand, and ended up, of all places, on Amazon.com.
I checked the features of each brand, and found one that was both
cold-pressed, and fresh pressed. This category of coconut oil is
classed as “extra virgin". It is reputedly the healthiest. The Nutiva
brand also happened to be one of the most economical, so I bought two
jars.
When it arrived, I began mixing it into my morning hot chocolate
(sugarfree, of course). I started with a tablespoon, because I was
warned that it could be very laxative. It was not for me, so I
increased it to 2 tablespoons within a few days.
The first thing I noticed is that about 20 minutes after using it the
first time I felt a flush of heat. It lasted about 10 minutes and then
went away. The next day it was less. The third day it was not there at
all.
Two days later, I noticed that my blood sugar levels were lowering.
From 190 (2 hours post prandial after 15 gms of carbohydrate), down to
under 140 on 30 gms of carbohydrate. Within a week my blood sugar
levels had normalized (120 at 2 hours post prandial after 60 gms of
carbohydrate)– or at least normal for me, which means I can eat fairly
normally as long as I don't have excess sugar or concentrated
carbohydrates.
After about a week, I noticed my skin was oilier. I also have
sceborrhetic dermatitis, which causes scaling and itching, and can
cause scabs on certain areas of my face and scalp. That began to
improve. (borage oil also helps this, so I could see a connection).
This is not a condition of dry skin, but certain oils, if used
internally, do help it. It appears that for me, coconut oil is one of
them. I had to change from conditioning shampoo to regular shampoo to
keep my hair looking good.
After about two weeks, I developed a raging appetite. Now, I am
overweight, and pretty self-conscious about my appetite, especially
since I try to control my diet for health reasons. I was hungry all the
time though! I knew I was eating more... a LOT more. But I did not gain
any weight, and in fact, lost a couple of pounds.
I ran out of coconut oil, and had to do without it for about two weeks.
My appetite reduced again, my blood sugar started to go off, and my
skin got scalier again. So I ran around Cheyenne looking for some, and
finally found a tiny bottle (astronomical price) which I started using
at half the amount I had been before (hoping to make it last until I
could order some more online). Even at that, my blood sugar is fine, my
skin is improving, and my appetite has come back full force – not sure
what to do about THAT!
I don't have any more energy than normal, but my blood sugar now
consistently balances better, and I still get hungry frequently. My
weight is stable in spite of the increased intake, and I have only
noticed one negative side effect: If I use more than 2 tbsp in a day, I
get a headache. This happens to me with a range of foods, if I eat more
than a certain amount I develop a raging headache, so apparently it has
something in it that is similar to the other foods that do this to me.
It seems to be an individual thing, because I have not heard of anyone
else having this problem, and some of my family members are trying it.
I don't believe in miracle drugs, foods, or nutrients. But I am
persuaded after testing it that coconut oil is a helpful supplement for
me.
Written by Laura Wheeler
Owner of Natural Diabetes Control –
http://www.naturaldiabetics.com/ Laura has been
writing and producing websites for over 5 years. Her varied experience
allows her to give exceptional service to her clients, and to produce
instructions on a surprising range of topics. Laura is a busy mom of
eight, homeschooler, and home business owner.
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