Health Tip • Coconut Oil - Nature's Treasure Chest

Coconut, known as ‘The Tree of Life’ has been highly valued for thousands of years throughout many cultures around the world for its high nutritional value and multitude of natural healing properties. Although propagated as unhealthy by the Soy Bean and Corn Industries in the 1950’s due to its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is unique, and modern medical research confirms its many healing properties valued throughout history.

Coconut oil consists of 92% saturated fats. Most fats in our diet, saturated or unsaturated, are made up of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Coconut oil is unique in that it is predominantly composed of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). MCFAs are light in molecular weight, more watersoluble and readily broken down by the liver and used as energy, as opposed to being STORED in the body like other fats. Coconut oil raises HDL Cholestrol levels, the good kind of cholesterol, and thereby lowers risk of heart disease.

50% of coconut oil's MCFAs are made up of Lauric Acid, the most important essential fatty acid in building and maintaining the immune system. The only other source of Lauric Acid in such concentrations is mother’s milk. Coconut oil is antiviral, killing viruses with lipid coating, such as herpes, hepatits C, influenza, SARS, HIV, mononucleoisis etc. It is also antibacterial and kills the bacteria that cause pneumonia, sore throats, dental cavities, urinary tract infections, meningitis, food poisoning, and many more.

Coconut oil also promotes weight loss by being burned up as energy rather than stored as fat. It has less calories than any other fat, and assists in removing toxins that are trapped in fatty deposits, making fat accumulation, the body’s way to protect itself from toxins, increasingly unnecessary. It also supports thyroid function, increases metabolism and builds lean muscle.

Coconut oil supports the structure of gut mucosa and cleanses the colon by softening and removing old fecal material and assists in most digestive disorders such as crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and IBS. Research has also shown that it kills all major strains of Candida Albicans as well as fungi such as ringworm, athletes foot, thrush, jock itch, diaper rash and more.

Coconut oil improves the body's ability to absorb and retain minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, therefore ensuring health of teeth and bones.

Furthermore, Coconut oil decreases the risk of diabetes as it improves the body’s use of blood glucose and insulin secretion and absorption, making it an ideal fat for Type I and II diabetics. It reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis and stroke. It enhances kidney function through its high content of myristic acid.

Coconut oil is high in antioxidants giving it the longest shelf life of any plant oil. It becomes liquid when warm and turns solid in cool temperatures or in the fridge. Coconut oil is delicious tasting and does not oxidize when heated, making it an ideal oil for cooking, frying and baking. An average adult can safely include 3 tablespoons of coconut oil in their daily diet, starting out with a low dose. Use in all your cooking recipes or add to porridge, smoothies, soups, dips, dressings, spreads or simply take it straight. Always use organic coconut oil!

Applied externally, coconut oil forms a barrier against fungal and bacterial infection. It keeps the connective tissues strong and supple so that skin doesn’t sag or wrinkle, even repairing damaged skin and healing many common skin disorders. Coconut oil applied topically is ideal for our dry climate here in WA. It softens and moisturizes the skin, without leaving it greasy and reestablishes the skin’s protective layer, after washing with soap.

Coconut oil also protects against sunburn and can be used as sunscreen provided you avoid excess sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency has become so prevelant here in Australia due to excess use of sunscreen and sunglasses. So experiment with coconut oil and, depending on your skin type, you might be able to get away with using sunscreen on the most exposed body parts like nose, shoulder etc. and use coconut oil on the rest of your body, thus allowing it to naturally produce the all important vitamin D. Here some more info on the sun’s vital healing powers, sunscreen and sunglasses.

Coconut oil is also a wonderful conditioner for your hair and scalp and a natural remedy for dandruff. It is a fantastic massage oil and can be used as a carrier oil for essential oils. Organic Virgin Coconut oil is available here at The Healing Point or at your local health food store.

back to top

Seasonal Recipe • Pear Upside Down Cake

Core and slice pears and toss in lemon juice with a pinch of sea salt for 5-10 mins. Choose pears that are ripe, but still firm. Meanwhile, heat up oil, syrups, lemon zest and spices on medium heat in a frying pan (preferably cast iron) until the syrup thins. Add pear mixture and sultanas into the pan. Simmer 20-25 mins until pears are nicely golden.

While pears are cooking, sift together flour, baking powder and sea salt. Stir in oil and syrup. Slowly mix in oatmilk and vanilla to create a smooth batter. Depending on the flour I use somewhere between 1 1/2-2 cups. It shouldn't be too thin, but not too thick either. Do not overmix the batter. Dollup and carefully spread over fruit mixture. If you have a cast-iron frypan you can do this all in the same pan. If not transfer the pears into a medium size baking dish. Bake for 35 mins at 180° or until the top is golden brown. Let rest for 10 mins and then you can invert on a plate or serve as is. When you invert the cake, all the lovely glaze oozes into the cake topping. Very delicious for special afternoon teas.

Recipe courtesy of Sahaja from The Great Life www.thegreatlife.com.au
Sahaja has been teaching Macrobiotic/Wholefoods cooking in Perth for 14 years and is a
Macrobiotic Counselor/Educator and Accredited Journey Practitioner.

back to top

Shibashi Qigong • Next Course starts 17 Feb

This 7 week course offers a complete set of 18 gracefully flowing Qigong movements. The course includes a manual, wall charts and a great DVD. This is the perfect course if you wish to learn Qigong and would like to be able to practice it at home in your own time. It is easy to learn, easy to practice yet very effective. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Read more about Shibashi Qigong ...

Feb 17 to Mar 31 • Wednesday evenings • 5:30 - 7:00 pm • 7 week course
Apr 19 to May 31 • Monday evenings • 5:30 - 7:00 pm • 7 week course

Read testimonials of previous participants.

back to top

Sho Ni Shin • Oriental Treatment for Infants & Children

Many babies and children come to our clinic to see our Cranial Osteopaths for Cranio-Sacral Osteopathy. It's a special kind of joy to be able to offer holistic treatment for such little people, and so prevent future health problems and smooth their way for a healthy and happy development.

We now also offer Sho Ni Shin, a specialized Oriental paediatric treatment for infants and children. Sho Ni Shin techniques are safe, gentle and non-invasive and are easily tolerated by children of all ages. Sho Ni Shin is very effective in regulating and maintaining health and improving growth and development, and for treating a wide variety of typcial baby and children's complaints such as:

Sho Ni Shin is offered by two of our Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Sophia Moermond and Sono Michetti.
Read more details about Sho Ni Shin.

back to top

Baby Massage Workshop • Wednesday 5 March

Learn to build your baby's confidence and self-esteem through the loving touch of your hands. In this playful workshop you will learn a head-to-toe massage routine, baby gymnastics and a Pressure Point & Reflexology routine. Tuning in and reading your baby's non-verbal cues, you will be able to pass on the countless proven health benefits of Baby Massage and in an atmosphere of love and respect establish a close bond which provides the emotional security your baby needs to thrive and unfold its fullest potential.

Wednesday morning 5 March • approx 2 hr workshop • 10:30am-12:30pm

Read more details about this Baby Massage Workshop.

back to top

Pain-Free at Your Desk • Tips from our Osteopaths

As we become more sedentary at our workplace and at home, the incidence of neck and shoulder pain increases. Some simple changes to your desk set-up can make all the difference:

Your chair should be of ergonomic quality with good lumbar support and a high back, up to mid-scapula height. You should set the back to allow you to sit comfortably neutral – not forced into a forward lean, or reclining backward - sitting on your sitting bones, not on your low back or sacrum.

The seat bottom should be high enough to allow your knees to be at right angles, or greater, when your feet are flat on the floor. Higher is better than lower.

Your desk should be high enough for you to comfortably fit your knees under, and rest your forearms on, without slumping in your chair. This may take adjustment of both chair and desk. Foot-stands can also assist.

Your computer keyboard should be within easy reach directly in front of you, and preferably in a position to allow you to rest your forearms.

Your computer screen should be at eye height to the top one third of the screen. You should not be bending your neck forward or backward to look at the screen. Use a stand or in the absence of one of that, phone books or reams of copy-paper can fill the gap.

Laptop computers should never be a permanent desk fixture. If this is the case a plug-in keyboard and a laptop stand are a sound investment, so you can lift the screen to eye height.

Other equipment on the desk, such as telephone, stationery etc, should be in easy reach on the side that you most use them. i.e. if you tend to hold the phone to your left ear, set it up on the left side of the desk. Make use of the swivel action of your chair rather than holding your body in twisted positions.

If much of your time is spent talking on the telephone, get a headset. This allows your hands to be free to work, as well as avoiding prolonged neck and shoulder positions.

Last but not least, drink more water (and less coffee!) to keep your muscles and joints hydrated. And take regular breaks to get your body moving and give your eyes a rest.

Osteopathic Team

back to top

If you wish to automatically receive our quarterly newsletter, click here to subscribe.
If you no longer wish to receive our quarterly newsletter, click here to unsubscribe.