Coconut Insights

By Dr Mark Atkinson
Holistic Medical Physician
MBBS BSc (HONS) FRIPHH FCMA
BETD SAC DIP (Clinical Nutrition)
Organic virgin coconut oil stands alone as being the healthiest oil that you can use. It possesses a plethora of health benefits, and the research to substantiate it. Dr Mark Atkinson strongly encourage you to make organic virgin coconut oil part of your daily nutritional plan.”
History of Coconut Oil

For about 3960 years of the of the past 4000 years of the documented historical use of the fruits of the coconut palm as a food and a pharmaceutical, the news has all been good. It was seen as a sustainable resource from which the harvested materials influenced every aspect of the lives of tropical communities, but most importantly its fruit, the coconut flesh, water, milk and oil.
The use of coconut oil around the world in tropical regions is prolific: South and Central America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Micro-, Mele- and Poly-nesia and most of Asia. The uses are so respected that they were documented by Ayurvedic medicine in Sanskrit from 1500BC in all areas relating to the mind, body and spirit. Early European explorers, including Captain Cook, wrote affectionately about the beauty of communities across the Pacific using coconut oil as an integral part of their daily lives. During WWII the water of the young green coconut was successfully used as a substitute for a saline drip saving the lives of many allied soldiers. After the war, in England coconut oil was sold as "margarine" and in the USA as coconut butter”.
However, this all changed in 1954 even though it has been known for nearly a century that coconut oil is more nutritious than other oils.
Over many decades coconut oil received bad publicity due to its saturated fat content but what the proponents of "saturated fat is bad for you" did not do was to differentiate between the three different types of saturated fat. All the saturated fats were simply generalised under one category, ignoring the fact that some saturated fat is in fact necessary for human health.
Modern research has shown that not all saturated fats are alike and coconut oil is unique in its structural make-up due to its medium chain fatty acids - the closest to those found in human breast milk that nature provides. They are the reason why coconut oil is used extensively in baby formula and also in sports drinks and energy bars, where it is usually described as MCT (medium chain tryglycerides). This disguises the fact that some form of coconut oil has been used! Medium chain fatty acids are more easily digested than fats found in other oils. This is because they are processed directly in the liver and immediately converted into energy. There is therefore less strain on the liver, pancreas and digestive system and, being easily digested, they also tend to improve the absorption of other nutrients.
Past research has failed to reveal this because it was carried out on hydrogenated coconut oil - a process that transforms all fats into man-made, dangerous, carcinogenic trans fatty acids.
Many modern low fat, so called ’healthy’ oils are hydrogenated. Other so called ’healthy’ polyunsaturated oils form toxic free radicals when heated and have been shown to be associated with over 60 common health complaints.
Significantly, because virgin coconut oil is very stable, it is highly resistant to free radical generation when heated, even at high temperatures and is an especially safe oil to cook with.
What is certified organic virgin coconut oil ?

Pure virgin coconut oil is made from fresh coconuts, NOT copra (used for many coconut oils) and the resulting product should have a distinct taste and fragrance. Oils made from copra have to be refined bleached and deodorised to make them fit for human consumption and they have no fragrance or flavour. These may or may not be hydrogenated oils.
Virgin coconut oil from Merit Food Products is certified through the growing, harvesting, production, repackaging and labeling of the oil. Any oil that claims to be organic and does not conform to the above specification, is NOT organic. For example, if the oil is certified organic in its place of origin through the above procedures and then repackaged in a location that does not conform to organic processes, then the oil is no longer organic.
Made with coconuts from traditional palms - not hybrid varieties
Unrefined *
Unbleached *
Non-deodorised *
Non-hydrogenated
Free of chemicals
Free of GMO ingredients
Manufactured with low level heat (below 60oC)
Certified organic by Australia Certified Organic (holding accredition with Australian government, IFO