Coconut Oil As A Dental Care Product For Its Ability To Attack Bacteria Causing Tooth Decay

Coconut oil is the oil that comes from coconuts. It is extracted from the meat of matured coconuts. Coconut oil has been used for food, medicine, cosmetic and for industrial purposes as well. For some tropical countries, coconut oil is their primary dietary source of fat.

Coconut oil makes up around 2.5% of world vegetable oil production.

It is used in cosmetic products as a skin moisturizer and a soap ingredient. It is also used as a treatment for skin acne. Coconut oil can also be processed into fuel (biodiesel).

Coconut oil is believed to carry a lot of health advantages. It has been documented to possess anti-fungal and anti-microbial activity. due to the lauric acid content in the oil. Lauric acid has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties when present in the human body.

Coconut oil could combat tooth decay

Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.

The team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland tested the antibacterial action of coconut oil in its natural state and coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion. The oils were tested against strains of Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth. They found that enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria including Streptococcus mutans – an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay.

Many previous studies have shown that partially digested foodstuffs are active against micro-organisms. Earlier work on enzyme-modified milk showed that it was able to reduce the binding of S. mutans to tooth enamel, which prompted the group to investigate the effect of other enzyme-modified foods on bacteria.

Further work will examine how coconut oil interacts with Streptococcus bacteria at the molecular level and which other strains of harmful bacteria and yeasts it is active against. Additional testing by the group at the Athlone Institute of Technology found that enzyme-modified coconut oil was also harmful to the yeast Candida albicans that can cause thrush.

New Scientific Analysis Concludes Coconut Water Is An Excellent Sports Drink For Light Exercise

Coconut water is the liquid inside young, green coconuts. It is a clear liquid and has a high potassium and mineral content.

In the last two years, coconut water has become a popular sports drink endorsed by athletes and celebrities. They highlight benefits such as hydrating the body and helping with a whole host of conditions, from hangovers to cancer and kidney stones.

Coconut water has a a sweet, nutty taste. It contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes. Compared to a sports drink, coconut water has has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium.

Coconut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gatorade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium.

Coconut water is an excellent sports drink -- for light exercise

Coconut water really does deserve its popular reputation as Mother Nature's own sports drink, a new scientific analysis of the much-hyped natural beverage concluded here today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

However, people who engage in strenuous exercise that involves a lot of sweat might want to take it all with a grain of salt ― literally ― or stick with a more traditional sports drink like Gatorade, said Chhandashri Bhattacharya, Ph.D. She presented a report on an analysis of coconut water to the ACS, the world's largest scientific society, which is meeting here this week.

"Coconut water is a natural drink that has everything your average sports drink has and more," said Bhattacharya. "It has five times more potassium than Gatorade or Powerade. Whenever you get cramps in your muscles, potassium will help you to get rid of the cramps. It's a healthy drink that replenishes the nutrients that your body has lost during a moderate workout."

Bhattacharya said that the potassium in coconut water also may benefit other people who do not exercise. The typical American diet is low in potassium and high in sodium, which is found in table salt. Other research has shown that such an imbalance is unhealthy. In one study, people who ate foods low in potassium and high in sodium had twice the risk of death from heart disease and a 50 percent higher risk of death from all causes. Other analyses indicate that a 12-ounce serving of coconut water has more potassium than a banana.