I have seen multiple experts touting the benefits of coconut oil on brain health as well as other beneficial properties. Here are just some of the things I found…
Bruce Fife is a proponent of coconut oil and wrote several books about it. In his book, “Stop Alzheimer’s now!”, he has a chapter title “The Ultimate Brain Food” where he explains why coconut oil is so good for brain health.
Coconut oil also seem to improve insulin resistance and glucose tolerance and help reduce blood sugar. [reference] We know from Dr. Perlmutter that that high blood shrinks and has negative effects on the brain. [reference]. So anything that helps improve blood sugar can only help the brain.
On coconutoil.com, there are some anecdotal reports of people improving their blood sugar using coconut oil.
Dr. Mary Newport’s husband Steve has Alzheimer’s and she is able to improve his condition through coconut oil. You can read about it on her site as well as search YouTube for her videos.
Dr. Michael Greger, a proponent of a plant-based diet, does mentions that vegan’s have greater incidences of neurodegenerative diseases. [reference] And this is possibly due to lower omega-3 and B12 found in animal products. He recommends that people supplement with omega-3 and B12.
Vegetarians and vegans may want to counteract this negative effect by in addition supplementing with coconut and coconut oil (since these are plant based products that protects the brain).
The main beneficial ingredient of coconut oil appears to the Medium Chain Triglycerides (MTC) of the lauric acid.
However, coconut and coconut oil is more of a natural food than taking MTC oil supplement. The MTC supplement is more concentrated of a form for those in greater need of it as a therapeutic dose. The problem with taking too much MTC or coconut oil is temporarily digestive systems such as needing to make a bowel movement.
Dave Asprey is a proponent of coconut oil and MTC oil and explains the difference here.
For people first starting off with coconut oil, it is best to just use it as a cooking oil and eat it with food. Start off with small doses such as one teaspoons and then move up to one tablespoon depending on how your body feels.