Abstract
Coconut and its by-products have been used for centuries as culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal agents. More recently, virgin coconut oil (VCO) is gaining recognition as a functional food due to its perceived health benefits. Virgin coconut oil has a high proportion of medium-chain triglycerides, which unlike the long-chain triglycerides, are oxidized to energy in the liver. In addition to its excellent antioxidant profile, coconut oil is said to have antimicrobial and hypolipidemic properties too. This review focuses on the historical and functional aspects of coconut oil, with special emphasis on its health properties.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 62-64 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Agro Food Industry Hi-Tech |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - Sep 2013 |
Keywords
- Antimicrobial properties
- Cardiovascular health
- Medium chain triglycerides
- Metabolic syndrome
- Virgin coconut oil