Wikipedia is often touted as the go-to source for information on any and all topics. But what happens when Wikipedia decides to blackball an article? That's exactly what happened to coconut oil – and the reason why is a bit of a mystery.
Coconut oil has long been the victim of bad press and the subject of countless myths and misconceptions. But the truth is that it's a powerful natural remedy with a wealth of benefits that are backed by scientific evidence.
In this post, we'll explore how coconut oil got blackballed by Wikipedia, and what this means for the future of natural health information online. We'll also look at some of the key benefits of coconut oil and why it's such a powerful natural remedy.
Which Article Did Wikipedia Reject?
The coconut oil article in question was penned by friend of CocoTherapy, Dr. Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D. As a world-renowned lipids expert and the author of several books about coconut oil, including The Coconut Miracle and Coconut Therapy for Pets, Dr. Fife knows a thing or two about coconut oil! And he submitted the article because the existing Wikipedia article was severely lacking in information.
Dr. Fife's article provided a comprehensive overview of coconut oil and the health benefits that it offers (more on this in a moment). It also included an extensive references section that cited scientific studies and articles that support the claims made in the article.
Despite its high quality, the article was online for just two days before being substantially modified by Wikipedia and then rejected. It was then replaced with an article that touted the anti-saturated fat rhetoric that has been popularized in recent years.
Why Was the Coconut Oil Article Rejected by Wikipedia?
It's not entirely clear why the coconut oil article was rejected by Wikipedia's editors. Censorship on Wikipedia is nothing new; alternative and natural health articles are often rejected because they don't fit the "conventional" view of medicine. But what does this mean for the future of natural health information online?
The fact is that Wikipedia is one of the most popular websites on the internet, and its editors have a huge influence over what information people see and don't see. This means that when they reject an article like the coconut oil article, it can have a significant impact on public perception.
What's even more concerning is that the coconut oil article was rejected despite the fact that it was well-researched and heavily referenced. This sends a clear message to people that alternative and natural health remedies are not worth considering – a message that's at odds with the growing body of scientific evidence in support of these treatments.
What Are the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil?
So, what are some of the benefits of coconut oil that make it such a powerful natural remedy? To answer this question, let's look at a few of the key points made in the article Dr. Fife submitted to Wikipedia.
Digestion and Nutrient Absorption
Coconut oil is composed predominantly of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Unlike long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which make up most of the fats in our diet, MCTs are broken down rapidly due to their shorter chain length.
When consumed, MCTs are broken down into individual fatty acids in the stomach. These individual medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) then go straight to the liver as they do not need pancreatic digestive enzymes or bile for digestion.
Once in the liver, MCFAs are used as a source of fuel to provide energy to the body. In fact, they are a much more efficient source of energy than glucose (the body's primary energy source).
Because MCFAs in coconut oil are immediately used as energy, they are much less likely to be stored as body fat. Coconut oil has proven beneficial in the treatment of malnourishment due to its quick and efficient digestion. It's also good for people and animals who have trouble digesting fats.
MCTs are important nutrients that are essential in infant formulas. What's more, MCFAs improve the absorption of many other nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, fat-soluble vitamins, and amino acids.
Energy and Weight Management
The MCFAs in coconut oil are used as a fuel to generate energy, rather than being stored as fat. This means that coconut oil is beneficial for weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.
Coconut oil provides a sustained energy boost and increases endurance. It's also thermogenic, meaning that it helps the body to burn more calories. All this adds up to the fact that coconut oil is a great tool for weight loss and energy management.
Antimicrobial Effects
The MCFAs in coconut oil have potent antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. This means they are very effective at killing or inactivating disease-causing microorganisms in the body.
Research has shown that MCFAs can effectively kill common disease-causing microorganisms such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, Chlamydia, herpes virus, influenza, hepatitis C virus, HIV, and more.
Cardiovascular Disease
A common misconception about coconut oil is that it raises cholesterol and promotes heart disease since it's a saturated fat. The truth is, coconut oil tends to raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and reduces the denser LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) that can be a threat to health.
Studies also show that coconut oil improves the overall cholesterol ratio (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol) and reduces the risk of heart diseases. This is why people who consume coconut oil as part of their regular diet generally have lower rates of heart disease compared to those in most Western countries.
Alzheimer’s Disease
As mentioned earlier, glucose is the body's primary source of energy. And the inability of the brain to adequately utilize glucose to generate energy is the main issue linked with Alzheimer's disease.
Fortunately, there's another source of energy for the brain – ketones. Ketones are energy-producing molecules made from fats. The body can make them from stored fat, or from medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
Ketones bypass the defect in glucose metabolism and provide the brain with the energy it needs to function and develop properly. They also play a significant role in the maintenance, repair, and growth of brain cells. So, adding a rich source of MCTs like coconut oil to the diet can actually help prevent – and even reverse – cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Wrapping Up
As a savvy, health-conscious consumer it makes sense to take the information on Wikipedia with a grain of salt. The site is often used as a source for information, but it's not always reliable. When it comes to natural health and alternative medicine, Wikipedia is often biased against these topics. This is likely because many people in charge of editing Wikipedia are conventional medical practitioners who don't believe in the benefits of natural health.
This doesn't mean that you can't find valuable information on the site, but it's important to be aware of the bias and use other sources of information as well. When it comes to coconut oil, there are many myths and misconceptions that have been debunked by science. Coconut oil is a healthy, natural product that delivers a wealth of benefits for people and animals.
To find out more about the health benefits of coconut oil, check out Dr. Fife's detailed article here.
