Pregnant or a baby? Extra coconut oil with lauric acid and omega 3 when you breastfeed (breast milk)
Lauric acid is released in the skin in order to protect our body against microbes. Lauric acid is also present in breast milk to help protect a newborn against infections. Lauric acid in coconut oil also protects people in the tropics from infections. Coconut oil contains the highest levels of lauric acids of all fats and oils. At least 45% of coconut oil is constituted by lauric acid. In the body lauric acid is converted into monolauric acid. This monolauric acid kills several bacteria and viruses with a protective fatty layer. Some studies have shown however that lauric acid by itself also has antimicro bial properties. (81) The Berkeley School even confirmed in a newsletter that lauric acid even protects the liver and helps combat infections.
Pregnant women and new mothers, think of your baby, think of healthy fats…
Breast milk contains approximately 45 to 50% saturated fats, 35% monounsaturated fats and 15 to 20% monounsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6). Normally 18% of all breast milk is constituted by lauric acid and caprine fatty acids, which help protect the foetus and the baby against infections due to funguses, bacteria, viruses and protozoa (35). Hence the assumption that babies who are not breastfed will be ill quicker, than those who receive breast milk from their healthy mothers. This level of protective fats can decrease to only 3% in mothers who eat a fat-free diet or a lot of junk foods containing transfats. (1998, Am. J. of Clin. Nutrition).
Adding coconut oil or coconut-based products to one’s meals can help mothers obtain levels of protective fatty acids that are up to 27% higher. (119) Thus the mother, the foetus or the baby are better protected against infections.
Many nutritionists consider coconut oil to be a healthy nutrient for babies due to the high level of lauric acid in coconut oil. Moreover coconut oil also contains caprine acid, capryl, caproic and myristic acids that have the same protective properties (together more than 70% of coco- nut oil).
And extra virgin coconut oil is also easily digested and barely burdens the pancreas, the liver and gall. Or- gans, which are still under full development in babies.
Also omega oil with omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 good for babies
Next to extra virgin coconut oil nursing mothers should also take 1⁄2 to 1 tablespoon of organic vegetable omega 3/6/9 a day. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are needed for good eyes and for the foetus’s and ba- by’s brain development. During the last three months of pregnancy the foetus’s brain mass will triple and from birth to the age of 1 the brain will have increased in weight from 350g to 1kg. MCT fat from coconut, cholesterol, and omega 3 or omega 6 fatty acids are what the brain needs. The brain’s dry mass consists of 60 to 80% fats.
Advice: omega 3, 6 and 9 for pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies
Recommendation for pregnant mothers or nursing mothers: 1 to 3 tablespoons of ex- tra virgin coconut oil with red palm oil per day and 1 tablespoon of vegetable omega 3/6/9 with sufficient natural vitamin E and carotenoids. Of course 100% organic and cold pressed. Recommendation for babies up to 2 years, who are no longer breastfed: 1 to 3 coffee spoons of coconut oil with red palm oil per day, distribute during meals, and 1 to 2 small coffee spoons of vegetable omega 3/6/9 a day. Of course 100% organic and cold pressed.