Health updates: Coconut oil and aspartame

The following is new information regarding research on coconut oil and its effects on your health and the effects of aspartame on your body and health.

The amazing oil that trims women’s waistlines

A study has shown that dietary supplementation with coconut oil may result in a reduction in waist circumference and other benefits. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial of 40 women divided them into two groups — one that received daily dietary supplements of soybean oil (group S) and another that received a similar amount of coconut oil (group C). Both groups were instructed to follow a balanced, hypocaloric diet and to walk for 50 minutes each day.

According to the study, “[After one week,] only group C exhibited a reduction in [waist circumference]. …  Group S presented an increase … in total cholesterol, LDL and LDL:HDL ratio, whilst HDL diminished … Such alterations were not observed in group C. It appears that dietetic supplementation with coconut oil does not cause dyslipidemia and seems to promote a reduction in abdominal obesity.”

Eating foods laced with aspartame could be slowly and silently harming you

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener also known as NutraSweet® or Equal®, is used in more than 6,000 products. Research has shown that aspartame is a carcinogenic agent, and that its effects are increased when exposure starts before birth.

A new study has looked at the effect of aspartame on mice. The mice were exposed to aspartame before their births (at 12 days of gestation) and until their deaths. At that time, all autopsies revealed a significantly increased risk of both liver and lung cancer.

According to the study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine: “The results of the present study confirm that [aspartame] is a carcinogenic agent in multiple sites in rodents, and that this effect is induced in two species, rats (males and females) and mice (males).”

Sources: Green Med Info, Lipids July 2009;44(7):593-601; American Journal of Industrial Medicine December 2010; 53(12): 1197-1206; and www.mercola June 22 and June 25, 2011.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 4, Aug/Sept 2011.