The dangers of refined vegetable oils in the body is that they strip away essential nutrients. Additionally, they are laden with free radicals which, now that the immune system is depressed from nutrient deficiencies, and the cells are depressed from nutrient deficiencies, cells are easily damaged by the free radical oils. These damaged cells replicate into more damaged cells which have the ability to turn cancerous.

So, now, let`s contrast this with medium chain fatty acids and omega fatty acids. We have been taught by the big oil and sugar industries that saturated fat is bad. This lie began in the early 1940s and gained national support in the late 1980`s and early 1990`s. Many people believed, since the media told them so, that fat is bad, especially saturated fat.

The Many Forms of Fat

Not all saturated fats are bad and not all unsaturated fats are good. Unsaturated fat as it is found in food, not extracted or refined, is excellent for health. It is mostly found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes in minute amounts. It is naturally bound to antioxidants, polyphenols, and other plant steroids. In this form, they it is healthy for the body since it is not a free radical. That is why raw, organic, unrefined oils such as olive, grape seed, and nut oils, are good for us. They contain the essential nutrients the body needs to prevent the oil from becoming a free radical toxin.

Many foods naturally contain saturated fats as well. Meat products fall into this category, but since they are cooked and or hydrogenated and refined (butter, lard, milk, cooked meat), the fats become slightly rancid. This means they become separated from the nutrients they were once bound to. Even though they are saturated fats, they are still much better for our health than vegetable oils.

Vegan sources of saturated fat, on the other hand, are some of the most healthiest food on earth. These are usually found in unrefined and raw coconut oil, nut oils, palm oil, avocadoes, acai berries, hemp seed (sativa), flax seeds, and other grains and seeds. These medium chain fatty acids found in these foods have the same molecular structure as the fat found in human breast milk.

These medium chain fatty acids are called lauric acid. They are currently being researched for their role in supporting healthy metabolism, lipid support, blood sugar stabilization, and have anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties. Coconut oil in particular contains 92% saturated fat and only 1% omega-6 fat.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids Are Healthy Food

Traditionally, Pacific Islanders have included large quantities of coconut meat and oil in their diets. So have many islanders of coastal India and West Indies nations. We, now, know that they have some of the lowest incidence of heart disease or weight related issues. In fact, when some areas have begun adopting the Western diet, with its refined vegetable oils, heart disease, immune deficiencies, and bad cholesterol levels rise rapidly. (Learn more about healthy fats in the next series "Sativa, Healthy Past, Present, and Future.")

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