Today I want to talk about something that seems to create a lot of confusion and sometimes even tension in the pet world…
š“COCONUT OIL š“
*Please note: this information was originally posted as a part of my education series for The Bone & Biscuit Leduc (my store), so if it seems like you’ve seen it before, you probably have.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into the learning!
Is coconut oil a good source of omega-3s?
No. Coconut oil may be great for many things (which weāll get to in a sec), but it actually contains NO omega-3s and therefore should not be used as a replacement for quality marine-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
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What is it good for?
ā Fights yeast & has antimicrobial properties (1*, 2*)
ā It may cause cancer cell death (3*)
āHelps with several skin conditions including atopic dermatitis (4*)
āImproves cognitive function (5)
(PS- it is an amazing carrier to get the DHA from marine-based omega-3s into the brain!)
*the coconut oil was used topically in these studies (not ingested)
āReduces inflammation & helps with cell turnover (6*)
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How much should you give?
āµ A typical recommendation for dosing is 1 tsp/10lbs of body weight.
However, it is advisable to slowly work up to this amount to avoid digestive upset and always consult with your holistic veterinarian about dosing and inclusion if your pet has specific health concerns.
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Will it make your dog fat?
Not when given in reasonable amounts. Studies have shown that ingesting medium chain fatty acids (in this case, coconut oil) has such a dramatic fat breakdown effect it actually mimicked the results of fasting (7).
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Is it hard on the pancreas?
Nope. Coconut oil, unlike other fats, doesnāt need pancreatic enzymes or gallbladder bile to be processed by the body (8). It also has been shown to help protect against liver damage (9).
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To spot a good coconut oil, look for these things:
āµ āVirginā or āextra virginā on the label
āµ Organic
āµ Stored in a glass container
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Other great places to learn more:
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17651080
- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/scientifica/2016/7061587/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28924490/?i=10&from=coconut%20oil%20health%20benefits
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ijd.12339
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671041/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027869151730296X?via%3Dihub
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2004.69
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19405900
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=J+Basic+Clin+Physiol+Pharmacol.+2014+May+1%3B25(2)%3A249-253
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