Lauric acid is a type of saturated fatty acid found in only a handful of foods and is valued for both its health benefits and its convenient melting point properties.
This medium-chain compound is solid at room temperature but has a low melting point, making it useful in the food industry. It is also used to make soap and shampoo.
Health benefits of lauric acid
Lauric acid is converted into monolaurin in the body, which has antivirus, antifungal and antibacterial qualities.
Breast feeding mothers, who consume pure virgin coconut oil, have high levels of these healthy fatty acids in their milk which is of great benefit to the infant because it protects them from infections and toxins.
Lauric acid, together with capric acid and caprylic acid, other medium-chain fatty acids, help to increase levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol) relative to low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol).
Lauric acid is useful for treating viral infections and influenza including avian and swine flu.
Ailments lauric acid can help to treat
- Blisters
- Bronchitis
- Chlamydia
- Cold sores caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- Colds coughs and influenza
- Fever
- Fungal and yeast infections
- Genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Gonorrhoea
- Herpes flare ups caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- HIV/AIDS. (Also used for preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies)
- Parasite infection by Giardia lamblia
- Ringworm
Natural sources of lauric acid
NOTE: Coconut oil is the richest source of lauric acid.
Related subjects
- A-Z of nutrients
- Bacterial infections and natural antibiotics
- Fungal and yeast infections
- Heart disorders (high LDL cholesterol)
- Human immunodeficiency virus HIV AIDS
- Parasites
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Virus infections
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