The Philippines is among the top global producers of coconut oil, which is an important component of numerous products across industries (including manufacturing, food, oil refining, and pharmaceuticals).The country presently produces over 1.4 million tons of coconut oil, which are mostly exported to countries like the United States and the Netherlands.
An increase in demand and consumption of coconut oil will primarily be advantageous to the national economy. It will translate to a steady income for most of the 3.5 million coconut farmers, whose families comprise up to 20 percent of the country’s population.
Unfortunately, the coconut oil remains to be an underrated resource, having been subjected to false and unfounded medical claims in the international scene. However, it is starting to be cleared from previous misconceptions.
Compared to other types of oil derived from plants (like palm, canola, and olive, among others) in other countries, coconut oil is much more superior for whatever helpful purpose. The 2nd World Coconut Congress continues its goal to further highlight the ultimate benefits of using coconut oil—whether as a food ingredient, as a food supplement, as a manufacturing material, or even as a fuel component.
The following major benefits of coconut oil consumption will be highlighted during the three-day summit in Pasay City.
Coconut oil as a strategic component of diesel/fuel
The Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) is currently proposing to increase the percentage of coco-biodiesel or coconut methyl ester (CME) in local diesel to 5 percent (B5) by 2021 from the current 2 percent (B2).
“Coco-biodiesel makes diesel fuel burn more easily and completely, leading to more power and mileage improvement,” said Department of Energy adviser Rafael S. Diaz. “CME has a cleaning effect in the fuel system of the car, from the fuel line to the injectors. CME can restore spray atomization of engines, which will improve a diesel engine’s combustion and power output,” he further explained.
Furthermore, an increase in the CME component in locally available diesel can translate to cost savings. “If there is a 10% mileage improvement and diesel cost is at PHP40, you can effectively save PHP4 per liter.”
Once this proposal is approved and implemented, it would translate to 350,000 tons of coconut oil consumption—about a third of the country’s total annual coconut oil production.
Coconut oil derivatives as nutritional supplement
A more concentrated form of coconut oil is starting to gain traction in the global health industry. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) is derived from coconut oil. Because it is made up of medium-chain fatty acids, it brings about a number of health benefits.
When ingested directly or added to salad dressings, smoothies, coffee, or just about any beverage or food, MCT increases the body’s natural production of good cholesterol (or high-density lipoprotein) that counters excess or bad cholesterol. This way, it can help prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases.
The 2nd World Coconut Congress will bring several resource speakers who will shed more light to the myriad of health benefits coconut oil and MCT can bring about.
Dr. Mary Newport is an advocate for the consumption of MCT as alternative fuel for the brain in the management of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The US-based medical doctor will attest to the effectiveness of MCT based on how her husband, who is diagnosed with the condition, has responded to the use of the supplement.
Dr. Nick Dimitri Costa, a Professor Emeritus of the Murdoch University in Australia will then share more insights about lauric acid, the multi-functional medium-chain fatty acid from coconut oil. He, along with other panelists in one of the sessions, will tackle many other health benefits from consumption of various forms of coconut oil.
The Health and Wellness session will be chaired by Dr. Fabian Dayrit, a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. Dr. Dayrit has published several research papers about coconut oil in the Philippine Journal of Science, the Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, and the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. He will lead his panel in discussing more benefits of coconut consumption to the health.
The 2nd World Coconut Congress will run until August 29, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. For inquiries, call the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines at +632 584 5338 or the World Expos & Concepts Inc. at +632 855 8341 to 44.