90% saturated (15% caprylic and capric, 45%
lauric, 18% myristic, 10% palmitic, and just
8% monounsaturated oleic), which means that
they raise blood cholesterol levels. During the
1970s and ’80s, manufacturers of processed
foods therefore replaced coconut oil with less
saturated, partly hydrogenated seed oils —
which now turn out to contain undesirable
trans fatty acids (p. 38).
Given our current and broader
understanding of other dietary influences on
heart disease (p. 255), there’s no reason not to
enjoy the coconut’s riches as part of a
balanced diet that includes plenty of
protective fruits, vegetables, and other seeds.
Ginkgo Nuts Gingko nuts are the starchy
kernels of Ginkgo biloba, the last survivor of
a tree family that was prominent during the
age of the dinosaurs. The nuts are borne inside
fleshy fruits that develop a strong rancid
smell when ripe. In Asia, the tree’s home, the