MANILA, Philippines — Do you know that coconut oil may be a cure for tooth decay? A few days ago, a friend residing in the United States e-mailed me two (2) Internet reports with the following headings: “Coconut oil could combat tooth decay” and “Son of a beach! Coconut oil may prevent tooth decay.”

I have read some books and magazines enumerating the health benefits of coconut oil and other by-products of coconut – but this is the first time I came to know that coconut oil may prevent tooth decay.

Let me share with you the contents of the two Internet reports:

• “It was a certain Dr. Damien Brady who led the research at Ireland’s Athlone Institute of Technology regarding the impact of coconut oil on Streptococcus bacteria a major cause of tooth decay.

• “The scientists found that coconut oil which had been treated with enzymes stopped the growth of streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth.

• “Three (3) oils – coconut oil, vegetable oil, and olive oil were tested against streptococcus bacteria. Only the enzyme-modified coconut oil showed an ability to inhibit the growth of most strains of the bacteria.”

When we talk about coconut oil, the name of the late Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit always crops up. In the more than 500-page colored Coffee Table Book (9” x 12”) titled Coconut Philippines by my daughter Lalaine Villafuerte-Abonal, Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit was described as a Filipino pharmacologist, cardiologist, internist, researcher, author, academician who had been a passionate advocate about the health benefits of coconut oil for the past 45 years and led the Philippine Department of Health first formal study in the year 2000 on the treatment of HIV-AIDS using coconut oil which showed highly producing results by reducing the viral content with no side effects.

Who knows? There may still more researches and studies here and abroad in the future that will reveal more health benefits of coconut oil.

Have a joyful day!