Who in science is researching anti-viral, anti-flu diets?

What's the current research like on anti-flu diets and anti-virual, over-the-counter plant extracts? How effective are coconut extracts against the flu virus, according to validated scientific studies? Check out the lauric.org site at the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc. Lauric acid also is found in mothers milk. Information also is at the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc.

When a food or plant extract is tested in a tube against a virus, isn't the environment in the test tube different from environment in your stomach where your digestive acids act on the food extract's ability to crack the shell of the virus? Here are some surprising results scientific testing found.

In the study, "In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on envelop ed RNA and DNA viruses," by Hierholzer, JC, Kabara, JJ. Journal of Food Safety, 4:1, 1982. It's the lauric acid in monolaurin, an extract of coconut, that binds to the virus's lipid (fat)-protein envelope.

Extracts from coconut have ingredients similar to the anti-viral substances found in mother's milk that according to studies keep certain viruses from replicating, including various flu viruses, but not the common cold, rhinovirus. How can you begin to find out whether anti-flu diet ingredients really have any impact on stopping the virus from reproducing by cracking the shell of the virus?

Don't the digestive acids in your stomach and intestinal tract destroy any anti-microbial benefits from coconut extracts or oils? The scientists say it's worth researching. And here are some results of the research, with the names of the studies listed at the bottom of this article under the resources list.

Nature puts antibodies in mother's milk, why not also anti-viral substances? Does monolaurin from coconut oil have a substance in it that works similarly to mother's milk to crack open the shell of several viruses, especially the flu viruses and the herpes viruses? Your first step is to find out how the study has been validated and by which authorities.

Also see the study, Sands, J, et al. Extreme sensitivity of enveloped viruses, including Herpes Simplex, to long chain unsaturated monoglycerides and alcohols, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 15; 1:67-73, 1979. With all the hocus-pocus scams online advertising a flu prevention strategy, how do you know which scientific studies on actual plant extracts have worked to stop flu virus from replicating?

According to the VesPro Life Science site, antibiotics not only indiscriminately kill unwanted micro-organisms, but they also destroy the friendly bacteria and viruses that the body needs to function efficiently.

Antibiotic resistance, a result of the abuse of prescription drugs, is one of the major problems facing the medical community. An alternative to the use of antibiotics is to find new uses for a class of safe chemicals that are non-toxic to humans while providing broad-spectrum, anti-viral protection.

Monolaurin, from lauric acid, is a fatty acid and corresponding glycerol esters. Lauric acid was first discovered as the main anti-viral and anti-bacterial substance in human breast milk.

Monolaurin is the glycerol ester of lauric acid and is more biologically active than lauric acid. In studies performed at the Respiratory Virology Branch, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, (the CDC), Monolaurin was tested for virucidal activity against 14 human RNA and DNA-enveloped viruses in cell culture. These viruses included influenza, RSV, Rubeola, Newcastle, Corona virus (avian infectious, bronchitis virus), Herpes Simplex types 1 &2, Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus.

Monolaurin removed over 99.9% or all measurable infectivity of the 14 viruses by disintegrating the virus envelope. In addition to its antiviral effects, monolaurin is non-toxic and has also been shown to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Groups A, F &G Streptococci, Chlamydia, H.Pylori and against yeast and fungi as well, including Candida and ringworm. Monolaurin has no effect on naked viruses such as Polio, Coxsackie, Encephalitis or Pox viruses.

Is there such a phenomenon as a flu-prevention diet containing anti-microbial foods or extracts from coconuts? Most of these diets call for common sense. But do certain foods actually contain anti-viral properties that have been validated in scientific journals by actual studies?

In your research, first look at the The Big Picture Book of Viruses so you can read a description of the flu virus. Then click on the article at the Web Shop Emporium. Read about monolaurin there. Also see the Health Care Industry site articles. Monolaurin may stop the flu virus before symptoms appear and is also helpful at breaking the shell of the virus that causes chronic fatigue syndrome (the Epstein-Barr virus). Monolaurin is made from lauric acid and is a patented ester of lauric acid.

See the Byron J. Richard's Wellness Resources site, for information on how to use monolaurin. This coconut-oil derived fatty acid is backed by a significant body of research showing, according to the Byron J. Richard's Wellness Resources site that it "can help to support your immune system in a wide variety of circumstances, and even helps keep your own cells healthier while reducing the toxic burden associated with immune system battles.

At the Avian Flu Talk Forum, one study mentioned at that site showed that while monolaurin was effective against cytomegalovirus it was not effective against the common cold, which is caused by rhinoviruses. According to the study mentioned at the Avian Flu Talk Forum, "there are many anecdotal reports of monolaurin helping combat the flu."

The best flu prevention diet is a balanced one that includes whole foods with anti-viral properties. Is there such a menu as the flu diet? And why does it emphasize monolaurin, coconut milk, and coconut oil, even though studies in Malaysia theorize obesity there might be caused by drinking too much coconut milk? See the articles, "Causes of Obesity," and "Malaysian diet is slowly changing: Diners becoming healthy." Also see the Asian Diet Information site for answers to frequently asked questions.

According to the article, "Malaysian diet is slowly changing: Diners becoming healthy," the Malaysian diet is notoriously renowned for it’s high fat content. A large amount of coconut milk usually poured into curries is thought to be the possible major cause of obesity compared to sesame seed oil used in curries elsewhere. But in Malaysia, more people are becoming health conscious as the west looks to coconut milk as a rarity, now said by some to be an anti-flu virus diet.

It's the monolaurin that is reported to break the shell of the flu virus to keep it from replicating. Tests were done with seasonal flu, not H1N1 in the past. The question now is, will monolaurin, an extract from coconut milk also found in mother's milk keep the flu virus from reproducing? The question is what amount is required, and is that amount safe?

In countries where coconut milk is used regularly, it's used, for example, in Malalysia with clarified butter as well as sugarcane. This increases the fat and carbohydrate content of foods. Also Malaysia is not India when it comes to food. People in Malaysia eat a diet high in meat. Some countries that are heavy users of coconut milk in cooking also eat a high fat diet.

As the west uses more coconut milk, the East, such as Malaysia is beginning to switch to food lower in fat because of the increasing obesity problem there. The transition from the high fat and high cholesterol diet to a more healthy, lower carb, high protein diet has begun starting with increasing the tea consumption. It has been known for many decades that coconut oil and coconut extracts, such as lauric acid has anti-viral effects on some viruses, such as the flu virus and herpes, but not on the common cold rhinovirus.

What can you do to put a lid on sleeping viruses already in your system such as facial, mouth, back and chest herpes (simplex) or flu viruses? What can you do to stop CMV viruses from silently inflaming the inside of your blood vessels and hardening your arteries with calcified fats? Here's how to use lauric acid extracted from coconut oil in the form of monolaurin to quiet those recurrent virus outbreaks that spend a lifetime in your body by keeping the virus from reproducing itself.

Is there a 'natural' plant-based way to at least keep a Cytomegalovirus (CMV) quiet and not inflaming your arteries? That’s when monolaurin comes to mind and oregano oil.

Since it will take years before human tests are done on the Cytomegalovirus (CMV), think about monolaurin, derived from anti-virual coconut oil. And oregano oil. Can any of these plant-derived extracts destroy, dissolve, or at least weaken flu viruses and cytomegaloviruses?

Since big business is sometimes about inventing a costly, synthetic drug that will most likely be used to control CMV, is anyone thinking of the alternatives, perhaps testing monolaurin and oregano oil or other oil and plant extracts on Cytomegalovirus (CMV)?

On pages 81, 82, and 87 of the book, The High Blood Pressure Hoax, by Sherry A. Rogers, M.D. (2005) are several interesting sections on how monolaurin has been "able to dissolve the protective mebrane from 14 types of human viruses." One of those 14 viruses mentioned in the physician's book is the flu virus.

Another source on swine flu breaking news is the Scence Insider blog on science agencies reporting the latest news on swine flu that's not in the usual mass media. Here are the results of some studies on monolaurin and flu viruses as well as other viruses. Can monolaurin, a nutrient from coconut oil, l auric acid (that you can buy online or in a health food store) also dissolve the swine flu virus?

A sentence on page 82 of The High Blood Pressure Hoax notes, "Monolaurin actually disintegrates the lipid envelope or membrane of viruses, destroying their main defense." Rogers cites the study, "In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on envelop ed RNA and DNA viruses," by Hierholzer, JC, Kabara, JJ. Journal of Food Safety, 4:1, 1982. It's the lauric acid in monolaurin that binds to the virus's lipid (fat)-protein envelope.

That's how monolaurin inactivates the virus. You see, monolaurin binds to the membrane that covers the virus and prevents the virus from 'uncoating.' At this point, there's no way the virus is able to reproduce itself. The shell or "viral envelope" of the virus is disintegrated. Now the virus can no long get into more of your cells or attach. The virus's envelope is gone.

According to page 82 of Dr. Roger's book titled, The High Blood Pressure Hoax, "two capsules of monolaurin (300 mgs) are often taken three times a day at the first sign of infection and continued for a few days or weeks until the virus is completely gone." Dr. Rogers cites as her resources (on page 91 of her book) the Hierholzer, Ismail-Cassim, Sands, Karbara, and Boddie studies.

Look at the scientific journal research article titled, Monolaurin and Superstrain Infections. Read the full study, Characterization of Monolaurin Resistance in Enterrococcus Faecalis. (2007, American Society for Microbiology). Monolaurin, a food grade glycerol monoester of lauric acid, has been reported to have the greatest antimicrobial activity of all of the monoglycerides (50).

This product comes from coconut oil and is said to be effective against the flu, but not against the common cold. See one of several videos on the anti-viral properties of coconut oil from which monolaurin is made.

What else can it do or can't do? The study suggests that "monolaurin requires access to the cytoplasmic membrane and/or the cytoplasm to exert its antimicrobial activity."

See the article and description of studies on using monolaurin to destroy viruses at Monolaurin – A Natural Immune Boosting Powerhouse, Friday, October 31, 2008 - Byron J. Richards, CCN. Monolaurin is sold online at Life Extension Foundation and at numerous other online vitamin and nutrient sellers.

Monolaurin kills cytomegalovirus and flu viruses as well as the Epstein-Barr virus, named as the culprit in chronic fatigue syndromel, by turning the fatty coat of both the flu and Epstein-Barr viruses into a liquid and then flushing which then disintegrates the bits of virus partaicles that had been inside their fatty shells or membranes that had enveloped those viruses.

Viruses can lived in your stored fat and in the fat in your liver. Monolaurin, according to studies is supposed to be effective against these viruses by breaking down the shell, membrane, or outer wall of the viruses so that they are chopped into bits, turned to liquid, and eventually are removed from your body.

According to the article on monolaurin at the Wellness Resources site, "Monolaurin is one of the most popular nutrients to assist in combating various viruses. It is believed to work by interacting with the lipids and phospholipids that form the envelope of the virus, causing it to weaken or disintegrate."

Research suggests that monolaurin offers some degree of immune support for the influenza virus and also for the following viruses, including, cytomegalovirus, according to the article and description of studies on using monolaurin to destroy viruses at: Monolaurin – A Natural Immune Boosting Powerhouse, Friday, October 31, 2008 - Byron J. Richards, CCN:

• Human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1, HIV+
• Measles virus
• Herpes simplex virus-1
• Herpes simplex virus-2
• Herpes viridae (all)
• Human lymphotropic viruses (type 1)
• Vesicular stomatitis virus
• Visna virus
• Cytomegalovirus
• Epstein-Barr virus
• Influenza virus
• Pneumonovirus
• Sarcoma virus
• Syncytial virus

Monolaurin has antiviral properties that allows its use without significant toxicity. No significant abnormalities have been noted in liver enzymes, leukocytes, red cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, or platelets with Monolaurin therapy.

A suggested Monolaurin dosage is 6 (300-mg) capsules daily on an empty stomach (20 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal). The lauric acid in monolaurin that you buy from a supplements store or online comes from coconut milk the connection scientists are making when they do continued research with coconut extracts is that lauric acid also is found in mothers milk.

According to the Health Care Industry article, "Monolaurin possesses anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal and anti-bacterial properties. It has been found to destroy lipid coated viruses such as the flu, HIV, HHV-6 (strains A and B), EBV, CMV and h.pylori to name a few. It may also be helpful in improving the immune system's anti-inflammatory response. "

You take it at the first sign of any symptoms of flu such as the beginning of a sore throat or uneasy breathing or at the time you're exposed to people with the flu virus. For example, when you come in to work or have to stay in a crowded place, exposed to people with flu symptoms such as coughing on public transportation, in theaters, markets, schools, or other places where people gather indoors.

At the Avian Flu Talk Forum, according to the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients article titled, "Antiviral intervention for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome", monolaurin has been shown to be "active against influenza virus, pneumovirus, paramyxovirus (Newcastle), morbillivirus (rubeola), coronavirus (avian infectious, bronchitis virus), herpes simplex I & II, CMV, EBV, and HIV. They state that it is also effective against yeast and fungi, staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus agalactiae, chlamydia trachomatis, candida albicans, giardia lamblia, ringworm, H. pylori and gonorrhea."

Also, according to the Avian Flu Talk Forum, "Monolaurin (Glycerol Monolaurate) Chemically, Monolaurin is a monoglycerol ester of the saturated fatty acid lauric acid. Lauric fatty acids are present in many animals and plants and possess broad-spectrum activity against fungi and viruses.

Lauric acid is also present in human adipose tissue, urine, milk, and amniotic fluid; cow's milk, butter, margarine, and in palm-kernel and coconut oil. Esterification of lauric acid with glycerin yields compounds more active than the fatty acid alone."

In previous research studies, "Monolaurin had virucidal activity against 14 human enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. Monolaurin removed all measurable infectivity by disintegrating the viral envelope as evidenced by electron micrographs. By disrupting the conformation of the lipid bilayer (or the envelope), Monolaurin prevents viral attachment to susceptible host cells. Viruses that contain an envelope are termed enveloped , whereas those that lack an envelope are referred to as naked ."

The study noted that, "DNA viruses (including herpes viruses) have a loose, outer envelope, which contains lipids. RNA viruses are similar in that they have a double outer envelope or bilayer which contains essential lipids and glycoproteins structurally embedded in this envelope."

The term virucidal, means to have virus-killing ability. The act of making fat or oil (lipids) soluble in water (or liquids) is called solubilization. That study noted, "Solubilization of the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope are key mechanisms by which Monolaurin's virucidal activity is expressed. It was calculated that Monolaurin had a >99.9% success rate against all 14 viruses tested." This means in plain language that monolaurin has the ability to kill the 14 viruses tested.

Monolaurin is called a virustatic agent. What virustatic agents do is "directly block the replication of viruses." The good thing is that monolaurin doesn't let you develop any type of drug resistance.

So you can use it over and over again to fight flu viruses without a prescription. According to the study abstract noted at the Avian Flu Talk Forum, "Monolaurin alone has no effect on lymphocyte or macrophage functions.

What monolaurin actually does is to "potentiate immunological events initiated by other triggering agents (mitogens, antigens, phagocytic stimuli, and lymphokines). "

There's a study reported as: Cohen et al. 1977; Sands et al. 1979; Kabara, 1980; Kohn et al. 1980, described at the Avian Flu Talk Forum. What clues were found at the Avian Flu Talk Forum is the excerpt that is posted up there that states that, "Monolaurin is regarded as a virustatic. Virustatic agents directly block replication of viruses, so there is no subsequent development of drug resistance, but do not kill the virus. Monolaurin is effective against HSV-1 and -2, EBV, and CMV (which share lipid envelope characteristics)."

The authors of the monolaurin study noted at the Avian Flu Talk Forum are noted as: (Cohen et al. 1977; Sands et al. 1979; Kabara, 1980; Kohn et al. 1980). Watch the videos below and keep on reading the studies. It's possible that the monolaurin you buy from health food stores or online if you check out the quality and standardization, may help you in your fight against viruses without harming the good bacteria your body uses.

According to the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc., press release of August 1, 1999, "fatty acids in coconut have always been found to both raise the HDL levels and improve the total cholesterol to HDL ratio, both of which are desirable, and (ii) these saturated fatty acids significantly lower the levels of the undesirable lipoprotein."

Here are some monolaurin-related research studies for you to read online or in your local university library that are cited on page 91 of The High Blood Pressure Hoax by Sherry A. Rogers, M.D.

Resources

Boddie, RL, Nickerson, SE, Evaluation of postmilking teat germicides containing Lauricidin, saturated fatty acids, and lactic acid. Journal of Dairy Science, 75: 6: 1725-30, 1992.

Hierholzer, JC, Kabara, JJ, In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on enveloped RNA and DNA viruses, Journal of Food Safety, 4:1, 1982.

Ismail-Cassim, N. et al, Inhibition of the uncoating of bovine enterovirus by short chain fatty acids, Journal of General Virology, 71: 10: 22 83-9, 1990.

Karbara, Lipids as host-resistance factors in human milk, Nutrition Reviews 38:65, 1980.

Sands, J, et al. Extreme sensitivity of enveloped viruses, including Herpes Simplex, to long chain unsaturated monoglycerides and alcohols, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 15; 1:67-73, 1979.