MANILA, Philippines ? Everyday, we face the fact that a harmful virus, bacterium, parasite or fungus would enter our body and give us all sorts of health problem ranging from simple skin rash to cancer and flu.

The only thing that could prevent this event from ever happening is our immune system.

?Our immune system is an enormously complex machine where cells, tissues, organs and processes interact in order to give our body protection from these foreign invaders. It?s our last line of defense, so to speak,? said Doctor Ed Lalusis, medical director and CEO of Growrich Manufacturing Inc.

For four years now, Lalusis has been continuously studying his company?s main product?an encapsulated virgin coconut oil?on how it affects patients who have different health conditions.

?Growrich was the first to encapsulize VCO, which was approved by and registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs. In doing so, we are able to preserve the potency of the VCO and enable us to accurately monitor the amount that is taken in by our patients,? Lalusis explained.

Saturated fatty acids

He said VCO has about 63 percent medium-chain saturated fatty acids (about 48 percent lauric acid or C12, seven percent capric or C10, and eight percent caprylic or C8), 92 percent total saturated fatty acids, six percent monounsaturated fatty acids, and two percent polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Lalusis explained that these short and medium chain fatty acids contained in VCO, especially lauric acid, have been found to have strong antiviral, antibacterial and anti-protozoal properties and are essential building blocks in boosting the body?s immune system.

?No less than the late Dr. Conrado Dayrit, regarded as the Father of VCO research, identified the coconut oil as the best oil in creation after several decades of studies. Incidentally, he is also former president of the National Academy of Science and Technology that put up a position paper on the unique properties of coconut oil highlighting the fact that it is a healthy oil,? he reported.

Dayrit?s assertion was supported by the world?s leading expert on coconut and health, Dr. Bruce Fife, who is also director of the Coconut Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and the scientific community on the nutritional and health benefits of coconut.

?Since a strong immune system has the ability to annihilate viruses and other pathogens, taking VCO every day would, in effect, give us protection from whatever diseases that come our way,? Lalusis said.

Potential benefits

Because of VCO?s huge potential benefits, Lalusis said his company was careful in keeping the quality of their products.

?The potency and concentration of our 500-mg Growrich VCO capsule is different from the liquid form of other brands. Besides if our encapsulation process has been shown to be defective, the BFAD would be the first to deny us their approval and certificate of public registration,? he explained.