Surprising Benefits of Coconut Oil That Make You Healthy
Most of us love and are familiar with the delicious taste and smell of coconut when it is eaten raw or cooked. But did you know that coconut oil can be beneficial for health and beauty, and that it is being considered the next “superfood”?
In Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system, coconut oil has is used as a key element for well-being. The benefits of coconut oil are endless. It has been considered the healthiest oil on earth, and there is a ton of evidence to back this up!
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Scientific background
In the 50s, coconut oil was already being called “the drugstore in a bottle”. According to Dr. Millet from the Harvard School of Public Health, coconut oil has 92% of saturated fat, which is far more than most other edible oils. Unlike other oils, coconut oil is solid at room temperature because of all those saturated chemical bonds. It is also quite unique because it contains a high percentage of medium-chain fatty triglycerides–MCTs.
After coconut oil has been ingested, MCTs go directly from the intestine to the liver, where they are converted into ketone bodies, and used as fuel which is burned off to produce energy. Therefore metabolic activity is higher, there is less fat is circulating in the blood stream, and less fat accumulates in the body. The list of benefits of coconut oil goes on and on but here are a few to get you started.
Coconut oil acts as a natural antibiotic and antioxidant
Lauric acid, the MCT present in coconut oil, has antimicrobial activity against bacteria, many fungi, and viruses. Lauric acid found in coconut oil has proven to kill the bacteria that causes staphylococcus aureus (responsible for many skin infections and bloodstream infections) and the yeast Candida Albicans (a common yeast). Because of this many commercial products use lauric acid as an antimicrobial agent.
A recent study published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, conducted at the University of Kerala, India, showed that a diet enriched with virgin coconut oil is beneficial in reducing oxidative stress (which causes cell damage and is responsible for a wide variety of disorders ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to cancer) and that it is a powerful antioxidant.
Coconut oil combats brain disease
Coconut oil has therapeutic effects in brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This is supported by several studies. One study stated that consumption of MCTs led to immediate improvement in patients with milder forms of the disease. The fatty acids found in coconut oil are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease.
Besides Alzheimer’s disease, another important therapeutic application of coconut oil is the treatment of childhood epilepsy. The ketogenic diet (diet high in ketone bodies) is a high-fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet that has been used for the treatment of intractable childhood epilepsy since the 1920s. The Lancet, Neurology published that there was a 75% decrease in seizures. The MCTs found in coconut oil increase the concentration of ketone bodies, which has helped to reduce seizures.
Coconut oil helps with weight loss and decreases metabolic syndrome
We all want to be in shape, and with obesity being the largest public health problem on the planet today, this is the time to take action. Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland stated that MCTs in coconut oil can increase 24-hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%–which means about 120 calories per day. This will definitely lead to weight loss. Metabolic syndrome is defined by the National Institute of Health (NIH) as a group of risk factors that raise your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.
Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and great for your skin
Coconut oil is used in many natural beauty products. Coconut oil is a wonderful, natural way to make your skin soft, radiant and healthy. It penetrates hair better than other oils and smells like heaven! This luscious oil is naturally antimicrobial, moisturizing and, according to research, great for eczema and psoriasis.You can use it as a moisturizer for your whole body.
Coconut oil can also be used as a face wash. Instead of spending a lot of money on beauty products, all you need is raw (virgin is better) coconut oil. The double-cleansing method is extremely simple: rub the oil in circular motions all over your face and neck, giving yourself a gentle massage as you go. When you’re done, wash off the residue with your favorite cleanser.
