Have you ever wondered, “Are there any health benefits to coconut oil?” Well, Coconut oil is unique. Here is our guide to the top 9 health benefits of coconut oil.
Most oils contain long-chain fatty acids. However, coconut oil primarily contains medium-chain fatty acids. Thus, coconut oil is metabolized differently than the longer ones.
Typically, medium-chain fatty acids, like coconut oil, go directly to the liver to be immediately used for energy. This post reveals the top 9 health benefits of coconut oil.
Top 9 Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil
1. Coconut Oil Aids in Weight Loss
Despite sounding counterintuitive, coconut oil is a “weight-loss-friendly” fat that strongly affects metabolism. It helps you burn more calories, reduce your appetite, and reduce your BMI and waist fat.
Moreover, many studies have shown that the body does not store medium-chain fats like other fats.
Coconut oil is also “thermogenic,” which means it increases your fat-burning capability compared to consuming an equal amount of other fats like olive oil or butter.
Studies revealed that increasing the body’s metabolic rate and removing stress on the pancreas can help you burn up to 120 additional calories per day while losing weight.
Coconut oil has proven highly effective in losing belly fat surrounding your organs, leading to inflammation, diabetes, and heart disease. Any reduction in abdominal fat positively impacts your overall health and longevity.
Coconut oil is easy to digest, boosts thyroid function, and supports the health of your endocrine system.
2. Coconut oil improves heart health
Coconut oil also increases levels of good HDL cholesterol and decreases levels of bad LDL cholesterol, decreasing your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
The medium-chain triglycerides, the unique saturated fats, reduce two risk factors for cardiovascular disease: arteriosclerosis and obesity.
While obesity creates a significant risk for heart damage and cardiovascular issues, arteriosclerosis is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks.
Arteriosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of your arteries. Medium-chain triglycerides, such as coconut oil, help reduce these life-threatening issues by preventing the hardening of your arteries.
If you replace unhealthy oils such as vegetable or canola oil with coconut oil, you will be on your way to a great start living a heart-healthy life. Coconut oil keeps your body functioning at its optimal level.
3. Coconut Oil Relieves Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Coconut oil’s fatty acids improve the brain function of Alzheimer’s patients. In Alzheimer’s disease, the brain uses glucose as a primary energy source, which brain cells have difficulty metabolizing.
However, the ketones produced when you digest coconut oil can give the brain an alternative fuel source.
Research continues to determine the benefits of coconut oil for Alzheimer’s patients.
Some studies are still in their early phases, but many have provided anecdotal evidence that coconut oil can improve patients’ brain function with Alzheimer’s.
4. Coconut Oil Maintains Healthy Skin and Hair.
Applying coconut oil to your skin and hair helps moisturize it, reduces eczema symptoms, and prevents hair damage.
Since coconut oil is full of lauric acid, a well-known fatty acid for its antimicrobial, moisturizing, and hormone-regulating properties, many use it as an anti-aging cream.
Coconut oil has properties that regenerate skin and stimulate collagen production, keeping you looking young well into your later years. Moreover, it contains vitamin E to protect your skin from sun damage.
Coconut oil keeps it moisturized and prevents protein loss while styling your hair. In tropical coastal regions, many use coconut oil for their hair daily. It gives your strands a shine because it penetrates your hair shaft and prevents it from becoming damaged.
Moreover, coconut oil is a primary ingredient in various conditioners and creams for dandruff relief. So, many use coconut oil for damaged hair because it is an excellent conditioner that helps regrow healthy hair.
The best part of coconut oil is that it provides your hair with the essential proteins required to nourish and treat damaged hair.
Regularly massaging your scalp with coconut oil relieves it from dandruff. Organic and extra virgin coconut oil is the best type for healthy hair.
It is straightforward to apply coconut oil to your hair. You can either rub it directly into your hair and leave it in or use it as a hair mask.
Furthermore, the fatty acids in coconut oil make it helpful for treating chapped lips, dry fingers, and brittle nails. So, it is imperative to include coconut oil in your self-care routine!
5. Coconut Oil Maintains Dental Health
Incredibly, the lauric acid in coconut oil helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Lurid acid attacks the harmful bacteria that lead to these dental issues. Moreover, oil pulling using coconut oil can help eliminate harmful bacteria in your mouth and reduce your risk of periodontal disease and inflammation of the gums.
Plaque buildup and harmful bacteria in the mouth are the leading causes of periodontal disease.
Researchers have revealed that using coconut oil can decrease plaque buildup on teeth and help reduce one’s chances of developing gum disease.
A significant study showed that using coconut oil for oil pulling significantly reduced plaque buildup and signs of gingivitis in participants with plaque-induced gum disease.
Finally, coconut oil kills Streptococcus and Lactobacillus, two bacteria primarily responsible for tooth decay.
Also, coconut oil can fight bacteria as effectively as chlorhexidine, the active ingredient in mouthwash. Hence, coconut oil can help in preventing tooth decay and tooth loss.
6. Coconut Oil Strengthens the Immune System
Coconut oil has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which help improve the immune system. Antimicrobial lipids and lauric acid can kill various pathogens and help prevent infections.
Coconut is 50% lauric acid, which your body transforms into monolaurin. This antiviral agent fights off several pathogens and viruses, such as herpes, flu, cytomegalovirus, HIV, listeria, h. Pylori, and harmful protozoa like giardia lamblia.
It is essential to note that coconut oil is a natural solution for boosting your immune system. Scientists conducted extensive research into its antiviral properties.
They found that regularly consuming coconut oil reduces your chances of contracting a virus. It also prevents harmful bacteria from invading your body and making you ill.
7. Coconut Oil Reduces Inflammation.
Coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce muscle and joint inflammation, thus treating arthritis. This is due to its high lauric acid content.
Studies have found coconut oil extracts equally effective as Indomethacin, a popular prescription pain medication.
Coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory properties help many who have arthritis. It is a natural source of pain relief, making it a low-cost and effective alternative to prescription medications.
Applying coconut oil topically helps increase blood supply to joints and reduce pain and swelling. Furthermore, coconut oil may effectively treat other joint conditions, such as fibromyalgia.
8. Coconut Oil Improves Digestion And Gut Health.
Coconut oil is easily digested by the body. You might know that the health of your gastrointestinal system is critical to your overall health.
If your digestive system functions poorly, it can lead to many chronic health problems that interfere with your quality of life. Thus, consuming coconut oil can help prevent many of these problems.
We have a wide variety of organisms living in our intestines. Some of these organisms benefit the body, and some aren’t so healthy.
When the microorganisms multiply, the nerves in your intestinal walls have an abnormal reaction, interfering with proper nutrient absorption and leading to digestive distress, such as bloating, constipation, and gas, leaving you unable to absorb the nutrients you are consuming.
Coconut oil improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and helps destroy candida and other harmful bacteria in the intestines.
Its anti-inflammatory effect also helps prevent stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis.
9. Coconut Oil Improves Bone Health.
Fats are essential to building healthy bones. Coconut oil, in particular, improves the absorption of calcium and magnesium, which are necessary for strong bones.
The many antioxidants found in coconut oil help prevent and treat osteoporosis by increasing bone volume and preventing bone loss.
Consuming coconut oil improves calcium absorption, helping to prevent tooth decay and develop strong teeth.
Combined with increased magnesium absorption, this creates an excellent advantage for women with osteoporosis.
How to Consume Coconut Oil?
Health advocates who do tout the benefits recommend limiting your daily intake of coconut oil to two tablespoons (30 ml), leaving room for additional fat nutrients, like olive oil, nuts, and some fruits.
Begin with one tablespoon of coconut oil and gradually work up to two tablespoons daily. Initially, ingesting too much coconut oil can lead to nausea, consumer advocates warn.
You may also experience side effects of coconut oil, like headaches, fatigue, dizziness, joint or muscle pain, stomach upset, chills, rashes, or other adverse skin conditions.
Options for consuming coconut oil
Consume Coconut oil in:
Stir-fry
Coconut oil, ideally used in a pan via sauté or stir-fry with beef, fish, chicken, eggs, or vegetables.
Baking
Drizzle coconut oil on beef, fish, or chicken before grilling. Coconut oil makes an excellent substitute for eggs or butter in baking dishes like curry or vegetable dishes.
Add to coffee and tea.
Adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to your coffee or tea is delicious. It enhances the flavor.
Coconut oil is Keto friendly and will not break your intermittent fast if added to coffee or tea in moderate amounts.
Health professionals recommend avoiding refined doses and instead opting for virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil should be kept at room temperature for best results, just like pure olive oil.
