Coconut Oil – The Super Food You Need!
The coconut is one of those fruits that’s useful all round.
Every part of the coconut has important applications in many cultures around the world. From the coconut water, it’s gel and even its outer skin (which is used as a cleaning utensil) all are very important but none as important as the coconut oil. Recently there has been major hype around coconut oil. Health food consumers have been flocking to supermarkets and health stores to get their hands on this amazing product. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal super ingredients; it’s a cure-all that can improve your overall health.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Lowers Cholesterol
Coconut oil is a superfood that’s loaded with saturated fats that can raise HDL (this is good) cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. Coconut oil contains a very unique blend of short and MCFAs, specifically lauric, capric, and myristic acids that are proven scientifically to reduce cholesterol.
Research also shows that the boosting of HDLs is actually greater than the boost of Total Cholesterol or Total LDL. Overall, healthy clinical ratios like Total Cholesterol:HDL and Triglyceride: HDL, LDL:HDL improve.
For more info, check out the 2009 study published in the journal Lipids, which found that coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL, compared to soybean oil.
Aids in Weight Loss
The medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil can increase your energy usage when compared to other fats. The MCTs in coconut oil, according to one study, digest as fast as sugar in the body.
These triglycerides are used instead of other energy sources, so they don’t contribute to weight gain. They are typically used up very quickly, they also boost metabolism.
A study conducted in 2011 by National Center for Biotechnology Information Pharmacology found a significant reduction in waist circumference of 1.1 inches after just four weeks of 1 ounce of coconut oil per day.
The participants did not exercise or go under a restrictive diet. Rather they lost a substantial amount of abdominal fat by adding coconut oil to their diet.
Coconut oil is used as a skin moisturizer around the world because of its rich vitamin E content and its positive antioxidant action in the body. This helps reduce the damage to the tissues in the body since oxidation is a major source of skin aging. Dr. Cynthia Bailey, a dermatologist in Sebastopol, Calif., and diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology told Medical Daily via email, “Coconut has surprising benefits when applied to the skin as a moisturizer. It can reduce the harmful skin germ called staph aureus.”
Its antimicrobial properties can also be useful with things like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and staph infections. A 2004 study published in the journal Dermatitis found coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of people with dry skin.
Improves Brain Function
The MCTs in coconut oil serve as a “secondary fuel source” alongside glucose which the brain and nervous system can function on. High sugar can contribute to neurological problems, including Alzheimer’s, which has been theorized as a “type 3 diabetes,” according to one study.
In Alzheimer’s, the brain effectively blocks glucose uptake, so it is fuel-deprived, which can lead to general neurodegeneration. The consumption of coconut oil has led to an improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s, according to a 2004 study which was published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Higher ketone values — derivatives from fat that are the only other fuel source aside from glucose the brain can function on — were associated with greater improvement in Alzheimer’s patients. Coconut oil’s MCTs may provide therapeutic benefits for memory-impaired adults.
Kills Bacteria, Viruses, And Fungi
Coconut oil has lauric acid, which studies have shown to have antifungal, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties. This makes it helpful with various types of inflammatory ailments.
Dr. Joe Alton, survival medicine expert, fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Congress of OB/GYN, and co-author of The Survival Medicine Handbook, a guide for when help is NOT on the way, told Medical Daily in an email, “The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion.”
A 2000 study published in the Journal of Bacteriology found lauric acid and monolaurin can kill pathogens like the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Alton added coconut oil helps in the absorption of other nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
Add coconut oil to your daily diet for better health! A taste alternative is our Coco-Magic Bar. Ingredients include Organic Coconut Oil.
- Ann Larson
