Coconut oil has numerous health benefits and can be classified as a “superfood” to some point. Why? After reading the incredible benefits of using coconut oil in your day to day activities, you’ll know.
The oil is used all over the world not just in tropical countries where coconut plantations are abundant.
From health to beauty and skincare benefits, Let’s see how many of these health benefits of coconut oil you are aware of and how to insert coconut oil in your day to day consumption and uses.
1. Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels
Maybe you have heard that coconut oil contains saturated fat and that saturated fat is implicated in heart disease, well that is a misconception. The saturated fat in coconut oil is called a healthy one.
It contains 50 percent lauric acid which helps in preventing various heart-related problems.
The saturated fats in coconut oil help may increase HDL “good” cholesterol in your body, while also help to convert LDL “bad” cholesterol into a less harmful form.
A research study shows that coconut oil reduces total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol
Another Study suggests that intake of coconut oil may help to maintain healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women. These 10 foods also help lower your cholesterol levels.
2. Skincare Purposes
Coconut oil also has cosmetic uses as it is being used as a moisturizer in skin care. Using coconut oil does not have any known adverse effect on the skin. This makes it a perfect and safe solution for prevention of dry skin.
Did you also know that this oil prevents wrinkles and sagging skin, which normally accompany aging? We actually recommended coconut oil as a viable solution to getting rid of dark circles around the eye.
Research studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and fat content of the skin.
Coconut oil can also be used to treat skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and other skin infections.
For these reasons, it is not uncommon to see coconut oils as the base ingredients of various body care products like soaps, lotions, and creams.
3. Use Coconut Oil For Hair care
Coconut oil also helps in hair care as it gives your hair a shiny quality.
It can be used to prevent baldness as it is effective in reducing protein loss leading to eventual hair loss.
A research shows that coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage from sun’s ultraviolet rays. It is an excellent conditioner which helps damaged hair to re-grow (read: 17 best deep conditioners for your natural hair.
Another research shows that coconut oil provides a better protection to hair damage caused by hydral fatigue
With all these scientifically proven hair uses, most manufacturing companies use it in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams.
Normally, it is applied topically to hair care by massaging your head with it. It helps keep your hair scalp free from lice and lice eggs.
4. Coconut Oil For Weight Loss
One of the most important health benefits of coconut oil is its ability to make you lose weight.
Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which help you burn more calories compared to other fats. This helps obese people to dissipate more energy.
Research studies show that this oil helps reduce abdominal fat in women. Furthermore, it is easy to digest which also increases body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas thereby helping obese and overweight people lose weight.
5. Using Coconut Oil Boosts The Brain Function
What makes coconut oil unique in brain function is a large amount of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that it contains.
These MCFAs are easily absorbed by the liver and quickly metabolized to ketones which serve as energy channel for the brain. Alzheimer’s patients appear to have a reduced ability to utilize carbohydrate for energy in certain parts of the brain.
Research have made speculations that ketones can provide an alternating source of energy for the brain cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, a 2006 scientific study shows that consumption of MCTs led to immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s disease
Other studies have shown that MCTs have possible therapeutic effects in Alzheimer’s disease.
6. Coconut Oil Can Curbs Appetite
One amazing fact about coconut oil is that it reduces hunger by increasing satiety.
This may be unrelated to the fact that ketones which are metabolized from its fatty acid can have an appetite reducing effect.
Animal research has found that diets with long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are associated with greater food intake, while medium-chain fatty acids correlate with lower food intake.
This could be attributed to the effect of MCFAs on hunger and satiating hormones.
Also, another study discovers that men who ate mostly MCTs at breakfast ate fewer calories at lunch.
7. Coconut Oil For Dental care
Traditionally, oil pulling has been used as a method to prevent tooth decay and generally for strengthening teeth, gums and jaw.
Coconut oil is rich in calcium which is an important component of the teeth. Calcium facilitates strong bone formation. Studies also suggest that coconut oil is effective at reducing plaque formation and plaque-induced gingivitis.
Nevertheless, it is becoming apparent that coconut oil is being used as an alternative for mouthwash due to its antibacterial properties.
8. Coconut Oil Improves Digestion
Consuming coconut oil can help improve the digestive system and therefore prevents various digestion-related problems.
By helping the body absorb nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, it contributes to the nutrient store of the body.
Scientific studies show that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) found in coconut oil promotes complete breakdown and digestion of lipids.
It is important to know that not all coconut oil are the same. If you want to enjoy all these health benefits of coconut oil, then purchase extra virgin coconut oil.
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