Coconut oil is a super food, although most people do not think that is truly one. Those who believe in the fact that coconut oil has many health benefits use it along with coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut water etc.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Certain studies have confirmed these health benefits of coconut oil:
- Coconut oil contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties
Coconut oil is the richest source of fatty acids with medium length, known as medium-chain fatty acids. Your body metabolises these fats into the liver through the digestive tract and there it converts them into energy, or turns them into ketone bodies. The ketone bodies have therapeutic effects on the disorders of the brain.
- People that eat coconut belong to the healthiest population in the world
People from the South Pacific and New Guinea are the healthiest population, with no fear of heart disease that scares more countries. All over the world coconut is known to be an exotic fruit, however, in these countries coconut is a dietary staple and people take in 60% of their calories from it.
- Coconut oil can help you burn fat
Eating coconut oil increases the expenditure of energy, which burns the fat quickly. A study shown that the consumption of coconut oil reduces obesity, because it is easy to digest. For weight loss take one teaspoon of coconut oil per day.
- It contains lauric acid
50% of the fatty acids in the coconut are lauric acids. Your body converts Lauric acids into monolaurin that is helpful in beating fungi, viruses and also the bacteria named Candida Albicans, which is a source of most infections in people.
- Fatty acids can cure seizures and epilepsy
The fatty acids in the oil increase the concentration of the blood of the ketones and that leads to reducing seizures in children that suffer from epilepsy. The ketone bodies are used in patients that suffer from epilepsy in order to induce ketosis and allow more carbs in food.
- Coconut oil can control your hunger
The fatty acids that coconut oil contains can certainly reduce your feeling of hunger. This is because the converted ketone bodies have the effect of appetite-reducing. In a study were included 6 men, and they were given amounts of medium or long chain fatty acids. 256 fewer calories ate the men eating medium chain fatty acids.
- Cooks at high temperature
Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid, and because of that it gives the highest smoking temperature, while olive oil will oxidise at high temperature. So, you can count on coconut oil for your recipes that need high temperature to prepare.
- Coconut oil can moisturize skin
The coconut oil is useful for treatment for hydration of the skin, too. It prevents wrinkles and sagging skin. In order to do this treatment you should apply the virgin oil on your skin (face and body) for a shiny glow. The oil should be without additives.
- Coconut oil cures diabetes
Eating a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil can help you beat your need for sugar. It also helps to protect against insulin resistance and that is how it reduces the risk of diabetes. This was shown in a study that was done by Garvin Institute.
- It eases digestion
Add the coconut to your diet if you have poor digestion. The oil benefits the disorders of the digest such as tummy bugs and bowel syndrome. The bacteria, parasites and candida, which cause poor digestion, can be killed by the anti-microbial properties of the fatty acids of the coconut oil.