Coconut Oil
Normally when I think of coconut, dreams of pina coladas poolside, cream pies piled high with meringe and even those little coconut encrusted marshmallows come to mind. Yum!
Lately, I’ve been loving it for all new reasons! Learning that coconut oil is a staple of nutrition & traditional medicine has been eye opening. It’s used to promote health and treat an amazing variety of ailments, not to mention big anti-aging benefits.
In years past, coconut oil was not often touted because of its high saturated fat content. Saturated fats have been blamed for contributing to heart disease and high cholesterol. Nutritionists have now learned that coconut oil is possibly the most healthy oil to be found, surpassing even olive oil! As scientists learn more about fats, and their effect on health, they discovered that the length of the fat chains in coconut oil allow them to be more readily used for energy than many other fats. Coconut oil fat doesn’t hang around clogging up the bloodstream, or settling in around vital organs. Studies have shown coconut oil may even help clear other, less healthy fats, away.
Coconut oil* contains three compounds — lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid. — that make it valuable as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and moisturizer. There are so many benefits to coconut oil, it’s mindblowing! Here are a few:
Hair care: Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for skin and hair. It can help dandruff, whether caused by a dry scalp or something more serious. It can revitalize dry, brittle hair.
Skin care: It can be used topically to fight wrinkles, heal abrasions & fight fungal infections! It kills harmful bacteria and fungi without damaging tissues, and also moisturizes wounds to prevent them from drying out. It can be used as an alternative to commercially produced creams & lotions, heal flaking, cracked skin, and help in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, and to speed up the recovery of bruises.
Immune support: The lauric acid in coconut oil is converted by the body into monolaurin, which is key to a strong immune system. This can help the body fight off a variety of viruses and infections, such as cold, the flu, and even harmful parasites such as giardia lamblia. It can also be used topically to heal skin abrasions and fight fungal infections. It kills harmful bacteria and fungi without damaging tissues.
Cardiovascular health: The lauric acid in coconut oil can help to prevent or lessen issues such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can also contribute to greater elasticity in the veins and arteries, for a more healthy circulatory system
Healthy organ function: Coconut oil supports the function of the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and gall bladder, our body’s clean up crew! This helps everything operate smoothly & preventg disease in these important organs.
Digestion: This oil has antimicrobial properties to fight off bad bacteria, fungi & parasites found in the digestive tract, helping to promote healthier digestion. This can prevent issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and also allow more efficient absorption of nutrients in food.
Blood sugar: Coconut oil improves the secretion of insulin. Insulin helps the body regulate blood sugar and enables the body to more efficiently use glucose for energy. Helpful in preventing & treating diabetes.
Bones and teeth: Coconut oil can improve the body’s ability to absorb minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which contribute to strong bones and teeth.
Weight loss: The fatty acids in coconut oil are easy to digest, and are used up quickly by the body as energy. Healthy dietary fats (coconut oil) speed up the body’s metabolism to burn more calories, while at the same time contributing to a sense of feeling full. When you feel full, you eat less.
Bonus: Coconut Oil tastes good! Check out my “Favorite Recipes” tab above for ways to use coconut oil!
Helpful Links: *Coconut oil. (2015, July 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:44, August 10, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coconut_oil&oldid=673645038
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lauric_acid&oldid=672579083
