Coconut Oil Benefits

Discover the health and medical benefits of coconut oil – from hair and facial treatment to weight control.

Welcome to CoconutOilBenefits.org

This site is intended to provide information and resources on coconut oil benefits and the associated products that derive from coconut oil.

Coconut Oil Benefits In Cooking

Coconut contains many health benefits and is a nutritious source of meat, milk juice and oil. For generations it has been effectively used to feed, fuel and cure a large percentage of the world’s population, especially in the Asian and Pacific countries.

While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber, vitamins and nutritional content, it’s the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.

Coconut oil used to be regarded as oil, high in saturated fat and therefore not good for our diet. But recent studies have shown that the coconut oil is a different sort of saturated fat that reacts differently in our bodies.

It’s all to do with the type of fat molecule that is present in the oil. Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Most of the saturated and unsaturated fats found in our daily diet consist of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA).

MCFA are very different from LCFA. They do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and actually help to protect against heart disease. MCFA help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is primarily due to the MCFA in coconut oil that makes it so special and so beneficial.

There are only a very few good dietary sources of MCFA. By far the best sources are from coconut and palm kernel oils.

Coconut Oil Benefits In Medicine

Traditional medicine among the Asian and Pacific population have used the healing properties of coconut oil extensively and to great effect. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness.

Scientists have recently discovered the healing properties of coconut oil and how it can be used in modern medicine to treat a variety of conditions. Because it is a natural product it doesn’t contain the man made additives that are often found in similar products.

Here’s why coconut oil is so highly regarded:

* Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. It kills viruses that have a lipid (fatty) coating, such as herpes, HIV, hepatitis C, the flu, and mononucleosis. Coconut oil isn’t a cure in itself, but it does contain these properties that fight against such ailments.

It also kills the bacteria that cause pneumonia, sore throats, dental cavities, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrhea, food poisoning, pneumonia, and many more bacterial infections. It kills the fungus/yeast infections that cause candida, ringworm, athletes foot, thrush, jock itch, diaper rash and more.

* Coconut oil is able to boost energy levels and endurance. It is not stored like other fats and actually breaks down much quicker within the liver and used like a carbohydrate. Athletes and bodybuilders use it as a natural supplement in sports drinks. It also increases your metabolism which is great for anyone wanting to lose weight. In fact there is a whole industry devoted to losing weight through coconut products and recipes.

* Digestion – Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and absorption of fat soluble vitamins, minerals and amino acids thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Diabetics use it to reduce their symptoms a d the risk of diabetes is reduced with regular use of coconut oil in your cooking.

* Coconut oil contains high levels of anti-oxidants which help to protect the body from free radicals and prevent degenerative diseases and premature aging.

* Coconut oil is actually good for your heart despite the bad press it has received over the years. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps to prevent various heart related problems such as high ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

Other Coconut Oil Benefits

* Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It promotes healthy hair providing it with a shinny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. It acts as an excellent shampoo or conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams.

* Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

* Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. But unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

* Anti-Itch Cream: Coconut oil is anti-inflamatory, so it’s possible it would bring some relief from bug bites, as it promotes healing.

* Healing Balm: Since it’s anti-inflammatory, coconut oil might be useful as a salve to speed healing of bruises, strains, and sore muscles.

* Mosquito repellent: Coconut oil is used in many mosquito repellents as a natural product, rather than using Deet. Just by eating it or using it as a shampoo or face cream etc., could ward of those pesky bugs!

Now you know the many benefits of coconut oil. There are plenty of good online stores that sell coconut oil products. Its worldwide popularity speaks for itself, but up until now you probably never realized how beneficial it actually is!

Coconut oil is truly the healthiest oil you can consume. It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, and contains no trans fat (even olive oil has some trans fat). You can even use it on your skin to help prevent wrinkles.

Learn more about the health benefits that coconut oil has to offer in these videos..

Coconut Oil Benefits for Hair, Skin, Hands, Nails, and Diet:

Tell us how you use coconut oil and what benefits you’ve experienced in doing so. Please drop your comments below.

Thanks,

Sarah