When added to your dishes, coconut oil can make them more flavorful. When applied to your skin and hair, this natural oil will increase their health. moreover, your body can reap the health benefits from consuming coconut oil in your dishes. Providing many benefits for many parts of your body, what is actually contained in coconut oil?
Coconut Oil Nutrition Breakdown
Fat
Coconut oil is completely contained of fat. So, why is it useful and healthy? The fat in coconut oil is mostly the medium-chain fatty acids. This kind of fat is not stored in your body as a fat so they wont stay long. They can be burned and absorbed to help your body increase its ability in absorbing vitamins and minerals needed. This is why coconut oil is good in lowering bad cholesterol although this oil itself is all fat. Lauric acid contained in coconut’s oil saturated fats are also why make the fat type in this natural oil beneficial for health.
Calorie
Since coconut oil consists of fat completely, it also comes with calories from the fat. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories while a tablespoon of coconut oil has 13.5 grams of fat. So simply consuming a tablespoon of coconut oil will provide your body with both fat and calories without adding more weight due to its low amount of calorie.
Micronutrients
The amount of micronutrients in coconut oil is just a few, containing only iron, vitamin E and vitamin K. these nutrients can help transporting oxygen, preventing blood clot and fighting free radicals.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
- Preventing Heart Disease
Although coconut oil is containing high level of saturated fats, this is great for the heart’s health, due to its lauric acid. The 50 percent of lauric acid found in coconut oil is helpful in preventing damage in the arteries, leading to a healthy heart.
- Treating Alzheimer
Alzheimer can happen caused by the inability of the body in using glucose for the brain. This condition can be treated by increasing blood levels in the ketone bodies for making them able to supply energy to the cells of the brain. Consuming coconut oil, according to some studies can help in supporting this treatment.
- Building Muscle
Coconut oil contains MCFAs that can help you build your muscle. That is why coconut oil’s MCFAs can be found in many products of muscle building. Rather than consuming coconut oil supplements, which produced with processed MCFAs, the real coconut oil is so much better. You only need three tablespoons daily for supporting muscle building.
- Preventing Osteoporosis
The abundant amount of antioxidants in coconut oil can prevent osteoporosis, considering that this condition happens mostly caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.
- Balancing Hormone
Some studies found that the saturated fat in coconut oil is good in balancing hormones, which is a great oil to consume for menopause women or giving good effects on estrogen levels. You need to limit the consumption of grain and sugar to achieve the maximum result.
- Curing Kidney Infection
Kidney infections can be treated with the MCFAs from the coconut oil as it plays a significant role as a natural antibiotic. It is proved with some doctors using this healthy oil in clearing kidney stones.
- Improving Good Cholesterol
One of the best ways in preventing cholesterol is by increasing the good type of cholesterol, and it can be done by consuming coconut oil. The saturated fats contained can help increasing the HDL or the good cholesterol. When the cholesterol is regulated some heart-related problems can be prevented.
- Improving Memory
Still about its MCFAs, coconut oil is also helpful in improving memory for elderly. Body can absorb MCFAs easily so that it can nutrition the brain for fueling the cells. It doesn’t need insulin to access the brain, which makes it even more useful.
- Boosting Immunity
Luric acid, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties as well as other types of healthy acids in coconut oil can boost the immune system. Research has shown that monolaurin, created by the lauric acid conversion in the body, can be used to treat some bacteria and viruses causing some diseases, so it is a great solution to protect your health by strengthening the immune system.
- Relieving Stress
Its soothing effect, due to its antioxidant properties, can help reducing stress simply by massaging the head with coconut oil.
- Improving Energy
Body can easily digest and absorb coconut oil, which means it can be used as energy once it reaches the liver. That is why many triathletes today are using this healthy oil to fuel their energy. If you are one of them, try to mix one tablespoon of coconut oil, chia seeds and raw honey, 30 minutes before exercising, drink this homemade energy booster.
- Reducing Inflammation
A study showed that antioxidants in coconut oil can help reducing inflammation and even good in treating arthritis. Make sure to always use virgin coconut oil since it is the best option.
- Reducing Seizures in Epileptic Children
Epileptic children should eat more fats and low carbohydrates. Coconut oil is a great option for them since it contains MCTs when reaching the liver, it turns into ketone bodies. By consuming coconut oil, seizures can be reduced.
- Helping Weight Loss
The medium-chain fatty acids of coconut oil are excellent in removing the excessive weight in your body. It works by increasing the rate of body’s metabolic and eliminating the pancreas’ stress, leading to burning energy.
- Supporting Healthy Digestion
Containing antimicrobial properties, coconut oil can kill parasites, fungi and bacteria in the stomach that can lead to indigestion. By consuming coconut oil, the stomach not only will be healthier, but your body can absorbs the minerals, vitamins and amino acids better.
- Addressing Infections
If you have external infected areas caused by fungi, dust, viruses or bacteria, apply coconut oil on them for helping the healing process. Bruises can be also treated using coconut oil for making the healing process faster.
- Killing Harmful Microorganisms
Since there is 50 percent of lauric acid contained in coconut’s oil fatty acids, this healthy oil can help killing pathogens. Treating and preventing infections can be well addressed by consuming coconut oil.
- Treating Candida
As a tragic diseases, Candida can lead to inflammation caused by excessive Candida Albicans, a kind of yeast. Coconut oil provides reliever both inside and outside white keeping the skin from peeling. Patients should start using coconut oil in a small amount, to later increase it gradually to let the body used to some reactions or symptoms caused by the fungi elimination process.
- Preventing Liver Disease
When reaching the liver, medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil can be turned into energy, making the liver healthier since it is free from fat accumulation.
- Controlling Blood Sugar
Coconut oil can use the blood sugar in the body effectively while improve the insulin secretion, providing your body with regulated blood sugar and preventing diabetes.
- Maintaining Healthy Bones
Your bones need minerals and coconut oil helps them to absorb mineral better. By consuming coconut oil, some bones-related diseases like osteoporosis can be prevented.
- Caring Teeth
Still about calcium absorption in the body, your teeth can also get the benefits since they need calcium for maintaining the health, stopping tooth decay and reducing plaque.
- Preventing Cancer
The ketones and MCFAs in provided by coconut oil help treating and preventing cancer by killing bacteria and helping recovery.
- Reducing Hunger
The ketone bodies formed by the metabolized fatty acids can reduce the appetite effect. When the appetite is controlled, your body can stop eating too much.
Coconut Oil Benefits for Hair
- Soothing Scalp
If your head is sweating or feeling hot, applying coconut oil can sooth the scalp and make you feel better.
- Combatting Hair Loss
A good natural remedy from sage leaves boiled in coconut oil can help combatting hair loss while keeping your hair healthy. Replace the sage leaves with gooseberries will do the same thing. If you don’t like boiling, just mix coconut oil with lime water.
- Moisturizing Hair
When applied to the hair, coconut oil can retain moisture to prevent the hair from breakage while keeping it soft and moist.
- Preventing Baldness
Baldness prevention using coconut oil can be done by mixing it with Eclipta Alba leaf nd apply to the hair and scalp.
- Getting Rid of Lice
Lice can be removed simply by applying coconut oil to the hair and comb it. it is natural and free of chemical components, so your lice can be eliminated without damaging the hair.
- Minimizing Split Ends
Mix almond oil with coconut oil to massage your hair to minimize the split ends. Now you don’t have to cut the irritating ends.
- Getting Rid of Dandruff
A home remedy made of sesame oil and coconut oil and applied to the hair for half an hour will help getting rid of dandruff. Shampoo the hair afterward. You can also mix coconut oil, lukewarm water and castor oil as the alternative.
- Reducing Protein Loss
Protein loss can lead to damage hair, but coconut oil has a high level of lauric acid to supply the hair protein and prevent from damage.
- Caring Dry Hair
Since coconut oil has a high level of moisture, it is excellent in treating dry hair instead of using chemical conditioners that will make dry hair even drier.
- Conditioning Hair
Condition your hair with warm coconut oil before going to be at night and wash it in the morning to make it healthier and stronger. Another remedy is by mixing coconut oil, henna and warm milk to create a paste and apply it to the hair. Let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing and you are done your natural conditioning.
Coconut Oil Benefits for Skin
- Getting Rid of Dead Skin Cells
Make your own natural body scrub from sugar and coconut oil will help getting rid of the dead skin cells, leaving you with smoother skin. Do this a few times in a week and see the result.
- Treating Dry Skin
Rub your skin with coconut oil will remove its dryness. You can firstly warming up the oil by rubbing it for a while in the hands and start using to the dry areas.
- Cleaning Face
Containing antimicrobial properties and high level of moisture, coconut oil can be a great facial wash to keep your skin clean and pimple-free.
- Repelling Insects
Rather than using chemicals repellent, make your own by mixing coconut oil and essential oils. For eight ounces coconut oil, add 40 drops of essential oils. Reapplying is necessary, but this is much better.
- Removing Makeup
Leave your chemical makeup removers and use coconut oil instead. It is safe to use even for the sensitive areas to remove your makeup.
- Hydrating Skin
Using coconut oil as a night cream can keep the skin hydrated. Those with oily skin can still use their night creams mixed with a few drops of coconut oil for preventing excessive oil. When it is mixed with sunblock, you can use it as a daytime cream.
- Reducing Stretch Marks
Applying coconut oil to stretch marks can fade them away while moisturizing your skin to make the healing process faster.
- Relieving Sunburn
Treat your sunburn skin with coconut oil will is a great and natural way. Make a sunblock using a mixture of red raspberry seed extract and coconut oil to protect your skin from too much sun. coconut oil itself is already great, but if you need a stronger sun protection, this mixture can be an alternative.
- Addressing Cracking Lips
Coconut oil is all natural and it is high in moisture. Using this for treating your cracked lips would be excellent because eating the oil is completely safe.
- Healing Diaper Rash
Babies tend to experience diaper rash, but using chemicals will not good for their skins. Coconut oil is a safe and natural remedy to heal the itchiness, redness and pain of diaper rash. Just apply it to the affected areas.
How to Consume Coconut Oils
- Eat Directly. If you love coconut, why don’t you just consume a spoonful of coconut oil directly? This is the easiest and healthiest way to reap its benefits. Take this before a meal around 20 minutes will keep you full longer and help your diet.
- Mix with Tea or Coffee. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to your favorite hot tea or coffee is another good idea. Mix it until melted and enjoy.
- Add to Smoothies. Make your smoothies healthier by adding a tablespoon of coconut oil. Use melted coconut oil if you don’t like clumps in the smoothies from the coconut oils.
- Mix with Oatmeal. If you love having oatmeal for breakfast, try adding a teaspoon of coconut oil when the oatmeal still warm to add more nutrients.
- Use for Baking. Whatever baked desserts you are making, replace your butter with coconut oil will make them so much healthier. Ensure the ingredients re in the room temperature when adding coconut oil to prevent it from solidifying.
- Add to Yogurt. Mix yogurt with coconut oil well and enjoy it for a tastier and healthier treat. Use melted coconut oil is best since it is easier to mix in.
- Add to Peanut Butter. Natural peanut butter products tend to have the oil separated on the top, so take them out and replace with coconut oil.
Coconut Oil Side Effects
- Diarrhea
Consuming coconut oil can treat constipation, but when it consumed too much, it will provide the opposite, which is a condition like diarrhea. The MCFAs in coconut oil make the bowels loosen and the stools soften, which lead to diarrhea-like condition. It is recommended to consume coconut oil gradually to see the reactions to our body and allow it to get used to it by increasing the dosage slowly.
- Breakout
While virgin coconut oil, for many people are effective in curing acne, some others experience a different reaction. The breakout is actually a healing process when the coconut oil purging out the toxins rom the deep layers of your skin. This process will lead to a worse skin due to the toxin elimination. Depending on the toxin amounts underneath the skin, it might take a few weeks to stop. If you can hold on, just do that to make your skin better later. This side effect happens only by using the virgin type of coconut oil
- Allergic Reactions
This is rarely happen, but some people might experience allergies to coconut or coconut oil. The mild symptoms are hives and skin sensitivity while the severe ones might lead to anaphylactic reaction. Check whether or not you have such allergies before trying.
If you want to get the maximum benefits, pick the virgin coconut oil to use and consume since it is extracted from fresh mature coconuts, unrefined, free of chemicals and high temperature. It has more nutrition than hydrogenated coconut oil and refined coconut oil. By choosing the right type of oil, the benefits expected can maintain the health of your body, hair and skin through the mostly good fat contained in the oil.