The Wonders of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is making big news these days, it has recently been classified as a “superfood” but the incredible benefits of coconut oil don’t stop there, coconut oil has so many more wonderful properties and uses. Although a long list could be produced of the many uses and benefits of coconut oil, for the purposes of this article and brevity we will discuss the top ten that have been studied and confirmed in human trials.

Proven Benefits of Coconut Oil:

1. Contains Powerful Medicinal Properties -The fatty acids found in coconut oil contain powerful antioxidant and medicinal properties that numerous studies have confirmed have beneficial effects on health. Coconut oil was once thought of as an unhealthy food because of the fact that ninety percent of its fatty acids are saturated fat, which for years the FDA (recommended daily amounts) were telling the U.S. to limit, but recent studies are proving the exact opposite of what we had previously been told. To date research clearly indicates that the fats found in nuts produce protective effects on the body’s metabolic system and reduce the rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and other potentially deadly diseases.
2. Can Assist in Weight Loss – The long term consumption of coconut oil can produce significant weight loss. According to the findings of research the medium chain triglycerides found abundantly in coconut oil can increase your body to utilize or expend energy by as much as five percent, equaling 120 calories in 24 hours, resulting in weight loss.
3. Can Kill Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi – Half of the fatty acids in coconut oil is lauric acid, and when coconut oil is broken down by enzymes and digested it produces a monoglyceride derivative called monolaurin. In numerous studies both lauric acid and monolaurin have been shown to kill dangerous germs that cause infection.
4. Has Multiple Uses When Used Externally – Cosmetically coconut oil has numerous uses, it has been shown in studies to be beneficial to the skin, hair and even in oral hygiene. It has been widely used as a make-up remover, skin moisturizer, and sun block, as well as helping to improve the health and appearance of hair. It has also been known to help with dental health and hygiene by way of a process called oil pulling, whereby it is used as a type of mouthwash to kill germs and bacteria, reducing bad breath.
5. Regions That Consume Large Amounts of Coconut Have No Heart Disease – Adding to the influx of positive findings on the benefits of consuming coconut oil is the studies on multiple generations of populations that derive as much as 60 percent of their daily caloric intake from coconut. These studies have found that heart disease and stroke are nonexistent among these peoples, further confirming that the saturated fats found in coconuts are beneficial to your health and may help prevent heart disease.
6. Coconut Oil Can Act as an Appetite Suppressant – Studies have shown (in men) that the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil influenced the appetites of the men in the study. The men who ate the most coconut (fatty acids) consumed on average 256 fewer calories each day. If the principal were applied over a long period of time this could lead to positive weight loss.
7. Can Reduce Epileptic Seizures in Children – Studies have indicated that a low carbohydrate, high fat diet called a ketogenic diet produces dramatically higher concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood. Increased ketone bodies in the blood have been shown to reduce the number of seizures in children who are anti-seizure drug resistant. The medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil go to the liver where it is converted into ketone bodies and thus have been beneficial in reducing seizures in children.
8. Lower Bad Cholesterol (LDL) and Increase Good Cholesterol (HDL) – Studies conducted on both humans and animals have shown that the saturated fats in coconut oil actually raise the good cholesterol and alter the bad cholesterol, converting some into a benign subset.