7 Ways Coconut Oil is Your Ultimate Superfood!
Coconut oil has been making its rounds as an increasingly important health food to include in your diet. However, knowledge of its medicinal benefits is not new. It has been used by cultures across the world for centuries, and the coconut palm is known as ‘the all-giving tree’ in India. One of the reasons it is so beneficial is because it is one of the densest sources of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The points below will show why these are so important and many more reasons why coconut oil should become your kitchen staple!
1- Fat Burning
Coconut oil helps you burn fat, particularly the dangerous belly fat associated with many chronic diseases. Because of how the MCFAs we mentioned are metabolized, they provide a quick source of energy (with improved endurance), increase the number of calories you burn and reduce hunger. This is, at least in part, because of how MCFAs improve digestion, by assisting in absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, calcium and magnesium, and by killing bad bacteria and associated candida.
2- Immune Enriching
Coconut oil is a potent immune-booster, with antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-viral effects. This is in part because of the presence of Lauric Acid, which forms an unhospitable environment for viruses, and fights candida and bacteria.
3- Brain Boosting
When MCFAs are turned into ketones by the liver, there are proven protective effects on the brain. Significant impact has been noted on neurological issues, particularly the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and seizures in general.
4- Cholesterol Curbing
Coconut oil has been found to improve blood cholesterol levels, and to increase “good” HDL cholesterol in your body, which improves multiple risk factors for disease particularly related to the heart.
5- Skin, Hair and Nail Healing
Coconut oil protects hair against damage, nourishes scalp, moisturizes and improves fat content of the skin, and is even found to provide mild protection from sun damage. This is not only because of its soothing and healing effects when applied topically, but also because of its antioxidant content and detoxifying effects on the liver (which also impacts the effects of aging!). As imbalanced hormones also have impact on skin, hair and nails, coconut oils’ positive impact on estrogen levels is another bonus. Finally, the digestive improvements and antimicrobial effects of this food also help with fungal issues (internally and externally), making coconut oil the best all-round member of your internal and external beauty routine.
6- Inflammation Reducing
Another win for the antioxidant levels in coconut oil is the role it plays in reducing inflammation in the body. Inflammation is linked to numerous health issues, with one of the most prevalent of these being arthritis, which coconut oil has exhibited notable effects in soothing.
7- Oral Hygiene Enhancing
Oil-pulling is an ancient technique for oral hygiene, as a means of cleansing the mouth of bacteria and having significant effects on dental issues such as gum disease, tooth pain, and more. Think of the dental bills you’ll save on using this preventative technique, especially if you have kids! Coconut oil is one of the best oils to use for this technique, partially because of its antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities. Check out this great video for more details on how and why this should become a part of your oral care at home!
If these points weren’t enough to inspire you, coconut oil is the safest oil for cooking, because its high saturated fat content makes it the most resistant oil to heat. This means it can cook at high heats without denaturing and is thus extremely resistant to oxidizing (which you don’t want…oxidized oil is carcinogenic). It can also be stored at room temperature for years without getting rancid.