The health benefits
of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric
acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial,
antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and soothing properties.
The health benefits of coconut
oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol
levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney
problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes,
HIV and cancer,
dental care, and bone strength.
How is Lauric Acid used by our body?
The human body
converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with
viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza,
cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as
listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as
giardia lamblia.
Coconut oil consists of more
than ninety percent of saturated fats (Don’t panic! First read to the last
word. Your opinion may change), with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids,
such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin
coconut oil is no different from this.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Let us now explore the benefits of
coconut oil in detail:
Hair Care
Coconut oil is one of the
best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing
them a shiny complexion. It is effective in reducing the protein loss for damaged and undamaged hair.
Massaging hair after bath
is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also
provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. Research
study indicates that coconut oil provides better protection to hair from
damaged caused by hygral fatigue. Regular head massage with coconut oil ensures
that your scalp
is free from dandruff, even if your scalp is dry. It also helps in
keeping hair and scalp free from lice eggs.
Skin Care
Coconut Oil is an
excellent massage oil for skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on
all types of skins including dry skin.
Unlike mineral oils,
coconut oil never
produces any adverse side effects on skin. It delays wrinkles, and
sagging of skin which normally become with age. Coconut oil also helps treating
various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other infections.
Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative disease
due to its antioxidant
properties
Heart Diseases
There is a
misconception spread among many people that oil is not good for the heart. This
is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil
is beneficial for the heart.
It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart
problems including high cholesterol levels and high pressure. The saturated
fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other
vegetable oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the
incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing
atherosclerosis.
Weight Loss
Coconut oil is very useful in
reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in
taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy
functioning of thyroid and enzyme systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by
removing stress on pancreas, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese
and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence people living in tropical
coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are
normally not fat, obese or overweight.
Digestion
Internal use of
coconut oil prevents various stomach and digestion related problems incluing irritable bowel
syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have
anti-microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria (H.pylori), fungi, parasites, etc..that
cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such
as vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Should avoid the reuse of same fried or used oil or baked
oil.
Immunity
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Coconut oil
strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid,
capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and
antiviral properties. It fight against upto HIV.
Healing and Infections
When applied on
infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust,
air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on
bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
Cancer
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other
cancers.
Cure
for Athlet’s Feet
The 8% caprylic acid in coconut oil is said to be
effective against fungus, and on skin conditions like planter's warts and
athlete's foot.
Specified effects
Coconut oil is strongly recommended
for other benefits which are written below. Usage of coconut oils mildly helps
for the following:
Liver: The
presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids help in preventing liver
diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach
liver, thus reducing
workload on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.
Kidney: It helps
in preventing kidney and bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney
stones.
Stress Relief:
Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying
coconut oil to the head followed with gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.
Diabetes Mellitus:
Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of
insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose,
thereby preventing and treating and diabetes.
Bones: Coconut
oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include Ca, Mg
which is necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to
women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.
So Coconut oil is a versatile oil that
should be included in our diet accordingly, and also in accordance with
diseases.
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