Coconut Oil- 6 Proven Facts You Need To Know

Coconut oil can be used in cooking for wonderfully light, flaky pastries such as scones and pie crusts. It adds a wonderful flavor to foods and its much healthier than traditional fats like lard or butter. Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats that have different effects than most other fats in your diet when taken moderately.

Unlike hydrogenated oils, it is not processed or chemically treated and therefore retains all of its healthy plant based nutrients. Used in moderation, coconut oil could be more actively beneficial than Olive oil.

Coconuts that are not fully matured will be light brown in color. A mature coconut will yield more oil than a young one. Cold processed virgin coconut oils made with no heat. This is to allow the oil to retain more of its natural health benefits, antioxidants, and vitamins.

According to research sipping a spoonful of coconut oil each day will not only increase immunity against diseases but also it lowers blood pressure, relieves joint pain and even aid in the treatment of cancer. Coconut oil can also be applied to the skin and hair to enhance its moisture levels and repair damaged cells and follicles.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL

You might be wondering what coconut oil is good for. Well lets look at the amazing health benefits of coconut oil.

1. Coconut Oil Protect Your Skin, Hair and Dental Health

Coconut oil has numerous uses that have nothing to do with eating it. Most people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair. Recent studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture content of the skin. Which can also reduce symptoms of eczema in the skin and speed up healing wounds.

In case you don’t  know, the secret behind the long and shining hair of women in tropical coastal regions is coconut oil. Maybe you are worried about your damaged hair. Coconut oil is the solution. It is an excellent conditioner and helps the re-growth process of damaged hair.

One study shows effectiveness as a weak sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Using coconut oil to regularly massage your head, you can ensure that your scalp is dandruff free, even if your scalp is chronically dry.

Calcium is a vital component of our teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth and also stops tooth decay. You can also use coconut oil as a mouth wash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath.

2. Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s disease occurs primarily in elderly individuals. Its the most common cause of dementia worldwide. In Alzheimer’s patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.

Researchers have shown that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning brain cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s. One study made in 2006, consumption of medium chain triglycerides led to improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s. However, keep in mind that research is still early and there is no evidence to suggest that coconut oil itself helps with Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Coconuts Oil May Reduce Seizures With Its Fatty Acids

The popularly known (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currently being studied to treat various disorders. The most therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children. This involves eating very few carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketones in the blood.

For some reason, the diet dramatically reduces the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs. Because the fatty acids in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketones, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet.