Coconut Oil- 6 Proven Facts You Need To Know

4. Coconut Oil Can Reduce Your Hunger Level and Help You Eat Less

Another unique feature of the fatty acids in coconut oil is that they can reduce your hunger. This may be related to the way the fats are metabolized, because ketones can have an appetite reducing effect. Fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may lead to reduced body weight over the long term.

According to a study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men. The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average. Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate fewer calories at lunch.

These studies were small and only done for short periods of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could help lead to reduced body weight over a period of several years.

5. Coconut Oil helps Prevent Yeast Infection – Candida

Candida, also known as systemic candidiasis, is a tragic disease caused by an excessive and uncontrolled growth of yeast called Candida albicans in the stomach. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food by Dr. David Olusoga Ogbolu et al. on coconut oil suggests that it provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, both externally and internally.

Its high moisture retaining capacity keeps the skin from cracking or peeling off. Capric acid, caprylic acid, caproic acid, myristic acid, and lauric acid found in coconut oil help in eliminating Candida albicans.

Further, unlike other pharmaceutical treatments for candida, the effect of coconut oil is gradual and not drastic or sudden, which gives the patient an appropriate amount of time to get used to the withdrawal symptoms or Herxheimer reactions (the name given to the symptoms accompanying body’s rejection of toxins generated during elimination of these fungi). But in the treatment of this condition, people should systematically and gradually increase their dosages of coconut oil, and shouldn’t initially start with a large quantity.

6. Coconut Oil Improves Heart Health

The lauric acid present in coconut oil helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. It does not lead to an increase in LDL cholesterol levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and, therefore, helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

A study led by Dr. Alan Feranil et al., University of San Carlos suggests that intake of this oil may help in maintaining healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women. So, finally, is it good or bad for the heart?

Well, if you are using it for edible purposes, check your cholesterol levels regularly. If you find them increasing, it is better to stop consuming the oil. In any case, do consult a professional medical practitioner before you start consuming coconut oil. Never play with your (and someone else’s) heart!

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT OIL

I prefer using this method because it retains the nutritional content of the coconut oil thereby giving it a wonderful flavor.

• Split a coconut with a sharp cleaver. I prefer you use a mature , brown coconut rather than a young green one.
• Scrape the meat of the coconut from the shell and use a coconut scrapper or sharp knife. Removing the meat is tricky. A butter knife is much better than a sharp paring knife. You can slide it in between the meat and the shell and pop pieces off, rather than a slip and cut your hand.
• Cut the coconut meat into small pieces or shred the coconut flesh with the scrapper and place the pieces into a food processor(Blender). Turn on the blender to a medium speed and blend until well shredded. Add a little water to help it blend if necessary.
• Filter the milk. Put a coffee filter or a cheesecloth over a wide-mouth jar. Pour or spoon a small amount of the coconut mixture onto the cloth. Wrap the cloth around the coconut mixture and squeeze the milk into the jar
• Squeeze hard to make sure you get every drop. Repeat this process until all of the coconut mixtures has been used.
• Leave the jar unattended for at least 24 hours. As it sets, the coconut milk and oil will separate and a layer of curd will appear at the top of the jar.
• Refrigerate the jar so the curd hardens more quickly if you’d like, If you’d prefer not to refrigerate it, leave the jar in a cool room.
• Scoop out the curd with a spoon and discard it. The pure virgin coconut oil is left in the jar.

Uses of Coconut Oil

Top uses of coconut oil include:

• Skin moisturizer
• Nourish scalp and increase hair growth
• Culinary applications
• Carrier oil

Use as Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are those oils, which easily penetrate or absorb into the skin, facilitating seepage or absorption of other oils (such as essential oils) and herbal extracts when mixed into it. It is easily absorbed through the skin’s pores and thus is used as a carrier oil.

Furthermore, being one of the most stable oils, it doesn’t go rancid, nor does it let the other oils, herbal extracts, or medicines spoil inside of it. It does not alter the properties of the oils and herbs mixed with it. It also protects the herbs and oils from microbial or fungal interactions.

The oil is expensive in several countries; however, in tropical countries, its cost is low enough to make it affordable as a carrier oil. It is best to use pure and fractionated coconut massage oil for skincare.

Where to buy?

Coconut oil is easily available online and supermarkets. All you need to do is choose the right product basis your requirements!

• Organic extra virgin coconut oil, unrefined
• Organic virgin coconut oil, unrefined
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Refined coconut oil
• Pure coconut oil for hair and skin

How to Use and Store?

Unlike most other oils, coconut oil has a high melting point – about 24 to 25 degrees Celsius or 76-78 Fahrenheit. Therefore, it is solid at room temperature and melts only when the temperature rises considerably. It is often in this form and is not supposed to be kept it in the refrigerator.

• If you are using it for topical purposes, especially hair care, just melt the oil (if it is solid) by keeping the bottle in the sun or soaking it in warm water.

You can also take some oil out and put it in a small bowl and warm it. Then, take the oil on your palm and apply it to your hair.

• You can use coconut oil for cooking your favorite recipes. It can easily replace butter or vegetable oil.

Remember, you don’t need to completely switch to the oil because then you will lose other benefits from more traditional oils and dairy products.

In colder countries, the oil comes in good, broad containers. However, if you get it in a pack (tetra-pack or plastic pouch), after opening the pack, be sure to keep the oil in containers with a tight lid and broad mouth. This will help you scoop it out with a spoon if it solidifies. Make sure you seal the container well to avoid any attention of insects or rodents!

I don’t like the taste of coconut oil. What should I do?

If you are keen on trying it then may be using it in a variety of recipes, and using it in baking may help. In case if you feel nauseated then don’t force yourself to eat it. Just in case you develop allergic reactions then it is better to avoid coconut oil completely.

The oil is available in various forms. You can try neutral tasting, steam refined coconut oil as it does not have a distinct taste and flavor. Coconut oil capsules are also available in the market.

Hope this article will be of some help? Do you have any suggestions? Your comments are welcome. Share to your friends if it was beneficial.

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You might also want to read: Easy Pumpkin Soup With Coconut Milk