In the last few years, many claims have been made about the health benefits of coconut oil. So much so, it's become a hot commodity in thousands of health and beauty products.
Still, much controversy surrounds the actual health benefits of coconut oil. Some ask if the claims of its benefits are exaggerated.
I have carefully researched the benefits you can expect from coconut oil and left out any health claims for which I couldn't find evidence.
I hope this post will help to end the lore surrounding coconut oil and provide you with all its fantastic health benefits.
Table of Contents
7 Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
1. Coconut Oil is Good For Immunity
A healthy immune system is central to good health. Every day it has to fend off scores of bacteria so that you don't catch viruses and other illnesses.
The way coconut oil boosts the immune system is through the ingestion of saturated fats… Specifically medium-chain triglycerides.
The immune system uses these medium-chain triglycerides to create antimicrobials – which we commonly think of as antibodies. Antibodies are the primary way your body fights viruses and infections.
Additionally, the fats in coconut oil contain Lauric and Caprylic acids. When these compounds break down, they convert into antibodies to fight diseases like influenza, herpes, H-pylori, Candida, and even HIV.
You can see why having moderate amounts of saturated fat in your diet is necessary to keep your immune system healthy.
2. Coconut Oil is Good For Digestion
Since ancient times coconut oil has been held to aid digestion. This is one of the main reasons it's the main ingredient in Indian cooking. Healthy Indian food is based on optimal digestion, which is the key to health.As you just learned, coconut oil has a powerful anti-microbial benefit to help fight off harmful bacteria and boost your immunity.
Many digestive disturbances are due to the presence of microbes in the food we eat. We naturally have bacteria in our gut that aid digestion, but these often react (in a bad way) with certain enzymes in other food.
The primary way coconut oil helps our digestion is by curing indigestion.
The saturated fats in coconut oil neutralize micro bacteria to keep your digestive tract at its optimal performance.
3. Coconut Oil Can Help Fight Infection
Coconut oil is suitable for a variety of infections, both internal and external.
Externally, you can apply it on cuts, scrapes, and bruises – but it can also prevent and heal other conditions like eczema and rashes. It does this by creating an impermeable layer of oil between your skin and the air. Typically, this would result in your skin not being able to breathe properly. But the chemical makeup of coconut oil both aerates and moisturizes the skin at the same time.
Internally, coconut oil is an excellent treatment for candida and other yeast infection. Candida grows in a low PH toxic environment. If you're overweight, overeat junk food, or if your immune system is unhealthy, you are more likely to get yeast infections.
Also, oil pulling with coconut oil can pull microorganisms from your oral cavity that cause gingivitis and plaque. Read more about that here.
4. Coconut Oil and Heart Disease
The claimed benefits of coconut oil for in the prevention of heart disease is the most contested area of debate. The debate is because coconut oil is a saturated fat.
High saturated fat would seem to indicate a negative health impact on health by creating fatty tissues. Though coconut oil is rich in saturated fatty acid, there is a structural difference. Coconut oil is one of the least harmful forms of saturated fats you can use because it's rich in medium size triglycerides.
Around the world cardiovascular disease causes over 13 million deaths a year. 60 million of these people live in the United States. The most common form of heart disease due to the build-up of plaque, fat and scar tissue around the arteries.
The most common causes of heart disease are:
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
You would think that coconut oil would be an unlikely candidate as a dietary recommendation to decrease your risk of heart disease? It isn't. Replacing your oils with coconut oil reduces your risk of heart disease.
5. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Weight
Most people assume that because coconut oil is a fat that it will cause you to gain weight. This is one of the greatest misconceptions because it can aid weight loss. Again, this is because of the medium-chain triglycerides which are easier for your body to break down than other saturated fats. There are fundamental differences between some saturated fats and others. And some are more likely to accumulate in your arteries than others.
A Healthy Gut
The saturated fats found in coconut oil increase the body's metabolism and promote optimal health of the thyroid. Having a high metabolism means that your body burns calories at an increased rate. This is due to the acidity of your stomach acid and how efficiently it converts food to energy. Having a healthy gut will increase your chances of having a high metabolism to help you lose weight.
The enzymes contained in coconut oil act as a stimulus to your stomach acid and help you break down fat quicker. As your metabolism increases, you can burn a higher proportion of the calories you take in. They also promote a healthy gut by fighting bacteria and strengthening the stomach lining.
Coconut oil is much better for you to use in cooking than other oils because it has added benefits not found in other oils.
6. Coconut Oil For Your Hair
There is a reason many companies use coconut oil in their high-end products. It's because it's one of the best natural hair conditioners in the world. The best part is coconut oil is relatively cheap, and it gets results!The benefits of coconut oil for your hair are remarkable. It keeps your hair moisturized and promotes hair growth while keeping the scalp free of dandruff.
But the main benefit comes from increasing the protein in your hair – which makes for stronger and fuller growth. It's often prescribed as a remedy to slow hair loss and here's why:
Lauric acid
One of the leading causes of hair loss is the action of microbes on the scalp and hair follicles. Because Lauric acid is an anti-microbial – it prevents the build-up of damaging bacteria to prevent hair loss – and stimulates growth.
This means that not only is coconut oil great for your hair, but it can also prevent loss if used regularly.
Capric Acid
Coconut oil also has Capric acid. Capric acid is another anti-microbe that works in a similar way to Lauric acid. It attacks microbes at the source preventing hair loss and stimulating growth.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps is key to keeping the skin and hair in tip-top condition. It's one of the main ways in which your hair has shine and texture.
Fatty acids
The fatty acids serve as an excellent anti-dandruff method that far out-performs most dandruff shampoos. Regular use softens and moistens the skin reducing flakes.
7. Coconut Oil For Your Skin
The vitamin E in coconut oil acts as an antioxidant – meaning that it protects your skin from UV light, pollution, and the adverse effects of smoke and other “free radicals.”But coconut oil has fantastic moisturizing benefits beyond the high Vitamin E content.
Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer. And very unlikely that you will have any adverse reaction to it as it is completely natural. You won't have to worry about rashes or reactions happening to your skin.
In fact, it treats and alleviates many common skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. This is why it's so commonly used in skin treatments worldwide.
Anti-aging
Finally, coconut oil works as an anti-aging cream. The antioxidants of vitamin E provide an internal layer of protection from the sun.
By now you can see that coconut oil is one of nature's most healing oils. It can help your health in so many ways. Eating well and treating your body with natural products are central to living a long and fruitful life.
The fact that coconut oil can treat a variety of common ailments and illnesses only serves to strengthen the need to stock it in your home at all times.
As usual, please do not hesitate to ask questions in the comment area below. I'm here to help you out and would love nothing more than for you to be the healthiest and happiest version of yourself possible. Let me know if you need anything, and I will be sure to get back within “hours” most of the time.
great information covered on this page. I am a fan of coconut oil for the last 3-4 years now and i use it for cooking, moisturising, healthy hair and never looked back.
If i get comments on my smooth skin i tell them to try coconut oil and use both internally and externally.
Thanks for sharing and connecting!
Great article well researched. It shows how coconut oil is beneficial for daily living. I remembered my father was nursing my brother’s hand. He had a big cut on his left hand which may have been around 20 stitches if taken to hospital. My dad asked to scraped some fresh coconut then squeezed the cream to his wound then placed the coconut flesh ontop and put a bandage around it. He was doing that each day and within days the wound started healing up. Coconut oils is a part of my everyday diet which is in our culture. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your great story Darusila! xo Jackie
Thank you for writing this wonderful article about coconut oil! I’ve been swishing coconut oil in my mouth for the last 2 years (oil pulling), and it has really improved my dental health. Fewer cavities and whiter teeth! In addition to putting it in your hair, I’m wondering if eating coconut oil can also improve hair growth/slow hair loss?
Hi Audrey,
Yes, Coconut oil is loaded with natural antioxidants and nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin K and Iron. Each of these plays a key role in keeping your hair healthy!
Thanks for connecting,
Jackie
Thank you for posting an informative article about coconut oils. Actually recently discovered the wonder of coconut oils. I love Fried Chicken and coconut oil makes my favorite food more healthy. Check out this healthy recipe for Fried Chicken Fingers in Coconut Oil.
Source: https://coconutoils.com/fried-chicken-fingers/