Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can actually be classified as a superfood. There is such a hype surrounding the product that it really makes you wonder what the sudden ubiquitousness of this tropical plant is all about.
It contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties.
Coconut oil contains what is known as medium chain fatty triglycerides, which are fatty acids of a medium length. Most are considered to be long-chain in fatty acids, but coconut oil is metabolized differently. They go from the liver to the digestive tract, where they are then used as a quick source of energy.
Places that eat coconut oil are considered to be the healthiest on the planet.
Coconut oil is still considered to be an exotic food in our Western Society, primarily consumed by health conscious people. In some parts of the world, however, coconut oil is a dietary staple. In the South Pacific, they eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts, and they are the largest consumers of saturated fat in the world. They also have excellent health, not even a shred of evidence leading to heart disease.
Helps to control weight
One 2009 Study looked at the weight loss link between consumption of coconut oil and found that it reduced abdominal obesity. Coconut is easy to digest, and also protects the body from insulin resistance.
Good Source of Lauric Acid
The lauric acid in coconut oil can kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and help stave off infections. When the oil is enzymatically digested, it forms a monoglyceride known as Monolaurin. Lauric acid and monolaurin help to kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
They can reduce seizures
A ketogenic diet is a low carb diet that is very high in fat; this leads to increased concentrations in ketone bodies in the blood. For some reason, this type of diet can reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children.
Ease Digestion
Many people suffer from digestive issues; those people should consider adding coconut oil into their diets. Coconut oil benefits digestive disorders including IBS and microbial stomach bugs. The fatty acids contain antimicrobials that have a soothing effect on bacteria, candida, and even parasites that cause poor digestion.
Helps to Manage Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study done by the Garvin Institute of Medical Research showed that coconut oil helps to protect against insulin resistance, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Cooks at high temperatures
Because of the medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil has a higher smoking temperature than most oils. You might find that you like it better than your usual olive oil, especially if you are cooking recipes that require a higher cooking temperature. Olive oil oxidizes when it reaches smoke point causing free radicals.
Slows Fine lines and aging signs
Coconut oil is not just for consumption, but it has many beauty benefits as well! It helps to keep the connective tissue strong, preventing wrinkles and skin sagging. Apply the oil directly to your face to soften the appearance of fine lines or use it daily to give a lovely moisturizing glow!
Kill Your hunger, and make you eat less without trying
One of the best things about coconut oil is that it can reduce hunger. It may be related to the way that fatty acids in it are metabolized, because of the ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect.
Article was published on Complete Health and Happiness, republished with permission.
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do you recommend any particular brand? With so many to choice from, what do you look for when choosing the healthiest on to consumer and cook with? Thank you for so many great tips!
How do you recommend we get this one ounce? Use it in cooking I understand, but in what other ways.
You could’ve added that a waddle around the block or any basic physical exercise will be just as good, if not better.
Instead of hawking off some random plant oil and waffling on about it’s nutritional biochemistry – recommend physical activity. Instead of perpetuating ignorant consumerism – get people off their overweight assessment. Exercise will slow ageing, control hunger (in your target audiences case: over eating), aid in managing metabolic disorders (diabetes etc.), promotes digestion, reduces risk of mental disorders etc etc etc.
Don’t just eat something else. Exercise. Get on your feet.
I work the pharmacy department at Walmart and I see there is coconut oil on the shelves would that be the coconut oil that you would use to lose weight and take wrinkles away
Awful funny the state of Hawaii and most of the islands that actually eat this stuff are obese.
I was told the coconut oil molecules were too big to be absorbed thru facial skin