The Unbelievable Benefits of Coconut Oil

The benefits of coconut oil are countless, whether you are using it for skin care, dieting, even as a wood furniture polish, or a thousand other uses. Did you know that you can use coconut oil for teeth? As a sunscreen? As a bug repellent? Coconut oil is seriously a multi tasker! Below you will find a series of unbelievable health, skin and dieting benefits, all powerful coconut oil uses and benefits.

Before you start slathering coconut oil over your body, your food and your life, first ensure you are only buying organic, non-GMO, and virgin coconut oil. Because these benefits are all through consumption or topical application, it’s important to guarantee you are only using the best for your body. After all, your body is a temple, and should only receive the most natural, nutrient dense, and chemical free benefits.

Health Benefits

Supports Healthy Digestion

The properties of coconut oil have been found to minimize the often painful and embarrassing issues associated with digestive tract illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Coconut oil contains a high percentage of medium chain triglycerides, which facilitate the absorption of vitamins and nutrients throughout the stomach and intestines. Coconut oil is not only antimicrobial but also antibacterial, both characteristics which can create an unfriendly environment for problematic gut bacteria. It therefore also fosters a better environment for the good flora to flourish. Adding two tablespoons of coconut oil to your diet every day, either on its own if you are into it or through a cooking, you should quickly begin to smooth out bowel movements, regulate gas and bloating, and increase the absorption capacity of nutrients into the body.

Lowers the Risk of Heart Disease

Traditionally cultures that get most of their cholesterol from coconut products like coconut oil, butter and meat, have some of the lowest rates of heart disease on the planet. This is in spite of the fact that coconut oil is actually quite high in cholesterol. It seems to raise the levels of the good cholesterol called HDL while simultaneously lowering the bad kind, LDL. It’s one of the only cooking oils that have primarily medium chain fatty acids instead of the more common and less healthy long-chain fatty acids. Medium chain fatty acids are important for reducing risk of heart disease, especially because in the developed world it is difficult to find these within our normal diet.

Boosts Immunity

Through a series of complicated biologically triggered conversions within your body, coconut oil is able to boost your immunity and protect you against viruses and other pathogens. First, coconut oil contains a high percentage of lauric acid, which is converted by your body into something called monolaurin. Monolaurin is a powerful virus and pathogen killer, in one study it was especially efficient at killing the Staph virus while in another it was found to target Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Coconut oil is able to effectively treat and reduce the risk of candida infection as well.

Skin Benefits

Glowing Skin

The health benefits of coconut oil are many, but there remains a full world to explore of skin and beauty remedies tied to this miraculous product. Use it as a chemical free makeup remover, apply to a beauty face brush and give your face deep cleansing, or use it as a deep conditioner for dry or oily skin. It really is the miracle beauty product, that can be used for almost anything. It sooths and heals sunburns, it also offers a bit of protection by being naturally anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial.

Diminishes Stretch Marks and Scars

Obviously, coconut oil is a great moisturizer, but because it is so easily absorbed through the skin and so quickly, it is able to deeply penetrate through the layers. In order to effectively treat stretch marks and scars, you need to get deep into the skin with nourishing moisturizers, and what easier way to do than with coconut oil. There is a belief that because coconut oil is rich in antioxidants it will target any rogue free radicals as well.

Diet Benefits

Supports Weight Loss

The medium chain fatty acids found within coconut oil directly contribute to weight loss. These essential nutrients, when consumed before a meal, will help you feel full more quickly, and help you feel full much longer. These fatty acids promote burning more calories as well! In a research review, scientists discovered that diets which are rich in medium chain fatty acids contribute to higher levels of energy, as well as decreased hunger and higher calorie burn.

Great Source of Energy

The energy boosting ability of coconut oil is also unsurprisingly from the medium chain fatty acids. Compared to other fats or oils, coconut oil is high in these fatty acids, and therefore much more energizing. Unlike long or short chain fatty acids, medium chain can be immediately absorbed without the need to be broken down. Once absorbed they head straight to the liver and get turned immediately into a powerful energy boost.

References

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-coconut-oil-for-skin-and-hair/2/

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/coconut-oil-face/

https://www.davidwolfe.com/2-tablespoons-coconut-oil-health/