Coconut oil has always been something most people are acutely aware of as a product that resides in your average healthcare retailer or up-market boutique as a tried-and-tested skin care solution.
But what many people may not realize, when it comes to coconut oil, is the incredible range of health benefits this seemingly ordinary edible oil extract possesses and why it’s high time people started sitting up and taking notice.
Online retailers like the Ethical Superstore have long extolled the virtues of coconut oil as a product that offers incredible health benefits via the presence of capric, caprylic and lauric acids, which, when combined, offer the user antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal and even antimicrobial relief.
But rather than go into details over the science behind coconut oil, we think it would be far more effective to outline how this extract can work wonders for you the customer.
The Heart
Once upon a time, scientists believed that the presence of saturated fats within coconut oil meant it was actually bad for you. However that couldn’t be further from the truth – the 50% lauric acid content actually works to prevent problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Not to be confused with vegetable oil, coconut oil actually reduces the amount of damage records to arteries and in no way increases LDL levels.
Liver, Kidneys and Pancreas
Coconut oil’s beneficial properties to the body’s organs don’t stop with the heart . For instance, the extract has been known to prevent disease in the gall bladder and kidneys as well has helping dissolve kidney stones.
The presence of triglycerides and fatty acids also helps to reduce the likelihood of liver disease with these chemicals aiding the work of the organ and preventing fat accumulation. With coconut oil also recommended in the treatment of pancreatitis, this is one product for all occasions.
Skin and hair care
Traditionally associated with skin care, coconut oil is effective in treating dry and flaky skin without the side effects seen in mineral oil. Also adept at delaying the signs of aging, this oil has been used in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and other less common skin infections.
It boasts similarly effective properties when it comes to hair care, working as an extremely effective condition and agent in the re-growth of damaged hair. Containing proteins that help heal and nourish hair, it’s little wonder that many in the Indian sub-continent use the oil.
Weight loss, immunity and digestion
Looking to shed some pounds? The short and medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil mean it is both easy to digest and effective at encouraging healthy thyroid and endocrine function. It also helps people burn more energy by increasing metabolic rate and the stress on the pancreas.
The mixture of acids founds in the extract also boost the immune system to give the user further protection against infections and viruses. This can go as far as in the treatment of yeast infections like Candida, with coconut oil offering a viable treatment option.
Digestion is also aided by the presence of coconut oil in cooking courtesy of the antimicrobial properties that are effective at dealing with the bacteria, parasites and fungi linked with indigestion.
Other Applications
Coconut oil is also effective at controlling blood sugar and insulin secretion, two major benefits to those with diabetes, while the extract’s ability to improve the absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium can help bone and dental health.
Disease
On a more serious note, coconut oil has an effective role in reducing viral susceptibility among those suffering with either HIV or cancer.