Many people are still confused about fats and the type of fats to consume if any. We absolutely have to consume fats and one of the best sources is the oil from coconuts. This saturated fat has been shown to have numerous benefits.
It was believed for many decades that saturated fats are one of the leading causes of heart disease. However, research now suggests that there is no significant evidence showing saturated fats as contributors to the development of heart attacks or strokes. If you were afraid of consuming saturated fats, you do NOT have to be!
Coconut oil is very unique since it contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Coconut oil has caprylic acid, lauric acid, and capric acid mostly. MCFAs are anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-fungal, easier to digest, and are easily converted to energy.
BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL
- Cardiovascular Health: Saturated fats increase healthy cholesterol (HDL) and transform unhealthy cholesterol (LDL) into good cholesterols. This promotes vascular and heart health, decreasing the risk of heart disease.
- Healthy Immunity: Coconut oil boosts the immune system due to it’s antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It helps to sustain a healthy internal environment.
- Gastrointestinal Health: Due to its antibacterial properties, coconut oil helps eliminate the bad bacteria and to colonize the healthy bacteria. This helps gastric and intestinal issues, reducing the likelihood of inflammation, indigestion, ulcers, and colitis.
- Inflammation: The high antioxidant content in coconut oil inhibits inflammatory cells and serves as an analgesic. It diminishes symptoms of conditions resulting from inflammation like arthritis and gastritis.
- Brain Health: The digestion of these fatty acids produces ketones, which are easily accessible as an energy source by the brain. It helps to repair brain cells, improving memory, and even symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Anti-Cancerous Properties: Cancerous cells are glucose-dependent, growing, and thriving on sugar. The energy from ketones instead of glucose is not accessible to cancerous cells. Coconut oil can be preventative and even heal cancerous conditions. The risk of stomach cancer is lowered since the oil kills Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is related to stomach cancer.
- Diabetes Type II Fighter: Diabetes Type II is the result of insulin resistance. It takes place as the cells fail to respond to insulin. Then, the pancreas over-generates insulin, increasing sugar levels in the blood and ultimately creating the condition. Coconut oil helps equilibrate insulin as it provides energy to the cells from a non-glucose source.
- Hormone Balance: This saturated fat has shown to equilibrate hormones. It’s very helpful in ameliorating symptoms in conditions resulting from hormonal imbalances, such as menopause or PMS.
- Bone Health: Low calcium levels, oxidative stress, and free radicals are big contributors to bone frailty and osteoporosis. It’s high antioxidant levels fight oxidative stress and free radicals and it facilitates the absorption of calcium, helping to maintain healthy bones.
- Kidney and Liver Health: Due to its antibiotic effects, coconut oil clears out bacteria. It protects and helps heal the kidneys and liver, helping with urinary and kidney infections as well as with kidney stones.
- Gallbladder and Pancreas Health: The digestibility of this saturated fat does not put stress on the pancreas, helping to heal pancreatitis and gallbladder issues.
- Candida and Yeast Infections: The capric and lauric acid in coconut oil help treat candida and yeast infections.
- Detox: You can detoxify your body by replacing food with coconut oil for about 3-7 days. Start your day with 2 tbsp of virgin coconut oil and take 1-2 tbsp throughout the day up to 14 tbsp. If you can’t swallow it straight, mix it with warm lemon water. If necessary add stevia to sweeten the concoction.
- Skin Health: The MCFAs in coconut oil are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, helping to deal with skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, dandruff, and even burns. Simultaneously, it can be used as a cleanser, moisturizer, as well as sunscreen.
- Oral Health: Coconut oil pulling (swishing 1-2 tsp of coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 min a few times a week) helps eliminate bad bacteria, healing gums, and teeth.
- Hair Vitality: It moisturizes your hair, aiding with dryness, and even dandruff. It can be added to your shampoo or used directly on the hair to be washed out after 20-30 minutes.
- Anti-Aging: Coconut oil’s high antioxidant levels reduce oxidative stress which causes aging, keeping your cells thriving and your skin youthful.
- Energy Provider: Being easily digestible, coconut oil can be metabolized quickly and serves as a ready source of energy. You can use it to boost your workouts: Take 1 tbsp 30 minutes before exercising to increase your endurance.
- Muscle Building: Coconut oil boosts testosterone levels and does not slow the digestion of other macronutrients, making it a great additive when aiming to gain muscle.
- Fat Loss: This oil can help increase your metabolic rate, lose body fat, and decrease appetite. Daily supplementation with it can decrease waist circumference and resting heart rate. Yet, exchange it for the other fats you are currently consuming; you do not want to add extra calories.
WHAT OIL TO USE
Exchange unhealthy cooking oils like vegetable oils (corn and palm oils) as well as “partially hydrogenated” ones for coconut oil. Olive oil is great for salads but not for cooking since heat damages it.
When buying oil, choose organic raw extra virgin coconut oil. It should be unrefined, expeller- or cold-pressed, unbleached, and not deodorized. In that manner, you’ll be getting all its natural benefits.
This brand is pretty good and the Coconut Manna is great because it has the pulp as well. It makes a great snack! They also have MCT oil and powders.
To a Fitter Healthier You,
The Fitness Wellness Mentor