Coconut oil is a craze sweeping the nation, with multiple products popping up on shelves as it makes its way into articles and becomes a household name. Perhaps you’ve heard of its versatile use for both hair and food; perhaps you’ve seen it on the shelf before it rose in popularity and are now wondering what you might have been missing out on all these years.
Well, wonder no more. Coconut oil is much more than just a way to tame your tresses and keep them healthy—it’s also great for keeping your body healthy as well, especially if you’re looking to get rid of a few pesky pounds, and in this article we will give you 30 of those ways it can have a huge impact on your daily life.
1. Can help increase sun tolerance
- Medium-chain fatty acids (or MCFAs) found in coconut oil can help increase your sun tolerance. Aim for about ¼ cup per day, or maybe even go about making your own homemade sunscreen. [2]
2. Use in freezer fudge
- Vegan, raw, and Paleo-friendly, freezer fudge is a quick and easy recipe that avoids many of the harmful ingredients that normal fudge has. [3]
3. Can help boost metabolism and weight loss
- The fatty acids in coconut oil contribute greatly to weight loss by releasing energy and increasing expenditure. It also leads to greater satiety—basically, it helps you feel fuller faster and reduces your risk of overeating. Regular consumption will help you lose weight. Studies [4] have shown that the MCFAs stimulate the metabolism and lead to weight loss. Since those MCFAs are easily digested and turned into energy, they can enhance performance.
4. Can help with psoriasis
- Usually, oil is avoided on the skin, since it can cause acne due to clogged pores, and can also make the skin shiny. But virgin coconut oil, studies [5] have shown, does not do this. By applying virgin coconut oil to the skin three or four times a day you can fight the symptoms of psoriasis.
5. Fights Alzheimer’s
- A University of Oxford study [6] showed that dementia and Alzheimer’s patients experienced short-term benefits arising from the use of coconut oil. Ketones, or byproducts of the breakdown of fats in the body, play a huge role in this.
6. Can boost brain health
- Those ketones can boost brain health. By adding coconut oil to your diet you can fight the effects of brain degeneration. In her 2011 book Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure? The Story of Ketones, [7] Mary Newport, a coconut oil advocate, ardently sings the praise of daily consumption of coconut oil through the story of her husband, who has shown improvement in his dementia.
7. Populations that eat a lot of coconut are among the healthiest on the planet
- The population of Papua New Guinea has also been noted to have a considerable absence of stroke and heart disease simply because a large portion of their diet contains coconut. The Kitava Study, [8] done in 1989 by Staffan Lindeberg, MD PhD, found that there was a “lack of sudden cardiac death and exertion-related retrosternal chest pain among Kitava’s 2,300 inhabitants (6% of which were 60-95 years old), as well as among the remaining 23,000 people on the Trobriand Islands.”
8. Lauric acid can help prevent infection
- Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which has properties that are antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, and these properties have been shown [9] to decrease skin bacteria in cases such as acne.
9. Can kill your hunger
- As mentioned previously, coconut oil can fill you up and prevent overeating. The MCFAs in coconut oil increase our fullness faster. Ketones come back into play here by having a powerful appetite-reducing effect. [10] Coconut oil boosts the fat-burning process and also reduces the amount of calories going back in: a fine dichotomy indeed.
10. Can help prevent seizures
- According to the Epilepsy Foundation [11], coconut oil can help supplement the Ketogenic Diet [12], a high-fat and adequate protein diet used to help epilepsy sufferers. They suggest using 4 teaspoons of MCT oil to 3 teaspoons of coconut oil and mixing them together to use whenever desired.
11. Improves cholesterol levels
- In a study [13] with 40 women conducted by Monica L. Assunção and Haroldo S. Ferreira of the Federal University of Alagoas it was shown that dietary coconut oil can reduce both Total and LDL cholesterol while simultaneously increasing HDL levels. Coconut oil also helps maintain normal blood platelet to prevent buildup in the arteries. Consistent usage of coconut oil should lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease over time, because unlike other medium-chain triglycerides coconut oil can actually prevent heart disease.
12. Works as an oil replacement
- Forget all of your hydrogenated and vegetable oils: toss all of them out and replace them with coconut oil instead. Its versatility and range of ways it comes packaged means that it can be used from everything to frying and baking and more.
13. Immediate source of energy that isn’t stored as fat
- Coconut oil can reduce visceral fat in the abdominal area, a dangerous area for women. [14] The MCFAs are fast-acting and head straight for the liver, which is where your quick energy boost comes from.
14. Taken daily it can improve your sleep
- Not necessarily a sleeping pill, there have been reports that ingesting coconut oil at the right time of night can correct sleep patterns and relieve insomnia. [15]
15. Also improve hormone function
- Coconut oil has various uses for improving hormone function. It can be used as a moisturizer, a hypothyroid remedy, and a natural deodorant. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it a great addition to your diet. [16]
16. As well as alleviate allergy symptoms
- Coconut oil has been found to be a relief for those suffering from the common food allergies, such as soy and wheat. It has also been found to be effective against seasonal allergies such as hay fever. [17]
17. Fungal treatment
- Studies have shown that coconut oil contains three major acids–caprylic, capric, lauric—that are effective against the candida yeast. [18] Because of this coconut oil has a wide range of anti-fungal uses, from athlete’s foot to yeast infections.
18. “Bulletproof coffee”
- A term coined by David Asprey in 2009, Bulletproof coffee is coffee mixed with butter and oil as a type of healthy energy boost. [19] It has become popular over the years as a mind-clearer and energy-booster. Mix with 1 to 2 tablespoons of grass-fed unsalted butter and 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for a creamy beverage sure to wake up both your body and your creative processes. [20]
19. Soothes sore throats
- Just like honey, a spoonful of coconut oil in tea will help cure a sore throat. Drink daily, or however often needed, for relief.
20. In oil pulling
- Oil pulling is, essentially, using a mouthwash made of liquid coconut oil to “pull” the bacteria from your teeth. Swish it around for 15-20 minutes, spit, rinse, and you’re done. [21]
21. As a remedy for lice
- Lice are hard to get rid of, and usually it takes some heavy-duty chemicals to do so. And since kids are usually the ones affected, chemicals aren’t the go-to choice for many parents. Coconut oil offers a natural, nontoxic treatment guaranteed to get the louse out of the house. If you or your child has a case, warm up some coconut oil and give your hair a good old fashioned hot oil treatment. [22]
22. As a leave-in conditioner
- Coconut oil hair products are all the rage right now: you can find them in conditioners, shampoos, sprays. Raw coconut oil will do the same as any of these. To use as a leave-in conditioner, simply put a small amount of coconut oil in your palm and rub your hands together before finger-combing it through damp hair.
23. Anti-aging moisturizer
- Coconut oil minimizes wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen. It protects against free radicals and can prevent sagging and the formation of wrinkles. [23]
24. Use in smoothies
- Smoothies are an easy and fast breakfast for those on the go. By adding simply only 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to your smoothie you’re giving yourself a fat-burning energy boost mixed in a great tropical flavor. [24]
25. Use as a butter substitute when baking
- Instead of adding in the calories with each stick of butter, add in the health benefits with a coconut oil substitute. Oil goes a little further than butter, so add in a quarter less than what the recipe calls for in butter. [25]
26. Can increase milk supply and nutrients for nursing moms
- Coconut oil can soothe irritated nipples on nursing mothers, and it can also increase the mother’s milk supply. It’s the lauric acid in the oil that can benefit mom. According to the research done by Claudia Pillow, PhD, a single meal of coconut oil can significantly affect the fatty acid compositions in the breast milk for 1 to three days. [26]
27. As an all-day energy boost
- With obesity still a major issue in the world, watching calories is important. Since coconuts are rich in the good kind of calories (or, the not empty ones), studies are showing positive results for those who ingest it, such as this one [27] where it showed that 15-30 grams of MCTs a day increased 24-hour energy expenditure by 5%.
28. Can improve insulin levels
- The healthy fat in coconut oil can help regulate blood sugar, making it ideal for those who struggle with their insulin levels. Since it is made up of medium-chain fatty acids it’s designed to be used for energy, and therefore takes longer to break down, helping keep blood sugar levels regular. Also, over time coconut oil can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. [28]
29. Can reduce appearance of varicose veins
- Virgin coconut oil can lessen and even get rid of the appearance of varicose veins. Just in time for summer comes a quick, easy, and cheap recipe for reducing these unsightly little squiggles. You will need virgin coconut oil, 500 mg. of magnesium, 1000 mg. of vitamin C, 1 to 3 capsules of cayenne pepper, 100 mg. of grapeseed extract, and coconut water. The coconut oil you will rub on the affected areas three to six times a day; the rest are to be taken as supplements once a day. [29]
30. Supports healthy thyroid function
- Coconut oil is a saturated fat made up of medium-chain fatty acids, or medium-chain triglycerides. Commonly known as MCTs, they boost metabolism and speed up weight loss [1]. In other oils such as vegetable, the long-chain fatty acids oxidize quickly and grow rancid. Manufacturers then highly refine these acids, which has a detrimental effect on the thyroid. But coconut oil, which is stable, does not force the body to undergo the oxidative stress that other oils do, helping your thyroid avoid unnecessary stress.
If you’re wondering how to get healthy, get active, and get on the right track with your body and your lifestyle, a great place to start would be by looking at virgin organic coconut oil and making it a key player in your life, especially in the kitchen, since coconut oil has proven itself through time and research to better your heart, your waistline, and much more. The diverse ways in which it can be used ensure that there will be at least one facet, no matter how skeptical you are, where it will benefit you.
2. http://thesecretyumiverse.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-your-own-non-toxic-sunscreen-home-0147692/
3. http://www.thesweetplantain.com/amazing-coconut-oil-fudge-dairy-free-sugar-free/
4. http://www.meltorganic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Review-MCFA-Metabolism-and-Energy-Expenditure-Obesity-Treatment-Implications.pdf
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724344
6. http://www.physiol.ox.ac.uk/Research_Groups/Cardiac_Metabolism/Research.html
7. http://www.amazon.com/Alzheimers-Disease-There-Story-Ketones/dp/1591202930/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457216442&sr=8-2&keywords=Alzheimer%27s+Disease%3A+What+If+There+Was+a+Cure%3F%3A+The+Story+of+Ketones
8. http://www.staffanlindeberg.com/TheKitavaStudy.html
9. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1138-lauric%20acid.aspx?activeingredientid=1138&activeingredientname=lauric%20acid
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23632752
11. http://www.epilepsy.com/connect/forums/epilepsy-friends-com-general-discussion/coconut-oil
12. http://www.ruled.me/guide-keto-diet/
13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19437058
14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19437058
15. http://coconutoilpost.com/coconut-oil-benefits/does-coconut-oil-help-you-sleep/
16. http://thehealthyapple.com/how-to-balance-your-hormones/
17. http://www.naturalblaze.com/2013/05/11-different-ways-to-halt-seasonal.html
18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=11600381&dopt=AbstractPlus
19. http://www.fastcompany.com/3034539/coffee-week/what-its-like-to-drink-bulletproof-coffee-every-morning-for-two-weeks
20. http://www.fastcompany.com/3032635/most-creative-people/bulletproof-coffee-the-new-power-drink-of-silicon-valley
21. http://proteccozumel.com/
22. http://www.nontoxicalternatives.com/Head-Lice-Treatment.html
23. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/ditch-the-wrinkle-cream-anti-aging-properties-of-natural-oils-and-5-diy-formulas/
24. http://simplegreensmoothies.com/coconut-oil
25. https://www.lucybee.co/coconut-oil-recipes/coconut-oil-for-baking/
26. http://www.modernmom.com/c3443748-3b35-11e3-be8a-bc764e04a41e.html
27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8654328
28. http://www.naturalnews.com/026694_oil_coconut.html
29. http://www.thevirgincoconutoil.com/articleitem.php?articleid=237
Leave a Reply