The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil makes you look good and feel good, what’s not to love?

Used both internally and externally coconut oil:

Boosts Energy Levels and Helps Chronic Fatigue

Coconut oil is metabolised and converted by the liver directly into energy

Maintains Healthy Food Nutrients and is the Best Choice for Healthy Cooking 

Coconut oil is a highly stable fat that does not oxidize when heated making it a very safe
and healthy cooking oil.

Increases Metabolic Rate and Leads to Weight Loss 

Coconut oil increases your metabolism so you burn more KJ's which leads to natural and healthy 

weight loss.

Supports Immune Function by Killing Disease Causing Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses 

The MCFAs in coconut oil offer antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Supports and Improves Symptoms of Digestive Disorders 

Coconut oil possesses a gastrointestinal antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.

Creates Radiant Skin – As an Antioxidant it Reversing Free Radical Damage

Coconut oil provides fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and super nutrition factors to damaged tissue.

Is a Beauty Elixir – Excellent as a Skin and Hair Moisturiser

Coconut oil nourishes, moisturizes and protects your hair and skin by replenishing the body’s natural oils  (Sebum).

Helps Reduce Sugar Cravings and Balance Blood Sugar

People using coconut oil have noticed their ability to go without food for longer without symptoms of hypoglycemia and with less cravings and feelings of satisfaction.

Supports Healthy Thyroid Function and Hormone B

alance 

Regular consumption of coconut oil restores thyroid function by assisting the hormones transport to the cells.

Oil Pulling is a Simple and Effective Way to Detox Your Body 

An ancient Ayur Vedic health tradition which involves using the oil as a mouth wash and spitting it out. The fat enzymes in the oil literally pull toxins, pus and bacteria from the body. It also whitens the teeth. 

Adults take 2- 4 tablespoons daily and children take 2 teaspoons every morning. 

When first taking Virgin Coconut Oil start with 1 tblsp with each meal. Some people experience loose motions for a few days (this may be a sign of intestinal fungal infection or candidiasis as it is being destroyed). For those with a sensitive taste or stomach it may be helpful to mix with tea, juice, yoghurt or add to some food such as oats, nuts and seeds.

Virgin Coconut Oil is both safe and recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA’s)

Fats are chains of carbon atoms that are surrounded by hydrogen. The more hydrogen the more saturation and the more stable the molecular structure.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat that consists primarily of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA’s). The MCFAs in coconut oil possess incredible health-giving properties. Other than coconut oil these MCFAs can only be naturally found in mothers breast milk. This is what gives coconut oil its reputation as ‘The breast milk of mother nature’.

The shorter MCFA chains require less energy and fewer enzymes to digest. For most people, coconut oil can be emulsified during digestion without burdening the gall bladder or liver. Unlike animal fats it is also friendly for the kidneys and can help dissolve kidney stones. Thus, coconut oil provides more energy more qu

ickly than oth

er fat sources. People who suffer from poor digestion, especially liver or gall bladder problems would benefit more by using coconut oil rather than other oils in their diet.

Immune System Enhancing Properties – MCFA

Coconut oil contains the following MCFAs:

• Caprylic acid C8
• Capric acid C10
• Lauric acid C12
• Myristic Acid C14

Each of these contain antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Lauric acid has the greatest antiviral activity. Caprylic acid is the most potent yeast fighting substance.

Research says that MCFAs disrupt the lipid membranes of viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungi because their membranes are both very similar. This confuses the microbes and viruses causing them to weaken and become easy prey to white blood cells, which in turn strengthens the body’s immune system.

Those who suffer from candida and other fungal infections may greatly benefit from coconut oil. Psoriasis and escema are actually skin infections caused by a fungus and can be helped by applying coconut oil topically.

Cholesterol

Much of the mass media claims that saturated fats lead to clogging of the arteries and cholesterol problems, when in reality it is cooked unsaturated fats (commercial and vegetable oils), bad calcium, and foreign cholesterol from eating animal products that constitutes arterial plaque.

Coconut oil contains no cholesterol and may actually help lower cholesterol levels. People from areas in the world that have a staple base of coconut in their diet have consistently lower levels of cholesterol than those that don’t.

The cholesterol-lowering properties of coconut oil are a direct result of it’s ability to stimulate thyroid function. In the presence of adequate thyroid hormone cholesterol is converted into necessary anti-aging steroids.

Dr Raymond Peat who is a leading researcher in hormone health, details how coconut oil, when added regularly to a balanced diet, lowers cholesterol to normal by promoting its conversion into pregnenolone. Dr Peat recommends increasing pregnenolone for women with hormone imbalances.

Pregnenolone improves circulation in the skin, gives the face a lift, restores sagging skin, and restores bags under the eyes by promoting the contractions of muscle like cells. Pregnenolone counters fatigue, enhances memory, protects the nerves from stress, and has anti anxiety properties.

Antioxidants

Research has also indicated that coconut oil may in itself have antioxidant properties, since the oil is highly stable and reduces our need for vitamin E, whereas unsaturated oils increase our need for vitamin E. Coconut oil is known to produce pregnenolone an anti aging steroid produced naturally by the body and pregnenolone is an antioxidant.

Thyroid and Weight Loss

Cooked unsaturated oils suppress the metabolism, contributing to hypothyroidism and weight gain. Bad oils not only suppress our tissues response to the thyroid hormone, they also suppress transport of the hormone on the thyroid-transport protein.

Consuming coconut oil regularly restores thyroid function, may help relieve thyroid function, and actually increases the metabolic rate leading to weight loss.

Blood Sugar

One of the most noticeable affect for people when they start consuming coconut oil regularly is the ability to go for several hours without eating, and having feelings of hunger without the symptoms of hypoglycemia and erratic blood sugar levels. Erratic blood sugar stresses the system and calls in the need of adrenal glands.

Shifting to coconut oil as a major source of our fat and energy normalises blood sugar levels, increases energy, decreases the stress on our system, and thus reduces our need for the adrenal hormones, and removes the effects of adrenal stress.

Cooking

Coconut oil is the most stable of any oil or butter and can be heated to very high temperatures. Therefore if you are going to heat food, coconut oil is the healthiest and wisest choice for cooking. Unlike other fats and oils coconut oil when heated does not form dangerous trans fatty acids because it is a completely saturated fat.

Simply making the simple switch to using coconut oil for all of your cooking needs can have tremendous beneficial affects to your overall health and energy levels.

* reference David Wolfe, Eating for Beauty