Coconut Oil Care And Cure
“Studies have revealed that having two teaspoons of coconut oil daily helps in reducing the waistline”
Though coconut oil is a well-known healthy food ingredient since ancient times (in tropical countries), it has recently gained worldwide importance due to its health benefits. Thus, coconut oil is now known as a super food.
Prepared from the dried part of the coconut (copra) and though commonly applied topically, this oil has tremendous health benefits when consumed as a supplement to other vegetable oils, while preparing food. Here are some health benefits of this oil.
Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil
Improves Digestion
Coconut oil helps in improving digestion and also aids in curing any stomach infections. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are converted into a substance called monolaurin, which is generally present in breast milk and is known for its excellent antimicrobial properties, thus protecting your tummy from unnecessary infections.
Reduces Tummy Fat
Coconut oil acts a slimming food, because most of the nutrients of coconut oil constitute saturated fats (medium chain fatty acids) which are metabolized into ketones and these ketones are perfect in reducing hunger levels. Medium chain fatty acids in turn are also known for its effect of increasing the metabolic rate and thus helps in burning fat faster.
Few research studies have shown that having two teaspoons of coconut oil daily helps in reducing the waistline, to at least some extent in about 12 weeks. People in the tropical countries are living examples of this, as their staple food mostly contains coconut.
Promotes Heart Health
Cutting the misnomer, that saturated fats are dangerous for the heart, recent studies have proved that the medium chain saturated fats helps In improving the HDL cholesterol which is the so called good cholesterol and also helps in reducing the bad cholesterol (LDL). Coconut oil has proven to benefit pre menopausal women from getting heart diseases according to certain studies.
Excellent For Diabetes
Insulin is secreted more effectively when coconut oil is included in the diet. It also helps in suppressing the hyperglycemic levels in diabetic patients. Also, by reducing tummy tat or overall obesity and by acting as an appetite suppressor, coconut oil reduces the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Gallstone Dissolver
Being rich in medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil has plenty of health benefits and the dissolution of gallstones is one of them. Upon digestion, the medium chain fatly acids in coconut oil forms a monoglyceride called monooctanoin, which helps in the dissolution of gallstones, thus acting as a cholesterol solvent.
Fights Cancer
Coconut oil is loaded with phenols and certain antioxidants which help in preventing tumour growth. Thus, coconut oil is included in the super food list.
Improves Skin
Being rich in vitamin E, coconut oil helps in retaining the moisture of the skin and in turn prevents damage. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and an ‘old look’ which occurs with ageing. So a regular intake of coconut oil in your daily diet helps in preventing such problems. Furthermore, by maintaining the moisture of the skin and by reducing dryness of the skin, certain disorders like dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections are prevented by including coconut oil in your foods.
Natural Medicine For Your Brain
Since coconut oil is converted into ketones which actually acts as energy suppliers to the brain cells, it helps in improving the blood supply to the brain cells and thus improves the activity of the brain, In certain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy etc. in which the brain has low energy levels, ketones helps in coping and maintains the required energy levels in the brain.
Immune Booster
The different kinds of medium chain fatty acids like lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, present in coconut oil makes it a perfect immune booster. These fatty acids have antifungal, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Thus, coconut oil has the power to fight dreadful diseases like HIV, CMV, herpes, influenza. giardiasis, H.pylori, listeria monocytogenes etc.
Enriches Hair
It’s common knowledge that when coconut oil is applied topically, it provides a conditioner effect for the hair. The reason for this is because vitamin E is present in abundance in this oil, so it helps in maintaining the moisture of the hair and also the scalp and thus prevents the occurrence of dandruff.