KESEHATAN
There are many populations around the world (such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.) who have thrived for multiple generations by eating large amounts of coconut.
The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosted immune system, proper digestion and regulated metabolism. It also provides relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer, while helping to improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.
13. Health Benefits of Coconut oil
1. Heart diseases
There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for heart health. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. In reality, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as you commonly find in vegetable oils. Coconut oil does not lead to increase in LDL levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.
2. Good For Your Cholesterol
Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, although different from those in steak and cheese. Unlike it was previously thought, saturated fats actually do not harm the blood lipid profile. However saturated fats DO raise HDL cholesterol, the good kind, and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype.
3. HIV And Cancer
It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients. Preliminary research has shown indications of the effect of coconut oil on reducing the viral load of HIV patients (Reference).
4. Blood Sugar Regulation
If your body is unable to control blood sugar levels, many complications can arise, including obesity, constant hunger and food cravings, hypoglycaemia and even sever hypoglycaemia or diabetic shock that can lead to loss of consciousness, which can be life threatening. Because coconut oil can supply needed energy without insulin, it helps slow down the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream. Coconut has a low glycaemic index, and helps prevent blood sugar fluctuations. This balances the amount of sugar that enters the bloodstream with the amount of insulin produced, helping reverse insulin resistance and improve glucose control. Taking 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil can lower blood sugar levels that are 80-100 points above normal within half an hour, reducing cravings and improving energy levels.
5. Blood Pressure
Because coconut oil is approximately 92 percent saturated fat and contains medium chain fatty acids, or Omega-3 fatty acids, it is believed to be better for lowering blood pressure than vegetable oils. The consumption of polyunsaturated fats, such as Omega-6 fatty acids like soybean and vegetable oils, causes your blood vessels to constrict. However, the Omega-3 fatty acids in coconut oil do not have the same effect. In fact, they widen your blood vessels and relieve inflammation of the arteries.
6. Digestion
Internal functions of coconut oil occur primarily due to it being used as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps to improve the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion-related problems including Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
7. Wrinkles
Coconut oil has been used as a skin moisturizer for thousands of years. It is ideal for dry, rough and wrinkled skin…and is easily absorbed by the skin. Rubbing coconut oil all over your body after the shower is so good for your skin. It keeps the elasticity and suppleness and your skin looking radiant and hydrated like you have never felt before.
8. Body Moisturizer
If you rub a little bit of coconut oil between your hands, you will immediately notice how incredibly moisturizing it feels on your skin. As a face and body moisturizer, coconut oil is much more hydrating than average store-bought lotions because the oil penetrates deep layers of the skin and actually helps to strengthen underlying tissues (Huffington Post). It will also help remove dead skin cells, removing any rough or flaky texture from your skin’s surface and giving you a full body glow. You can use coconut oil as a moisturizer for your entire face, but I like to put it under my eyes and on my lips before bedtime. For my body, I mix equal parts coconut oil and body lotion together to create an ultra hydrating cream, and I apply it right when I get out of the shower. You can also add essential oils like lavender or vanilla to scent your oil, but many people love the natural,tropical scent as it is. The best part about this oil is that it will absorb into your skin without feeling oily or greasy.
9. Skin
When applied to the skin, coconut oil is an excellent skin moisturizer. It makes your skin feel incredibly soft without feeling greasy. It also makes you smell really good. If you keep the oil in your bathroom, you can apply it right when you get out of the shower. This is the best time to apply products to your skin. Start with a small amount and then work your way up to the amount that's right for you. Within a short period of time, you will notice a difference in the feel of your skin. It will feel smoother and so soft. The results will motivate you to continue use of coconut oil.
10. Weight loss
Coconut oil is very useful for weight loss. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system. Further, it increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby burning more energy and helping obese and overweight people lose the weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who use coconut oil every day as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.
11. Hair Care
Using coconut oil in your hair has similar benefits to using it on your skin. It softens your hair by conditioning it and it will smell great. The best way to use coconut oil on your hair is to apply is before your shower. If you apply it at night, before bed, and use a shower cap while you sleep, you should wash your hair in the morning. The longer the coconut oil sits in your hair before washing it out, the better. It will help make your hair stronger.
12. Candida
Coconut has been shown to prevent and even cure candida. It provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, both externally and internally. Its high moisture retaining capacity keeps the skin from cracking or peeling off. Further, unlike other pharmaceutical treatments for candida, the effects of coconut oil is gradual and not drastic or sudden, which gives the patient an appropriate amount of time to get used to the withdrawal symptoms or Herxheimer Reactions (the name given to the symptoms accompanying body’s rejection of toxins generated during elimination of these fungi). But, in the treatment of this condition, people should systematically and gradually increase their dosages of coconut oil and shouldn’t initially start with a large quantity.
Candida, also known as Systemic Candidiasis, is a tragic disease caused from excessive and uncontrolled growth of yeast called Candida Albicans in the stomach. This yeast is more or less present in everyone’s stomach, but it doesn’t manifest any adverse effects since its growth is controlled by the beneficial bacteria which also resides in our stomach. There are many reasons for this uncontrolled growth of yeast. For example, if other destructive bacteria or the use of antibiotics which ultimately end up in eliminating these bacteria, there can be an imbalance of bacteria and a problem like Candida can develop. Also, bleaching or washing of your stomach with medicines or
excessive use of chemical laxatives or ingestion of poisonous material can cause the yeast or fungi to start growing very fast and can lead to Candida.
13. Bones
As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for the development of bones. Thus, coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.
