In recent years, coconut oil has received a lot of attention for its potential benefits and assistance in health management.
Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, with these fats making up 80% of the product, so it is important to use coconut oil in moderation.
The main health benefits of coconut oil lie in the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These MCTs help your body burn calories and can help you stay full for longer.
Here are 5 key benefits from coconut oil:
1 – Increased and Faster Fat Burning
MCTs in coconut oil can assist your health management by increasing the number of calories burned and the speed at which the calorie-burning process takes place. This is particularly useful if you are trying to manage your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol level.
To feel the best benefits from coconut oil, pair it with a reduction in your carbohydrate consumption, and exercise.
2 – Reduced Hunger and Cravings
Studies have suggested that coconut oils and MCTs can help to reduce hunger and cravings, alongside their fat-burning properties. People who eat coconut oil in the mornings have been observed to consume fewer calories during the day. The MCTs in coconut oil travel through the body in a different way to most other foods.
They go directly to the liver to be converted to energy, similar to sugars, which can help you defeat sugar cravings by gaining the same energy from a more healthy source.
3 – Improved HDL Cholesterol Level
There are two different types of cholesterol that you can have in the body. The first, LDL cholesterol, is known as the “bad” type of cholesterol. The second is HDL cholesterol, known as the “good” cholesterol.
Although coconut oil contains high levels of saturated fat (and should, therefore, be consumed in moderation) it has also been shown in various studies to increase the HDS cholesterol levels in the body and potentially even alter the LDL cholesterol, making it less harmful.
4 – Reducing Seizures
Recently, research has suggested that a higher fat content diet can help reduce seizures in people diagnosed with epilepsy. The “keto” (ketogenic) diet in particular has been noted to have this effect.
The keto diet consists of almost completely cutting out carbohydrate content and replacing it with high levels of fat in order to encourage the body to use fats for energy in place of the missing carbs. This diet results in the production of ketones, which have been shown to be capable of better controlling seizures.
Coconut oil is also an anti-inflammatory, and can also help with reducing inflammation of the brain that occurs during and after an epileptic seizure.
5 – Improved Skin and Dental Health
Coconut oil is not only beneficial when consumed, it also has a number of properties that lead it to be helpful for cosmetic uses.
It has strong moisturizing properties that can soothe the skin, help combat the symptoms of eczema, and even act as a sunblock. Although it is not wise to rely on coconut oil alone in strong sunlight, it has been proven to block approximately 20% of UV rays. You can even use coconut oil as a mouthwash to help break down the bacteria that gives you bad breath.
Coconut oil has such a range of both internal and external benefits, it is a great product to introduce in your day to day life.
