HEALTH BENIFITS OF COCONUT OIL

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil the best oil in the earth and so it is categorized as a 'super food”. It has unique combination of fatty acids and these fatty acids have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, reducing risk of heart diseases, better brain function and various other helpful benefits.

Brief composition of Coconut oil

More than ninety percent of coconut oil consists of saturated fats, along with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin coconut oil is no different from this.

• Saturated fatty acids: Most of them are medium chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well in the body’s systems. Lauric acid is the chief contributor, representing more than forty percent of the total, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids: Linoleic acid.
• Monounsaturated fatty acids: Oleic acid.
• Poly-phenols: Coconut contains Gallic acid, which is also known as phenolic acid. These polyphenols are responsible for the fragrance and the taste of coconut oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these polyphenols.
• Certain derivatives of fatty acid like betaines, ethanolamide, ethoxylates, fatty esters, fatty polysorbates, monoglycerides and polyol esters.
• Fatty chlorides, fatty alcohol sulphate and fatty alcohol ether sulphate, all of which are derivatives of fatty alcohols.
• Vitamin E, vitamin K and minerals such as iron.

Unique Combination of Fatty Acids and its Powerful Medicinal Properties

When we are consuming various types of foods, it contains various type of fatty acids. Specillay long-chain fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids. They may be saturated or unsaturated. Unsaturated fatty acids are harmfull than saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil contain higher percentage of medium-chain fatty acids which is more help benificial. Specility of medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.

They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Note - Medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil , which are metabolized differently and can have therapeutic effects on several brain disorders.

 Increasing Energy Expenditure by Helping Burn More Fat

The biggest health problems in the world is obesity. Many people think reason for the obesity is fatty foods, high calory foods or junk foods. But that is only one reason.Different foods affect to the body and hormones in different ways. So many other factores effects to obesity in addition to fatty or high calorie foods.

The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats.

According to a sciencetific study, it is found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%,totalling about 120 calories per day.

Reducing Hunger by Making Eat Less

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger. This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect .

If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.

Note : The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

Acting as an energy source

MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet .

These ketone bodies can act as energy sources for cells when lacking of sugar for energy generation. There ketone bodies specilally utilized by brain cells and nurones.

Note : The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help to use as an energy source.

Effects on 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.

Effects on 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, amino acids and minerals

Effects on Immunity

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which research has supported as an effective way to deal with viruses and bacteria that cause diseases like herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. Coconut oil helps in fighting harmful bacteria like listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Effects on Skin care

Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Fortunately, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally accompany aging. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis,eczema and other skin infections. For that exact reason, coconut oil forms the base ingredient of various body care products like soaps, lotions, and creams that are used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its well-known antioxidant properties.

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