Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent saturated fats with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids. Before you panic, realize that saturated fats are actually beneficial. Here’s how:
- Saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are mostly medium-chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric acid is the chief contributor, making up more than 40% followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid, and palmitic.
- Your body takes the lauric acid and converts it into monolaurin which helps fight harmful bacteria and viruses causing disease.
The saturated fatty acids combined with the remaining coconut oil composition do much more for your body than fight disease. Following are various uses and benefits of the oil.
HAIR CARE
Coconut oil is found in many conditioners and dandruff relief creams because it promotes the healthy growth of hair, providing a shiny complexion and nourishes damaged hair with the essential proteins required for folicle strength. The benefits are exemplified if used as straight oil rather than mixed within store-bought products
2. SKIN CARE
Comparable to that of mineral oil, coconut oil acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins, but does not have the adverse side effects of many other massage oils. It also delays wrinkles and sagging of the skin, as well as helping to treat skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.
3. HEART DISEASE
A misconception among many people is that coconut oil is not good for the heart because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, because it contains about 50% lauric acid, coconut oil is actually beneficial. The saturated fats present do not lead to an increase in LDL levels, and the lauric acid helps prevent various heart problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
4. WEIGHT LOSS
Coconut oil aids in losing weight because it contains short and medium-chain fatty acids. It is also easy to digest and helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems, as well as increasing the body metabolism by removing stress on the pancreases.
5. DIGESTION
Used as cooking oil, coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties which help kill the bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc. that cause indigestion. Absorption rates of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids also increase with added consumption of coconut oil.
6. IMMUNITY
The antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid in coconut oil strengthen the immune system because of their antifungal and antibacterial properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaruin which helps deal with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV.
7. HEALING & INFECTIONS
When applied on infections, coconut oil forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external harm. It is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues. The oil also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and more.
8. OTHER
There have been many studies showing hundreds of additional benefits of coconut oil including; preventing liver disease, dissolving kidney stones, treating pancreatitis, stress relief, preventing diabetes, increasing bone strength, stopping tooth decay, and reducing the viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer.
Beebe Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located in Tigard, OR within the Portland Metro area. Dr. Daniel Beebe cares for patients with sports, work & auto injuries, neck pain & lower back pain, headaches & migraines, chronic pain, scoliosis and more. For more information visit BeebeChiro.com.
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