Health Benefits of Coconut Oil: 20 Reasons to ♥ Coconut Oil
Despite the bad rap that saturated fats have, there’s plenty of evidence indicating that saturated fat has numerous health benefits.
Our bodies cannot function without saturated fats. They’re essential to lung and brain health. Healthy saturated fats help boost immune function, increase bone strength, improve liver health and influence the release of insulin. Saturated fats are needed for proper hormone function and they’re an excellent source of energy.
Sources of healthy, healing fats include organic, grass-fed meats, pastured poultry and egg yolks, grass-fed butter, wild fish and seafood, raw nuts and seeds, olives and olive oil, avocados, coconut butter and coconut oil.
Coconut oil is unusually rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) also known as medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), caprylic, capric and lauric acids. The MCTs found in coconut oil are loaded with healthy, healing benefits that have a positive effect on body composition, cognition, digestion, hormones, and energy.
Avoid harmful, unhealthy fats that make you fat, sick and inflamed. These include trans fats, hydrogenated fats, fake frankenfats, margarine, oil sprays, genetically modified soybean oil, canola oil and omega-6 vegetable oils
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil: 20 Reasons to 
Coconut Oil
- Supports healthy thyroid function.
- Stimulates metabolism and increases metabolic rate. One study found a 12 percent increased metabolism over six hours after ingestion of MCTs compared to other fats.
- Eat fat to lose fat! Coconut oil promotes lipid oxidation and helps burn mid-section fat. A study published in the journal, Lipids reported that those who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil daily over a 12-week period experienced a reduction in waist circumference and an increase in HDL cholesterol.
- The MCTs found in coconut oil metabolize differently compared to other fats and do not require emulsification by the liver or the gallbladder. The release of bile or pancreatic enzymes that are required for optimal digestion are not needed when coconut oil is consumed, so there’s less strain on the pancreas. This makes coconut oil the perfect fat for those with gallbladder issues, digestion and absorption problems, and diabetes.
- Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a direct source of energy and have been shown to increase energy expenditure.
- Coconut oil is resistant to rancidity, and is the perfect oil to cook with because it remains stable and does not oxidize at high temperatures or when exposed to air or light.
- Caprylic acid and lauric acid found in coconut oil are effective and potent anti-fungals and anti-microbials making it highly beneficial for fighting and preventing bacterial and viral infections, Candida, parasites, athlete’s foot and fungal infections.
- Coconut oil is healthy for teeth and gums, and helps whiten teeth. It can be used for oil pulling and also to brush your teeth.
- Coconut oil boosts diabetes protection, and manages and balances blood sugar.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers LDL and total cholesterol, and improves HDL.
- Perfect moisturizer, makeup remover, massage oil, deep hair conditioner, deodorant, tooth paste, lip balm, aftershave, and great for dandruff, wrinkles, aged and dry skin. Mix coconut oil with sugar and use to exfoliate skin.
- Coconut oil is a healing antidote for dry, cracked heels, burns, scrapes, cuts, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, dandruff, stretch marks and scars. Apply to your body as a moisturizer after showering or bathing.
- Coconut oil or coconut butter is a delicious alternative to stir into your cup of coffee.
- The MCTs in coconut oil do not require L-carnitine to be transported across the cell membrane into the mitochondria like other fats.
- Use as a chemical-free bug repellant and natural chemical-free sunscreen. Coconut oil is soothing for sunburn.
- Coconut oil is highly beneficial for pets too! Simply add to their food; one tsp. for every 10 pounds.
- Coconut oil lowers inflammation and boosts immune function.
- The perfect fat to add to smoothies to help increase great nutrition from the greens.
- Coconut oil is effective for reducing sugar cravings.
- Nourishing for the brain, supplying energy for brain cells, improves cognitive function and memory, prevents the brain from aging and stalls or even reverses neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease in early stages.
► Watch this video. Although, some of the foods in the video they pour the coconut oil on (corn) are not the best choices, the take home message is that coconut oil is a healthy fat with numerous health benefits. But, of course, you already know that if you’ve read The Power of 4 and Fat Loss Revolution.
Coconut oil is solid in cooler temperatures and liquefies at 76 degrees. Look for organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil with no other ingredients listed on the label. My favorite brand of coconut oil is Extra Virgin Skinny Coconut Oil.
Some of my personal favorite uses for coconut oil: Add it to my morning cup of coffee; add it to my Rottweiler’s food and my green smoothies, slather it on my skin after showering, use it for cooking, a deep hair conditioner, brushing my teeth and oil pulling.
If you reside in an area where coconut oil is not available at your local supermarket, you can purchase coconut oil here.
Become an avid label reader and ingredient detective. Avoid all margarine, polyunsaturated vegetable oils including canola oil, corn oil and soybean oil, which contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These toxic frankenfats suppress the thyroid, increase risk of diabetes, accelerate aging, increase inflammation and your waistline! Instead consume healthy, healing fats (eat fat to lose fat) such as coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, ghee, pastured butter, grass-fed meats, pastured poultry, egg yolks and avocados.
As a holistic nutritionist and functional health practitioner, my philosophy is to identify the root cause of any underlying health issues, slowly "peel away the layers of the onion," and design a healing protocol and comprehensive LIFESTYLE plan specific to your unique biochemistry so you can heal, experience vibrant health, balanced hormones, and look, think and feel better than ever for a lifetime. I consult with men and women around the world, all over the U.S., and with clients locally in the Phoenix area. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation!
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