Coconut oil is getting a lot of attention from health experts for reasons that start inside the body and work their way to the outside of the body.
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Coconut oil is inexpensive and easy to find on grocery store shelves. Once you read all about the benefits it has to offer, you will be rushing out to buy a jar or two of your own, and that’s one of the best choices you’ll ever make.
Nutrition Benefits
According to the American Society for Nutrition, coconut oil is composed of medium chain fatty acids. That means the fat in coconut is broken down quickly rather than being stored by the body.
That makes it a better choice for eating than many other kinds of fats. Because of the composition of coconut oil, experts say that it can help fight a range of health issues, including diabetes, viruses, Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, cancer and gallbladder disease.
Further information from the journal “Lipids” shows that can help reduce obesity. This works by promoting healthy food choices. Participants of the study that used a coconut oil supplement subsequently chose foods with more protein and fiber than the non-supplemented group.
Using coconut oil in obese individuals seems to have a positive effect on their diets and body mass indexes, as well as their waist circumference.
Bodily Benefits
Information published in the journal “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” reports that the application of coconut oil to wounds can assist and speed the healing process. It’s thought that antioxidants in coconut oil work to promote cell turnover in the skin and help heal injuries.
Using coconut oil on surgical incisions and other lacerations and cuts may not be seen as traditional practice yet, but the research may encourage medical professionals to incorporate it into their treatment plans in some cases.
Medical experts at Mercola also note the benefits of using coconut oil in your hair. According to the research, the oil coats each strand and helps it retain its moisture. This also helps prevent damage and breakage to the hair.
Coconut oil also hydrates your hair, helping it look and feel shinier, healthier and stronger. It’s as easy as treating your locks with coconut oil a couple of times each week.
According to the experts at WebMD, coconut oil also has powerful benefits when used topically on your skin. Again, the antioxidants that the oil contains infuses your skin, helping keep it supple and healthy while also aiding in the prevention of cellular changes that can lead to skin cancer.
In addition, coconut oil hydrates skin and can help combat scaly, flaking patches. It’s also valuable for use as a lip balm and can fight chapping.
How To Use Coconut Oil
There are many ways for you to use coconut oil so that you can reap it benefits on a daily basis. Experts at Harvard Medical School suggest using coconut oil in its solid form in place of butter. It may work for making piecrust and other baked goods. Thai cooking relies heavily on the flavors of coconut, so it’s also a good choice for this type of meal preparation.
Topically, coconut oil is often simply rubbed into the skin. It can also be used in its liquid form as a hair treatment. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about using coconut oil, both internally and externally.
Some doctors caution that it needs more study to understand what role it plays in health, particularly the health of your heart. For now, it’s best to use coconut oil in moderation so that you can benefit while also getting to enjoy the perks that coconut oil has to offer.
