The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil
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There are many health and nutritional benefits to be gained from coconut and coconut oil, and to a lesser extent from palm kernel oil, which is from a different part of the same plant.
Some of the many advantages of coconutoil include:
* Coconut oil is good for cooking, because saturated fat is not harmed by heat, unlike unsaturated oils, and can be used at high temperatures.
* Coconut oil does not contain the trans fats (man-made hydrogenated fats) that produce insulin-resistance, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Lauric acid for Health
Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid which is abundant in coconut oil, and considered responsible for many of its health benefits.
One of the leading authorities on fats and oils and nutritionist / biochemist, Dr. Mary Enig explains,
"Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria including listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid." [1]
Fights Microbes
The fatty acids present in coconut oil make it uniquely effective at protecting health, by killing bacteria and viruses. This includes lauric acid, which breaks down into monolaurin, and kills bacteria and viruses; and caprylic acid which kills fungus (like Athlete's Foot) and yeast (eg candida).
Monolaurin is created when either your saliva or the bacteria on your skin break down lauric acid into single units. It has been found to kill microbes on the skin, sinuses and digestive tract before they can enter the immune system, so the immune system doesn't need to spend its time and energy fighting them.
Replacement for many beauty products
Coconut oil can be used in as an effective replacement of many beauty products, including:
* Antiseptic and anti-fungal cream: Combine it with crushed garlic, and apply liberally on affected area for powerful antiseptic or antifungal relief.
* Anti-dandruff medication: Rub in coconut oil to keep the scalp healthy.
* Hair conditioner: For healthy skin and hair, put some coconut oil on your fingertips and massage into your scalp after showering in place of conditioner.
* Skin cream: rub coconut oil into the skin to combat acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, itchy skin, and other skin problems. It is also an effective moisturizer for dry skin or to keep skin soft and smooth.
* Lip balm: coconut oil moisturizes and soothes dry and chapped lips.
Tips for Using coconut Oil
* When buying coconut oil, look for virgin coconut oil, this is oil that has not been refined, bleached or deodorized.
* Coconut oil can be kept at room temperature. It becomes liquid on a warm day and on cool days it solidifies, but this does not affect the quality of the oil. Good quality coconut oil should be white when solidified and clear when a liquid. Solid coconut oil will quickly become liquid when rubbed between warm fingers.
References
* [1] MG Enig Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century American Journal of Clinical nutrition, 2001.
* [2] Blackburn GL, Kater G, Mascioli EA, Kowalchuk M, Babayan VK, kBistrian BR. A reevaluation of coconut oil's effect on serum cholesterol and atherogenesis. The Journal of the Philippine Medical Association 1989;65:144-152.
* [3] Portillo MP, Serra F, Simon E, del Barrio AS, Palou A. Energy restriction with high-fat diet enriched with coconut oil gives higher UCP1 and lower white fat in rats. International Journal of obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 1998;22:974-9.