Coconut oil, once pushed from our kitchen tables due to political, agricultural, and pharmaceutical interference, is making its comeback. It had to make room for the so-called healthier hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Saturated fats, such as coconut oil, real butter, or ghee, received a bad name and where pinpointed to be the main reason of the rising numbers of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.
While the world made a shift to hydrogenated vegetable oils, these health issues are still on the rise. So it is time to admit that we have been pushing away one of world’s healthiest superfoods.
Here are 8 good reasons why you should start using coconut oil on a daily basis.
1. Not All Fats Are Created Equally
Coconut oil has a unique combination of medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are easier to metabolize compared to the long chain fatty acids found in most other fat containing foods. They go straight to the liver where they are used for energy or turned into ketone bodies. (1)
2. Coconut Consumers Amongst Healthiest People On Earth
Studies done on Polynesian populations who rely on the saturated fats of coconut as their main source of energy show no evidence of an increased level of diabetes, cardiovascular issues or high cholesterol levels. These diseases are very uncommon and the people are actually among the healthiest people on earth. (2)
3. Weight Loss Aid
Skip the thought that fat makes you fat. Healthy fats such as coconut oil give you more energy, increase fat metabolism (or fat burning), balance hormones, and reduce appetite. While it is of course not a weight loss miracle, it can definitely help you to control and manage weight. (3)
4. Protects Your Brain
MCTs are turned into ketone bodies in our liver. These ketone bodies have shown to reduce epileptic seizures, especially in children (4), and may be the answer to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s as well (5).
5. Great For Your Skin
Coconut oil is one of the best natural oils to keep your skin healthy and rejuvenated. It helps to balance oil levels to keep moisture in, and can block up to 20% of the sun’s UV rays. (5)
6. Improve Oral Health
Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and keeps your mouth clean and reduces a bad breath. Have you ever tried to pull oil to make your teeth whiter, improve gum health, and reduce plaque? Click here for more info. (6)
7. Strengthen the Immune System
Coconut oil works as an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. It helps strengthen your immune system and fights harmful intruders like Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium difficile, Helicobacter pylori, and many more. (7)
8. Increases Nutrient Absorption Of Many Essential Fat-soluble Nutrients
Multiple studies have shown that adding healthy fats to your dishes helps the body to get more nutrients – such as lutein, lycopene, vitamin E, and beta-carotene – from the food you eat. Click here for more info. (8)
When buying coconut oil make sure to get the unrefined, organic virgin coconut oil to reap all these wonderful benefits.
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