The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil you Didn’t Know About

The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil you Didn’t Know About

There is a cooking oil that is used widely in the Phillipines and many other tropical climates but rarely in Western cultures like the United States. This undiscovered oil helps protect you from heart disease, cancer, and a number of other degenerative condition, improves your digestion, strengthens your immune system, and helps you to lose weight. It is widely available but still hidden from the public eye. Interested in discovering this powerful cooking oil? It’s not olive oil, canola oil,  flaxseed  oil, or even the evening primrose oil. It is the simple coconut oil. 


Wait a minute you say, “Doesn’t coconut oil contain dangerous saturated fat?” Many claims have been made that all saturated fats are bad. While this is true of most saturated fats, it is certainly not true of all of them. Modern resesarch has shown us that saturated fats which are rich in the medium chain fatty acids, like lauric acid, are very healthy. The almighty coconut oil is packed with this powerful lauric acid and contributes to many of its health benefits. 

The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil:
Clinical studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. In fact, studies conducted in the Phillipines showed that coconut oil reduces the viral load in AIDS patients.  G.W. Crile and his wife found that the metabolic rate of people in Yucatan, where coconut is a staple food, averages 25% higher than that of people in the United States. 

Research has also suggested that coconut oil lowers cholesterol to normal by promoting its conversion into pregnenolone. This is based upon adding coconut oil on a regular basis to a balanced diet . 

Cultures in the tropics who use coconuts as a staple food have consistently lower cholesterol than people in the United States. 

Coconut oil can also aid in any weight loss program. Although coconut is a type of fat, it actually promotes weight loss. This is due to the healthy medium chain fatty acids. These fatty acids do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats. Instead, they are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. Therefore, the body uses the fat in coconut oil to produce energy rather than being stored as body fat. 

These same fatty acid chains also speed up your metabolism, burning additional calories and promoting weight loss.  Let’s do a quick review on the many benefits of coconut oil:

Increases metabolism

Increases your Energy

Reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and related illnesses

Reduces the risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions

Helps prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

Improves digestions and nutrient absorption

Helps keep skin soft and smooth

Boost scalp circulation and prevent hair loss

Helps prevent wrinkles

Boosts the immune system

How much coconut oil should You Consume?

A healthy dosage of coconut oil is 3 to 4 tablespoons a day. This amount will provide enough lauric acid to build up the immune system.  One of the other great benefits of coconut oil is its’ long shelf life. Coconut oil stays fresh at room temperature for up to a year without going rancid. 

Be sure to look for unrefined coconut oil. Stay away from all hydrogenated oils, whether it is coconut oil or vegetable oils. These oils contain trans fatty acids, which are extremely dangerous and have been shown to raise serum cholesterol levels that can lead to heart disease. 

Virgin coconut oil is the best choice.  Interestingly enough, Virgin coconut oil has a wide variety of uses. It is also used for making natural soaps and other health products and is one of the best things you can put on your skin. 

If you are not incorporating coconut oil into your daily diet, you are missing out on one of nature’s greatest health products. 

Patrick Banks is a lifestyle writer with an intense passion for health & fitness. He believes that it’s possible to control your body with the power of your mind. You can read more of his life and health related tips on his blog – Wingman Magazine.