Coconut oil has quickly become a favourite among health enthusiasts all over the world.
Even though the healthy oil has been in the news for quite some time now, we are still discovering new health benefits and they are greater than we could ever have imagined.
This superfood is taking the world by storm by making people not only healthier but thinner. Since coconut oil is a plant-based fat, it does not hold the same negative characteristics as animal fats do. One of the most prominent differences between plant-based fats and animal fats is the fact that plant-based fats aren’t stored as fat. Beyond that, coconut oil is anti-microbial and anti-fungal, meaning that it can be used as an ointment.
There are many other heath benefits that far overshadows these, including some revolutionary medicinal properties that are helping people who are suffering from life-threatening conditions live happy and normal lives.
Among the countless known benefits, we have extracted only a few of the greatest that stand out and is sure to make waves in the not only the health community but also the medicine community.
Table of Contents
- Weight Loss
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment
- Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
- Type II Diabetes
- Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Weight Loss
Listing weight loss as one of the greatest benefits of coconut oil might seem ridiculous when you take a look at some of the other health benefits, but do you know that more than 35% of adults residing in the US are obese?
That is more than 80 million obese men and women – more than the entire South African population. Furthermore, 6.6% of the US population are morbidly obese, meaning that they are suffering from serious medical conditions that are caused by their obesity. This is a possibly fatal condition.
The severity of fat in our society is seriously underrated. Millions of people are suffering from obesity and leading their children to the same dreadful fate.
This is why the weight loss benefits of coconut oil are so significant. The superfood comprises of a unique and powerful combination of fatty acids that work with the metabolism, speeding up fat-loss – especially around the abdominal area. Even though it might seem counteractive to consume fat in order to lose fat, it is important to understand that all fats are not the same – and coconut oil fall in its own unique category.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment
It might sound impossible for a simple oil to have powerful cancer healing properties but it is quite simple really.
Coconut oil possesses two qualities that give it this amazing ability.
The ketones that are produced during the digestion of coconut oil, are a problem for cancer cells since they cannot derive energy from ketones as they do with glucose – on which they are dependent. Ketogenic diets are often used to help cancer patients recover.
Another cancer-fighting property of coconut oil is the fact that it is about 2/3 MCFAs (medium-chain fatty acids). MCFAs are known to digest the lipid walls of bacteria, but they also have the ability to destroy helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is a bacteria that is known for increasing the risk of stomach cancer.
Furthermore, coconut oil has been proven to prevent cancer in studies where the cancer was chemically induced. Perhaps something simple like coconut oil will be a contributing factor in our war against cancer.
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
When MCFAs are being digested by the liver, it produces ketones which unlike other forms of energy, is instantly accessible energy that can be used by the brain.
Thus the body skips the process where it releases insulin in order to convert glucose into energy.
How does this help Alzheimer’s?
According to recent studies, the brain produces its own insulin which is used to process glucose and power brain cells. When a person suffers from Alzheimer’s, their brain loses the ability to produce insulin, thus having serious repercussions on brain function. However, since the ketones from coconut oil do not require insulin to be converted into energy, the energy can be used to power brain cells and repair the brain, thus providing a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is known for its insulin resistance and high blood sugar, in addition to other related symptoms.
There are millions of people all over the world who are suffering from this disease and in many cases where it is not properly treated, the condition can be fatal.
The MCFAs that can be found in coconut oil has the ability to promote a healthy digestive system and balance insulin reactions within cells. The MCFAs thus take the strain off of the pancreas and provides the body with a consistent source of energy. This energy source is not dependent on glucose reactions that have the ability to reduce insulin resistance in patients suffering from Type II Diabetes.
Due to the properties of MCFAs, coconut oil has the ability to improve Type II Diabetes.
Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Coconut oil can be extremely beneficial for heart function and blood pressure.
For years people have been told that fat is bad for your heart and it blocks your arteries. By now we know that is is not all black and white when it comes to fat.
Coconut oil is very high in natural saturated fats – which is why it is solid at room temperature. Saturated fats are extremely healthy – especially so when it comes to our battle against bad cholesterol.
These saturated fats increase good cholesterol in our bodies. However, that is not all – saturated fats actually have the ability to convert bad cholesterol from foods like fatty meat or butter, into good cholesterol.
This increase in good cholesterol and the decrease in bad cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease and promotes overall heart health.