The Health benefits of coconut oil are numerous. The benefits of this oil really depend on your individual situation. If you have been feeling sluggish and dull recently, you should consider increasing the amount of coconut oil in your daily diet. There are numerous reasons for this. Here are some of the most prominent.
Heart Health – Coconut oil has been credited with supporting cardiac health. Specifically, it contains medium-chain fatty acids which are easily absorbed by the bloodstream and consequently reduce the blood pressure without making the patient feel hungry. In addition, coconut oil lowers the levels of “bad cholesterol” and increases the level of “good cholesterol”, which can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. This dietary supplement also reduces triglycerides, improves circulation, and boosts energy.
Weight Loss – It is well-known that increasing the amount of fat we consume will lead to weight gain. However, reducing the number of saturated fats we consume will also lead to weight loss. This is because consuming more calories than our body needs leads to fat storage. In particular, the storage of fat near the organs can lead to liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. Thus, consuming coconut oil helps us lose weight by decreasing the calories we take in and increasing the calories we burn off through sweating.
Diabetes – Research shows that a diet low in saturated fats may reduce the chances of developing diabetes. One of the substances in coconut oil that seems to help prevent diabetes is medium-chain fatty acids. These acids seem to behave like insulin in the body and cause the cells to release more insulin when we eat food. Thus, the membranes inside the cells are able to absorb and use insulin better. As a result, the glucose level in the blood is reduced, which lowers the possibility of developing diabetes.
Obesity – The average person consumes between twenty-five and thirty thousand calories per day, depending on their activity level. While this may seem like an abundant amount of food if every person ate the same amount they would become overpopulated. The problem is that many people simply do not eat enough. This is especially true for those who are sedentary, overweight or have poor diets. This is where coconut oil comes in handy. Because it contains medium-chain fatty acids, it is easily absorbed and does not increase the number of calories taken in, which helps those with weight issues.
Improves Digestion – It is believed that consuming coconut meat will improve digestion and reduce the risk of developing colon and bladder cancer. Coconut water is a good substitute for other beverages, and researchers have found that consuming one tablespoon a day of coconut water will help to control constipation, ease gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Long-term clinical trials are currently being conducted to determine if this is true. In addition to being able to improve digestive function, coconut oil increases the amount of energy you feel throughout the day. Its high lauric acid content helps keep you energized and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Lower Cholesterol – Studies indicate that consuming copious amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids can significantly lower cholesterol levels. This is largely due to its ability to increase HDL, or good cholesterol while lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol. It has been shown to have a similar effect to fish oil, another natural source of these fats. This makes virgin coconut oil the ideal choice to replace saturated fats in a number of cooking methods.
All of the above benefits are contributed by unsaturated fats, which the body cannot store and process. When these fats are eaten, they are immediately converted into glucose, which is then used for energy. Many experts believe that a healthy diet should include at least two servings of unsaturated fat from nuts, seeds, and oils each day. In order to get the complete nutritional value from your diet, including all of these beneficial nutrients, it is important to make sure that the food you are eating contains the minimum amount of saturated fat possible.