Posted on November 2nd, 2010 | Comments (0)
Because of the many benefits of coconut oil being uncovered by modern research, coconut products are starting to appear almost everywhere. From coconut skin oil, to coconut cooking oil, to coconut butter, to fermented coconut milk, coconut oil is being widely added to the diets and habits of many diets and natural health products. Oils in general are a hot topic, from things to pomegranate seed oil, to cod liver oil, to little known oils like starflower oil.
Current research is beginning to show some very excellent benefits of coconut oil. In fact, some research is calling it a sort of wonder-food. Nearly every day it seems, research is yielding new benefits. Below are listed some of the different types of coconut oils and their benefits.
1. Coconut Cooking Oil. According to many sources, pure virgin coconut oil is the best, healthiest cooking oil on the market. Despite the fact that coconut oil has a lot of fat, it’s considered healthy fat that the body can utilize for its healthy function. Many experts agree that one of the main reasons for the current levels of obesity in America is due to such a large intake of unhealthy fats, and not enough intake of healthy fats. Health fats are actually able to be utilized by the body well for energy. Unhealthy fats are difficult to process and are generally stored in fat cells. Even though coconut oil is high in fat, 3 of its main benefits are:
Weight Loss
Heart Health
Metabolism Health
Our bodies require healthy fats in order to function properly. Starving the body of fat is not the most effective way towards weight loss and health. Supporting the metabolism and giving the body what it needs instead of what it wants is better. Here are some other benefits of using pure coconut cooking oil:
Immune System Booster
Quality Energy Source
Thyroid Gland Supporter
2. Topical Coconut Oil for Skin and Hair. This can be applied directly to the skin and hair, and many products are sold for that specific purpose. On the skin, coconut oil has some very good health benefits. Acting as a massage oil, it moisturizes dry and damaged skin, and can also slow down the process of skin aging and sagging. When applied to the hair, coconut oil helps restore the healthy function of hair by giving it back its natural shine and moisturizing the scalp. Many hair products such as conditioners are starting to have coconut oil in them.
3. Healing Ointment. Coconut oil has been used as a topical ointment for many years. When applied externally to wounds, bruises, and infections, the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties help keep the wounds safe from further harm. And since coconut oil is such a nutritious oil that’s able to be readily absorbed by the body, it helps speed up recovery time.
4. Organ Function. Coconut oil has been shown to support many organs, like the kidneys and the liver, and is beneficial in defending the body against the onset of many ailments and conditions. Coconut oil also supports the digestive system by enhancing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This will help to ensure that the various bodily systems have the right nutritional building blocks that they need in order to function properly.
5. Coconut Butter. Coconut butter is interesting because it can be utilized in some ways that cooking oil alone can’t accomplish. Coconut butter is just like it sounds and has a consistency similar to peanut butter or almond butter. It’s nice because it can be used in spreads or eaten plain. And being that coconut butter contains more than just the oil in the coconut, you get the benefit of the rest of the fruit.
For many years, large corporate producers of vegetable oil have had a campaign against coconut oil, claiming that its high fat content makes it unhealthy, especially for the heart. But the proof is in the pudding as they say. Those cultures which use coconut oil most heavily have shown to be much healthier than our own culture which relies so heavily on vegetable oils. Coconut oil is rich in fat, that’s true. But everything in coconut oil is readily utilized by the body to support its different functions. Having an efficient body is much more important than feeding your body less fat. Coconut oil supports things like your metabolism and your digestive system, making your body more efficient and able to deal with the calories and fats that come its way. That, to me, is the best benefit of coconut oil.
About the Author
For more about different kinds of oils and their health benefits, check out my other articles on pomegranate seed oil, and emulsified cod liver oil.
Article Source: Content for Reprint
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