5 Proven Health Benefits of Coconut Oil physiotherapists should know

(Physiolight 4_Health Tips)

5 Proven Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.” Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits.

1. Coconut Oil can Boost Brain Function in Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Patients

Coconut oil contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides (MCT), metabolized differently, they enter the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as quick source of energy or turned into “ketone bodies”, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant in children .

2. Populations that Eat a Lot of Coconut Oil has a Healthy Blood Cholesterol Levels

Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people. Populations like Kitavans and Tokelauans (of the South Pacific), consume over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world. They remain in excellent health with no evidence of heart diseases. It is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought. Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total LDL and HDL cholesterol, blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease. 

3. Coconut Oil can help in management of Obesity

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world. While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too. One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term. They’re losing significant amounts of abdominal fat simply by adding coconut oil to their diet. 

4. Coconut Oil Can Improve your Dental Health and Kill Harmful Microorganisms

Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath. Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid which can enzymatically be converted to monolaurin; both can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi. Research; have shown that these substances kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans 

5. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreen

Coconut oil can be applied topically, studies shows it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

 

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