Benefits of Coconut

Coconut oil might just be the most versatile health food on the planet.Coconut and the products derived from it like coconut meat have been for years wrongly deemed as an unhealthy type of food because of its long-known high saturated fat content. However, a growing body of recent studies has shown that the type of fats present in coconut meat is, in fact, medium-chain triglycerides.  When you eat coconut meat,  it contains are transported from the intestinal tract to the liver and immediately transformed into fuel.

HEALTH BENEFIT OF COCONUT

1. Supports immune system health: it is anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasite
2. Provides a natural source of quick energy and enhances physical and athletic performance
3. Improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals
4. Improves insulin secretion and symptoms associated with diabetes
5. Helps protect the body from cancers due to insulin reduction, removal of free radicals that cause premature ageing and degenerative disease
6. Reduces risk of heart health and improves good cholesterol (HDL)
7. Restores and supports thyroid function
8. Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infection
9. Promotes weight loss
10. Helps keep hair and skin healthy and youthful looking, prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, and provides sun protection

HAIR CARE: Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair and gives your hair a shiny quality. It is also highly effective in reducing protein loss, which can lead to various unattractive or unhealthy qualities in your hair. It is used as hair care oil and is used in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams. It is normally applied topically to hair care.

HEART DISEASES: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for heart health. This is because it contains a lot of saturated fats. In reality, it is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Coconut oil does not lead to increase in LDL levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis. The study suggests that intake of coconut oil may help to maintain healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women.

USE OF COCONUT OIL
This versatile oil has hundreds of uses in the home, in beauty recipes and in cooking. My favourite uses are:

1.Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body but also help to convert the LDL “bad” cholesterol into good cholesterol.

2.Most of the fatty acids in the diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
3.Good for oral health. Swish some coconut oil around your mouth for 15 minutes in the morning to 'pull' bacteria out of your mouth. Spit and rinse with water.


4.In healthy brain-boosting snack for kids like Coconut Clusters.

5.Add a filling and energy boosting Brain Power Smoothie.

6.Mix a tablespoon with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an all-day energy boost (do NOT take this at night!).

7.Use as a replacement for vegetable oils in any recipe or in cooking.

8.Or try your hand at making coconut based grain free granola recipes.

9.My kids love these homemade meltaways (like candy).

10.Use it as an anti-ageing facial moisturizer.

11.Because of the energy creating abilities of coconut oil, it is no wonder that it is beneficial in losing weight. It helps to burn fat, decrease appetite and it studies it was especially helpful in losing belly fat!