Advocates and marketers of coconut oil claim that it is beneficial to everything from hair and skin to heart and kidney health to HIV and cancer. That's a tall order and certainly one that raises alarm bells in many. Is it marketing hype, or is there something to it?
For over 4000 years, coconut oil has been used as food and as a pharmaceutical, and in pre-WWII America coconut and other tropical oils were common. In the 1950's that changed. The American soy bean and corn industries began to dominate the market and led an aggressive marketing campaign saying that "saturated fat is bad for you". Tropical oils were replaced with polyunsaturated oils and coconut oil slipped into obscurity.
It has now made a comeback and is being marketed by producers and sellers as the healthier option. Unfortunately, many of their claims are exaggerated, unsubstantiated or lack rigorous research to back them up.
Nonetheless coconut oil remains a unique oil because it contains lauric acid (50%), capric acid and caprylic acid.
It has anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and is an anti-oxidant.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil:
- It is a traditional ingredient in many skin and hair products. It is a great moisturizer and can be used pure and applied straight on the skin.
- It helps to maintain a healthy weight. While it has only slightly fewer calories than other fats, it is easily converted into energy, it boosts energy and endurance, and suppresses appetite. It is also thought to improve thyroid function.
- Anti-microbal properties strengthen the immune system and help your body to deal with bacteria, fungi and parasites. This improves digestion and can help with digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. Its anti-fungal properties can help get rid of candida.
Unlike polyunsaturated vegetable oil it is a stable oil that does not go rancid when not refrigerated. Nor does it release free radicals when cooking on a high heat.
It's best to use organic virgin coconut oil. Most non-organic is refined, bleached and deodorized and will contain chemicals used in processing. Organic virgin is free from chemicals, it is not refined, bleached, hydrogenated or deodorized. Unlike olive oil, there is no difference between virgin and extra virgin.
How much to take to enjoy health benefits: 3 to 4 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil per day is enough to help improve your immune system. It can cause nausea in some people so start with 1/2 teaspoon and build up over time. Caution should be take by people with high cholesterol.
Despite the marketing hype and exaggerated claims by sellers and producers, virgin organic coconut oil is a healthful and beneficial oil that has a place in any healthy diet.
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