There seems to be a lot of buzz around coconut everything these days. People are going loco for the coco…. nuts .. . especially coconut oil. And there is valid reason behind this!
Today I am going to dive into a few of the amazing benefits of coconut oil and how you can incorporate it into your everyday life… and experience the benefits.
Why Coconut Oil is the Real Deal
Coconut oil is mainly made up of medium chain fatty acids. These fats include caprylic acid, lauric acid and capric acid. Coconut oil is mainly a saturated fat (most people commonly associate saturated fats as a ‘bad fat’). That truly is not the case as coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids which are easily absorbed by the liver and used as energy. It has shown to increase total cholesterol numbers, but mainly the HDL cholesterol (the good kind), so the cholesterol ratio can actually improve. Some studies have also shown that good cholesterol becomes higher and LDL cholesterol particles are lower.
The lauric acid found in coconut oil has been shown to support energy levels, metabolism, bones and brain health. Not too shabby for a saturated fat!
It’s stable:
Being a saturated fat also makes coconut oil very stable to use as a cooking oil. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (although wonderful!), are less stable, more heat sensitive and can be damaged if cooked at too high a temperature. This makes coconut oil an excellent oil to cook with!
It’s protective:
The fats in coconut oil have been found to provide anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral benefits. Caprylic acid which is also found in coconut oil, can even support the reduction of candida!
The Many Uses and Benefits of Coconut Oil
Cook with it:
As mentioned above, coconut oil is quite heat resistant, and this makes it a great oil to use for cooking your food!
Add it to your food:
Adding a tablespoon to smoothies is a great way to incorporate this healthy fat. Many recipes that I share also call for coconut oil for baking as well.
Skin:
As coconut oil has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, it can be very good for irritated skin. Coconut oil can be used as a light sunscreen, skin moisturizer and also for soothing skin issues such as inflammation, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.
Hair:
If you have dry skin or scalp, coconut oil mixed with essential oils, massaged into your scalp and hair for several minutes can be extremely soothing and moisturizing.
Teeth:
Some people enjoy oil pulling with coconut oil, which is basically where you swish around coconut oil in your mouth for a little while (anywhere from a few minutes to 20 minutes). It is thought that the oil with is antibacterial properties can help to kill bacteria in our mouth and support healthy gums and teeth.
Healthy teeth and less dentist visits? Sounds appealing to me!
Tip:
Always make sure to choose a high quality virgin, organic, cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil and make sure that it is not deodorized or bleached.
I hope that you enjoyed this blog and you’re inspired to give coconut oil a try! It’s my go-to cooking oil in my kitchen ?
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Also, if you have nutrition and health questions or concerns, and you would like some guidance, I’d be happy to chat and dive into things via a casual discovery call – Grab your spot HERE! I hope to chat with you soon ?
Cheers to healthy fatty-licious coconut oil,
