How2GetHealthy

“The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, heart diseases, cholesterol levels, weight loss, kidney problems, digestion, metabolism, high blood pressure, immunity, dental care, diabetes, bone strength, HIV and cancer.” www.organicfacts.net

On this page we will tell you why this truly great oil has fallen out of favor, why it is healthier than any other oil even though it is a saturated fat, why you should buy organic to get the full benefit, where you can buy it and how much you need to take.

Fallen Out of Favor

Coconut oil was very popular in pre-WWII America, but by the mid 1950’s that all changed. The “saturated fat is bad for you” campaign categorically condemned all saturated fats even though medium chain saturated fats are good for you. The marketing power of the soy bean and corn industries changed not only American diets, but diets all over the world. Coconut Oil was replaced with poly-unsaturated oil and only in recent years are we beginning to understand how wrong this is.

The Healthiest Oil

Coconut oil has been used for over 4000 years as a food and as a pharmaceutical for very good reason. Coconut oil has:

• lauric acid (50%!)
• capric acid
• caprylic acid
• antimicrobial properties
• antifungal properties
• antibacterial properties
• antioxidant properties

Because of its high lauric acid content it helps fight viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes and influenza, and research has shown that coconut oil reduces the viral loads of HIV patients.

Athletes, body builders and dieters prefer coconut oil because it has fewer calories than other oils, its fat content is easy converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries.

Coconut oil boosts energy and endurance, and suppresses appetite. It doesn’t release free radicals when you heat it like vegetable oils do, and it tastes great, too.
Coconut Oil Benefits

• Hair - helps healthy hair growth and reduces dandruff, lice and lice eggs.
• Skin - a great moisturizer for all skin types, delays wrinkles and sagging, helps to treat psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.
• An antioxidant - it helps to prevent premature aging and degenerative diseases.
• Heart - coconut oil is 50% Lauric Acid which helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The saturated fats in coconut oil are not harmful and do not lead to an increase in LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels.
• Weight Loss - contains short and medium chain fatty acids. It is easy to digest, helps thyroid and enzyme function and suppresses appetite.
• Digestion - improves digestion and related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The anti microbal properties help deal with bacteria, fungi and parasites that cause indigestion. Aids in the absorption of vitamins, mineral and amino acids.
• Immunity and Infection - antimicrobal lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties and strengthen the immune system. Helps fight harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. The Coconut Research Center claims that it kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, pneumonia and is effective against fungi and yeast.
• Liver - medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids help prevent liver disease.
• Kidney - helps prevent kidney and gall bladder disease and can dissolve kidney stones
• Diabetes - helps control blood sugar
• Bones and Teeth - improves absorption of minerals including calcium and magnesium.
• HIV and Cancer - it is thought that coconut oil may help HIV and cancer sufferers become less susceptible to viruses

Why You Need to Buy Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

• like all organic products organic oil is free from chemicals
• virgin coconut oil comes from the fresh mature kernel (not dried copra)
• oil extraction is mechanical (no solvents are used) and done at a low temperatures
• it is not refined or bleached
• it is not hydrogenated
• it is not deodorized

Most commercial coconut oil is refined, bleached and deodorized. It does maintain the beneficial chemical structures of the medium chain fatty acids, but it will contain chemicals used in processing. If you can’t get organic virgin coconut oil, commercial coconut oil is preferable to most other vegetable oils and fats for cooking at high temperatures and frying.

Unlike olive oil, there is no difference between virgin and extra virgin coconut oil. If you do choose extra virgin, don’t pay more for it.

How Much to Take

3 to 4 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil provides enough lauric acid to help build your immune system.

Start slowly and build up to this amount. Coconut Oil can cause nausea in some people. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and build up over time.

Remember to stay away from all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats including hydrogenated coconut oil. These contain trans fatty acids and can lead to heart disease.

This article is based on information gathered from these websites: Organicfacts.net, Virgincoconutoil.co.uk (Coconut Connections), Alternativehealthzine.com

Www.Lauric.org is another helpful resource.