What Are the Benefits of Pure Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil was previously claimed by the media to be unhealthy or even dangerous. As it turns out, this was simply because all of the coconut oil produced was hydrogenated, which caused it to contain high levels of trans fats (which as everyone knows are very bad for you). Non-hydrogenated coconut oil (as most is these days) is not only safe but is extremely good for you. Instead of those nasty trans fats, it contains a lot of the healthy fatty acids that most people need more of.
The Newcomer – Lauric Acid
50% of pure coconut oil is comprised of the good “fatty acid” known as lauric acid. Lauric acid is so safe (and essential) that it’s even found in breast milk – that’s right, you’ve been feeding it to your baby and I bet you didn’t even know it! Recent studies have begun to show that lauric acid has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and even anti-VIRAL properties which make it not only a health booster but a health repairer. It is believed by some professionals that lauric acid is the next “big thing” in the supplement world and that it maybe one day surpass omega 3 as the preferred fatty acid.
More and more studies are coming out which show how unhealthy omega 6 fats (vegetable oils) are, which makes this stuff even more appealing. Fortunately, coconut oil can be used in pretty much every way that vegetable oil is, but it’s great for you!
But Isn’t Fat Bad for You?
For a long time, it was always said that fat is bad – or moreso, that “the less fat the better”. Then it was just the saturated fats that are bad. Now it’s trans fats. What’s the real deal?
Well, we can definitely conclude that trans fats are no good. However, fat itself (saturated or not) is not definitively bad! As is shown by pure coconut oil (and many other kinds of oils, such as fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, etc) there are many benefits to be had from consuming certain amounts of fats each day. These benefits include:
- stronger, silky hair
- smoother skin/clear complexion
- stress relief
- cholesterol control
- weight loss
- improved immune system
- digestion aid
- increased metabolism
- help with kidney problems
- increased bone/teeth strength
Many of these benefits can be obtained by simply consuming a few (3 or so) tablespoons of virgin olive oil every day, preferably before a meal. For your skin and hair, you can also apply it topically to get more direct results, and for stress relief, coconut oil makes a great massage oil! It smells nice too!
For more info about the different types of coconut oil and what they can do, check out the sidebar on the right for even more articles about this wonderful new food additive, supplement, hair conditioner, skin lotion – the list goes on and on when it comes to things it can do!
