Top 10 Proven Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

My latest favorite thing to do is to use an all natural organic coconut oil as a moisturizer! That is just one way your body can benefit from the health enhancing and healing properties of coconut oil. Explore the other 10 health benefits of coconut oil in this eye-opening article.

The following health benefits of coconut oil have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

1. Coconut Oil contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties.
   1. The saturated fats are harmless, they in of themselves are not artery clogging.
   2. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) go directly to the liver from the digestive tract for energy usage or convert to ketone bodies if not needed at that time for energy.
   3. Ketone bodies have therapeutic effects on brain disorders i.e., Epilepsy and Altzheimer’s
2. Populations that eat a lot of coconut are among the healthiest people on the planet.
   1. They are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease.
   2. Plenty of populations around the world thrive eating up to 60% of calories from coconut
3. Coconut Oil can increase your energy expenditure helping you burn more fat.
   1. MCTs in Coconut Oil can increase metabolism compared to LCTs in most other oils.
   2. A study concluded 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totaling about 120 calories per day, contributing to weight loss long term.
4. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi helping to prevent infections.
   1. About 50% of the fatty acids in Coconut Oil is the 12-Carbon Lauric Acid.
   2. When Coconut Oil is digested it forms monolaurin, a monoglyceride.
   3. Lauric Acid and monolaurin kill harmful pathogens, i.e., bacteria, viruses and fungi.
   4. Shown to kill Staphylococcus Aureus and the yeast Candida Albicans
5. Coconut Oil can kill your hunger, so you eat less which leads to weight loss long term.
   1. Ketone bodies, the metabolites of Coconut Oil have an appetite suppressant effect.
   2. In a study of 6 men, those eating MCTs ate 256 calories less per day, on average.
   3. In 14 healthy men, a study found MCTS eaten at breakfast led to less calories at lunch.
6. The fatty acids in Coconut Oil are turned into ketones, which can reduce seizures.
   1. The ketogenic (very high fat and very low carb) diet has been used to treat seizures
   2. The MCTs in Coconut Oil increased ketone bodies in the blood of epileptic children
7. Coconut Oil can improve blood cholesterol levels and may lower your risk of heart disease.
   1. Saturated fats raise HDL and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype.
   2. A study of 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total/LDL cholesterol and raised HDLs when compared to soybean oil.
   3. This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.
8. Coconut Oil can protect hair against damage, moisturize skin and function as a sunscreen.
   1. Studies show coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin.
   2. Used as a mouthwash, in a process called Oil Pulling, for fresh breath and dental health
9. The fatty acids in Coconut Oil can boost brain function in Alzheimer’s patients.
   1. Ketone bodies can be used as an alternate energy source to glucose for the malfunctioning brain cells in Alzheimer patients and reduce their symptoms.
   2. In 2006, a study showed immediate improvement in brain function and symptoms in patients with mild Alzheimer’s consuming MCTs
10. Coconut Oil can help you lose fat, especially the dangerous fat in your abdominal cavity.
    1. Coconut Oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning leading to weight loss.
    2. In a 12-week study of 40 women with abdominal obesity, 30 ml or 1 ounce of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference.
    3. A study of 20 males noted a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm (1.1 inches) after 4 weeks of 30 ml or 1 ounce of coconut oil per day.