Due to the health benefits of coconut oil, including its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, improvement of skin and oral health, and potential weight loss, it has surprisingly become popular among people.

1. Increased Fat Burning

Coconut oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which belong to the family of saturated fats.

Generally, saturated fats are divided into three subgroups, each having different effects on the body. These subgroups are:

· Long-chain

· Medium-chain

· Short-chain

Scientists are studying medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), including those found in coconut oil, for their potential health benefits.

For example, some evidence suggests that consuming MCTs may increase the number of calories your body burns. By doing so, it may help with weight loss.

Since the fats in coconut oil are 65% MCT, it may have fat-burning properties similar to pure MCT oil.

While MCTs may increase your calorie-burning rate, keep in mind that coconut oil is very high in calories and if consumed in large amounts, it can easily lead to weight gain.

2. Source of Energy

The MCTs in coconut oil provide a quick source of energy. When you consume long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), fat molecules are transported through your blood to the tissues that need them, such as muscle or fat tissue. On the other hand, MCTs go directly to your liver and are converted into energy.

In fact, MCTs are used in sports nutrition products for athletes who need a source of energy that their bodies can quickly absorb and utilize.

3. Antimicrobial Effect

Coconut oil has antimicrobial and antifungal properties due to its MCT content - particularly lauric acid. Lauric acid is a fatty acid that makes up about 50 percent of the MCTs found in coconut oil.

Research suggests that it may have antimicrobial effects against pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Helicobacter pylori. Lauric acid may act as a bacteriostatic agent. This is a substance that prevents the replication of bacteria without killing them. Additionally, it may also inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms for plants.

4. Helps Reduce Appetite

One interesting feature of MCTs is that they may help reduce food intake, which is related to how they are metabolized in the body. Some of the MCTs you consume are broken down in a process that produces molecules called ketones.

Ketones reduce appetite by directly affecting brain chemical messengers or altering levels of hunger hormones such as ghrelin.

You may be familiar with ketones in the context of ketogenic diets, which are very popular these days. People on a keto diet do not consume many carbohydrates but often eat a lot of fats. For this reason, their bodies tend to use ketones for fuel. However, although coconut oil is one of the richest natural sources of MCTs, there is no evidence that coconut oil itself reduces appetite more than other oils. In fact, one study reports that coconut oil is less satiating than MCT oil.

5. Seizure Control

People have long used ketogenic diets, which are very low in carbohydrates and high in fats, to treat various disorders, including drug-resistant epilepsy. In fact, the keto diet helps reduce the frequency of seizures.

Researchers believe that the lack of glucose available to fuel brain cells is a justification for the reduced frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy on ketogenic diets.

6. Increased Skin Health

Coconut oil has many applications beyond its dietary use. Many people use it to improve the health and appearance of their skin. Studies show that coconut oil can improve skin function by preventing dryness and excessive water loss. Using 6 to 8 drops of virgin coconut oil on your hands overnight is an effective way to prevent dryness caused by frequent use of alcohol-based sanitizers. It may also reduce the severity of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition characterized by skin inflammation and impaired skin barrier function).

7. Hair Protector

Coconut oil can also protect against hair damage. For example, one study showed that because coconut oil penetrates deeply into hair strands, it makes them more flexible and increases their strength to prevent breakage under stress. Similarly, another study found that coconut oil nourishes hair strands and reduces breakage, leading to further strengthening of the hair.

8. Increased Oral Health

Evidence suggests that using coconut oil as a mouthwash is a beneficial and cost-effective method for oral hygiene.

The method of using this oil involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth like a mouthwash, which may significantly reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth compared to a regular mouthwash.

This is believed to occur due to the antibacterial properties of lauric acid. Additionally, the lauric acid in coconut oil reacts with saliva to create a soap-like substance that helps prevent cavities and reduces plaque buildup and gum inflammation.

However, studies indicate that there is limited evidence on this topic, and using coconut oil does not replace dental treatment, and further research is needed in this area.

9. Reducing Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and this condition reduces the brain's ability to use glucose for energy. However, researchers believe that ketones can neutralize mild to moderate early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by providing an alternative energy source for brain cells. For this reason, foods like coconut oil have been investigated for their potential role in managing Alzheimer’s disease.

10. Rich Source of Antioxidants

Coconut oil is a good source of antioxidants that help neutralize harmful molecules known as free radicals. This, in turn, helps prevent several chronic and degenerative diseases. Some of the main types of antioxidants found in the oil include:

· Tocopherols

· Tocotrienols

· Phytosterols

· Flavonoids

· Polyphenols.

The antioxidants in coconut oil have potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.

Precautions

In recent years, it has been shown that coconut oil is beneficial for heart health by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels actually reduces the risk of heart disease, so you might think that increasing HDL from coconut oil would be beneficial. However, the American Heart Association has determined that the increase in HDL from dietary or pharmacological means does not appear to be directly related to changes in the risk of heart disease; therefore, the increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol outweighs its benefits. This is why the American Heart Association recommends not using it for heart health. This does not necessarily mean that you should avoid coconut oil altogether. Just try to limit your intake in accordance with current recommendations for saturated fat consumption, which is less than 10% of your total daily calories.

Final Thoughts

Coconut oil has many health benefits, whether you add it to your diet or use it for cosmetic and hygiene purposes. However, be sure to consume it in moderation.

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