From the kernel (meat) of a ripe coconut comes coconut oil. The coconut palm tree bears coconut fruits, which are usually attached to the coconut palms; this oil has various uses in the food and medicine industry. We are going to look at the various health benefits of the coconut oil.
Health Benefit 1: Hair Food
Coconut oil is a hair food due to its rich ingredients which assist hair to re-grow and nourishes it.Coconut oil fights dandruff and eliminates lice and lice eggs on the scalp. It conditions the hair and repairs the damaged hair brought about by hygral fatigue. Most of the hair creams and conditioners contain coconut oil as one of the ingredients.
Health Benefit 2: Cardiovascular Health
Actually, coconut oil does not cause accumulation of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and in fact protect you from atherosclerosis. The oil lowers incidences of injuries found in the arteries due to LDL.Owing to its 50% lauric acid, coconut oil aids in fighting various heart diseases brought about by high cholesterol as high blood pressure.
Health Benefit 3: Skin Care
Coconut oil is applied on the skin to keep of dryness and flaking of the skin. It moisturizes the skin and has no side effects, unlike mineral oil. If you have sagging skin and wrinkles, then coconut oil is all you need to delay these skin problems from showing up in the first place. Coconut oil also combats various skin disorders such as dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema among other infections .This is due to its anti-oxidant properties.
Health Benefit 4: Weight loss
The medium-chain fatty acid s in coconut oil assists in weight loss. The oil aids in increasing the body’s metabolic rate by relieving the pancreas of stress, hence facilitating faster burning of fat. Little wonder then, that most users of the coconut oil for cooking in the tropical coastal regions-where coconut trees grow-are lean.
Health Benefit 5: Boosts Immune System
Coconut oil contains microbial lipids and acids such as lauric, capric and caprylic, all of which have anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Our bodies convert lauric acid in particular, into a substance known monolaurin.This substance has been demonstrated through research to effectively combat viruses and bacteria which causes serious venereal diseases such as herpes and HIV. It also helps fight influenza and cytomegalovirus. Other harmful bacteria and protozoa include in the list elisteria monocytogenes, helicobacter pylori, and giardia lamblia respectively.
Health Benefit 6: Improves Digestion
Coconut oil for cooking is useful in aiding digestion. The anti-microbial properties in the oil fight bacteria, fungi and parasites which bring about indigestion. Coconut oil combats various digestion problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and aids in the absorption of minerals, vitamins as well as amino acids.
Health Benefit 7: Treatment of Candida
The fatty acids found contained in coconut oil offers relief from Candida (Systemic Candidiasis), a disease brought about by excessive growth of yeast Candida Albicans in the stomach. Under normal conditions, every healthy person has this yeast in the stomach. It gets worse when it grows out of control, something brought about by elimination of healthy bacteria which keep its growth in check.
This is where coconut oil comes in. Apart from providing you with relief from the inflammation Coconut hinder its occurrence and even cure it. Left untreated, candida invades the genitals, urinary tract and bladder, stomach and intestines, ear, nose and throat, causing itchy and dry skin. It also brings about inflammations in internal organs and skin, problems in digestive and excretory system among a host of other problems.
