THE HEALTH GIVING BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL
So I am sure you all know how much we love all things
coconut including coconut water, coconut
flakes, coconut flour and our latest find, coconut yoghurt. But today we
wanted to share with you our number one coconut product, coconut oil. If you
have not got this in your staples cupboard yet it should be top of the shopping
list this week and here is why:
Coconut is a true super
food that not only tastes wonderful and refreshing but offers significant benefits
to human health and we think, truly deserves more credit and appreciation. Recent
research looking into the health benefits of coconut oil has been very promising
regarding anti-bacterial, anti-ageing, and anti-cancer properties and even heart
health. Below are our top 5 reasons to love this product:
1.There is a misconception about its high saturated fat
content prompting some people to stay away from coconut oil. It’s important to
understand that just as all fats are not the same, all saturated fats are not
created equal either. Just as there are ‘good fats’ and ‘bad fats’, there are
also “good saturated fats” and “bad saturated fats”. Unlike other highly
saturated fats which are made up of long chain fatty acids, coconut oil is
mostly made up of MCFAs or medium
chain fatty acids which are digested much easier by the body. They are metabolised in the liver and immediately
absorbed and converted into energy, similar to glucose but without the insulin
spike. The MCFA’s in coconut oil actually boost your metabolism and help
your body use fat for energy, which can lead to weight loss, improved immunity
and energy and an increase in healing. Interestingly, the saturated fat in
coconut oil is identical to a special group of fats found in human breast milk called
Lauric acid. Pure coconut oil contains about 50 percent Lauric acid, and is the
most abundant natural source of lauric acid available. Given its strong antibacterial, antifungal properties Lauric
acid and therefore coconut oil is an effective treatment for Candida and other fungal
infections like ringworm and athlete's foot.
2.Coconut oil is very versatile in cooking and due to its
high smoke point, (the temperature to which it can be heated before it starts
to break down), we prefer it as a healthy
substitute for olive oil when stir frying, especially when making Thai style
dishes. We also use it as an alternative to butter in all our baking and simply
substitute like for like. Finally, a spoon or two in our smoothies also works a
treat.
3.Our favourite use for coconut oil is as a moisturiser. This is fantastic for individuals suffering from dry and
irritable (e.g. psoriasis or eczema) skin conditions. We simply smear it on
straight from the jar or add a bit to our bath water.
4.Evidence from scientists at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) suggests that
those who consume coconut oil regularly have improved oral health due to its
highly antibacterial nature, therefore preventing tooth decay. Incorporating
coconut oil into dental hygiene as an alternative for chemical additives in
toothpaste may be the future according to some leading experts. Plus we think
it tastes much better.
5.Coconut oil has been touted as a potent fighter against
Alzheimer’s disease. The reason behind this is that certain brain cells may find
it difficult utilizing glucose (derived from carbohydrates) which is the brain's main
source of energy. Without this, neurons in the brain begin to die off which leads
to Alzheimer’s disease. However, research is showing that consuming a diet high
in fats known as Ketones which are present in coconut oil may protect us
against Alzheimer's and other mental diseases. When our bodies digest the medium-
chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil in the liver they are converted
into Ketones. According to experts this will not only protect against
Alzheimer’s but has the potential to even reverse it.
6. Finally, Athletic performance can be
positively impacted when consuming a diet high in medium chain fatty acids (MCFA).
Coconut oil is one of the most concentrated natural sources of MCFA available. The
oil produces a quick form of energy as it is utilised in the liver and helps stimulate
your metabolism. The thermogenic or metabolic stimulating effects causes the
body to burn more calories. It can also help boost
your immune system, and fight cellular damage from free radicals. This is
important for athletes because vigorous exercise promotes oxidation and can
lead to suppressed immunity.
Going to get your tub of oil yet? An important factor
when purchasing coconut oil is to make sure that it is extra virgin cold-pressed and organic so that it has no hydrogenation or chemical alterations. This will
also guaranteed that you have a far superior oil that will be nutritionally better
than the cheaper versions. We recommend this high quality coconut oil from Biona.
Don't forget to keep looking at our blog
as we will be posting recipes where we use this amazingly beneficial oil.
We would love to hear from you, what
your favourite uses are for this versatile oil or if you have any of your own great
recipes using coconut oil, simply leave a comment below.
Reference:
Hemat.,
R. A. S. (2004) Principles of Orthomolecuarism
No comments:
Post a Comment