Getting higher on the super foods list... Lets re-visit Coconut Oil and see why it's so good for you!

Coconut oil has now made its way into the ‘superfood list’. While the south Indian community has been using coconut oil to cook with for centuries, its popularity in the west has also surged after Friends superstar Jennifer Aniston, the famous Angelina Jolie, supermodel Miranda Kerr and many more celebs swore their allegiance to coconut oil as the elixir to weight loss, healthy glow and much more!

Categories of Coconut Oil

The best coconut oil you can use is the extra virgin one – which is least processed. Virgin coconut oil is extracted from fresh coconut by pulping it and then gently heating. The coconut oil is skimmed from the top – no harsh treatment needed!
Coconut oil becomes unhealthy when it is super-processed or goes through the RBD process (refined/ bleached/ deodorized using various chemicals). So basically, Coconut oil which is produced from dried coconut/ copra and is extracted chemically & treated in various ways to remove undesirable components is not healthy.

However, as with any oils, even an organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil is best consumed in moderation.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an edible oil, extracted from the kernel of matured coconuts. It has been the primary source of fat for millions of people for generations. It is a rich source of fiber, minerals and vitamins, and has more than ninety percent saturated fats. The saturated fats in coconut oil occur naturally and not through chemical hydrogenation. It is cholesterol & trans-fatty acid free and has actually been shown to help lower cholesterol levels due to its ability to stimulate thyroid function. In fact, even though people in South East Asia live on a diet high in coconut, they are in good cardiovascular health, with no clogged arteries.

Coconut oil contains Lauric acid – a compound also present in mother’s milk – which helps build immunity & is also a rich source of medium chain triglycerides. Due to the high saturated fat content, it is very stable - slow to oxidize or spoil.

Here are some of the benefits of consuming & using coconut oil in our regular:

Weight Loss:

Coconut oil stimulates thyroid function & removes stress on the pancreas. Coconut fats contain medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). When these fats break down in the liver, it leads to efficient burning of energy. One 2009 study found that women who consumed 30 milliliters (about 2 tablespoons) of coconut oil daily for 12 weeks not only maintained their weight, but actually reduced abdominal fat, which is usually difficult to lose & also contributes to more heart problems.

Heart Health:

Since Coconut oil contains 50% lauric acid, it prevents high cholesterol & blood pressure and doesn’t increase LDL levels. It also helps prevent hardening of the arteries & thus avoids atherosclerosis.

Brain Health:

Studies show that it improves cognitive function, and stalls, or even reverses neurodegenerative diseases in their early stages.

Digestion:

The saturated fats in coconut oil aid digestion and alleviate problems like irritable bowel syndrome. It helps in absorption of amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Diabetes in check

It does not produce an insulin spike in your bloodstream. Instead it helps control blood sugar by improving the secretion of insulin.

Thyroid-stimulating:

Research shows that coconut oil contains a medium-chain fatty acids accelerate that stimulates metabolism, gives you more energy.

Healing:

Coconut oil forms a shield on wounds, preventing entry of dust, bacteria and virus. It speeds up the healing process while repairing damaged tissue.

Skin Care:

As a massage oil or as an ingredient for lotions or creams, coconut oil delays wrinkles and sagging skin on the face and body. It is effective for problems like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and dry flaky skin. Coconut oil based products are far more beneficial than petroleum based ones (which suffocate the skin as they cannot be absorbed) or water based ones (which initially feel great, but make your skin feel dry as soon as the water in them dries on the skin surface). Coconut oil based products not only provides a deep moisturising feeling, it strengthens underlying tissues, removes dead cell on the skin's surface, makes the skin smooth and prevents premature aging.

Hair Care:

Coconut oil is one of the most popular hair oils in India, and prevents dandruff, nourishes damaged hair and is a wonderful conditioner.

** Some people claim that consuming coconut oil increases cholesterol. Here is the explanation on why this is not an issue.

It is an established fact that the cholesterol ratio is a far more accurate indicator of heart disease risk than total cholesterol. Total cholesterol, in fact, is misleading and is a poor risk indicator because it lumps together both LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol. Total cholesterol gives you no indication of how much is good and how much is bad. The lower the cholesterol ratio the better. A cholesterol ratio of 5.0 mg/dl is considered average risk. Above this value is high risk and below is less than average risk. A ratio of 3.2 mg/dl or less is considered optimal or the lowest risk.

The cholesterol ratio improves when on using coconut oil and risk of heart disease drops.

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