20 Health Benefits of Eating Coconut Oil every day
Many of us are aware that coconut oil is applied to the hair for nourishing it, mainly in Asian countries. But, many people do not know that there are many benefits of eating coconut oil every day.
We need to take at least 1 tablespoon of virgin or cold-pressed coconut oil on an empty stomach in the morning to receive the benefits of eating coconut oil. We will be discussing such benefits of coconut oil in this article.
Coconut oil helps to burn fat:
It helps to burn fat, especially belly fat. Belly fat keeps troubling us a lot and we find it difficult to lose it. But, coconut oil produces heat in our body and boosts our metabolic rate. Many people have weight gain due to a slow metabolic rate. As it increases the metabolic rate, it makes it easier for us to lose weight.
Reduces hunger:
Many of us tend to binge eat food and also junk food if we feel hungry. Coconut oil keeps us fuller and reduces our hunger and food cravings. This also helps in keeping our weight under control.
Destroys harmful bacteria:
It has antibacterial properties. So, if you take a spoonful of virgin coconut oil on an empty stomach, it kills the harmful bacteria in the mouth and gut and improves gut health.
Improves heart health:
Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides like lauric acid. It increases the level of High-density lipoproteins or HDL cholesterol in the blood, which is called good cholesterol. High levels of HDL cholesterol protect our heart and helps in preventing heart diseases and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels.
Improves gut health:
Many people suffer from many gut disorders like IBS or Irritable bowel syndrome and IBD or Inflammatory bowel disease. IBD includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis. Eating a spoonful of coconut oil every day reduces inflammation in the gut.
It kills harmful bacteria and microbes in the gut. So, it reduces the abdominal pain, bloating, etc which are experienced by people having IBS and IBD. It also relieves many other types of gut disorders. It even helps in healing peptic ulcers in people suffering from gastritis.
Reduces growth of cancer cells:
Some studies show that lauric acid, an important medium-chain triglyceride in coconut oil helps in killing cancer cells and reduces their growth. In some studies, consumption of coconut oil regularly during chemotherapy also reduced the side effects of chemotherapy.
Improves skin and hair health:
The fats which are present in cold-pressed coconut oil help in nourishing and moisturizing our skin, hair and nails. If you want healthy skin and hair, then make sure to include coconut oil on empty stomach in your diet.
Improves brain health:
Coconut oil breaks down in the body produces ketones. Ketones are very good for brain health. Scientists are trying to find treatment for brain disorders like Epilepsy or seizures and Alzheimer’s disease using ketones.
These ketones are produced by breaking of medium-chain triglycerides of coconut oil in the liver. Epilepsy is also being controlled to some extent by taking ketone producing foods like coconut oil.
Eating coconut oil every day has shown to improve brain health in people suffering from minor forms of Alzheimer’s disease or the people in the initial stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
Helps in improving muscle strength:
If you take coconut oil before going for workouts, it increases your stamina and increases the supply of blood to your muscles. This will help you exercise longer and improve the strength of your muscles.
Improves vitamin absorption:
We all know that there are two types of vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamin B and C are water-soluble vitamins. Eating coconut oil every day helps in better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins from our gut.
Helps in the enhancement of memory:
The medium-chain triglycerides or MCT in coconut oil like lauric acid are broken down into ketones. These ketones act as the energy source for the brain. As they provide energy to the brain, they help in the improvement of memory and the power of concentration.
Prevents urinary infections:
As we discussed earlier, coconut oil has antibacterial properties. So, it helps in preventing urinary tract infections. Even, if you develop a UTI, eating coconut oil will surely help in reducing the severity of the infections.
Reduces irritation in the throat:
If you are suffering from any throat irritation, eating coconut oil helps in having a soothing feeling in your throat as it reduces the inflammation in your throat.
Improves Oral Health:
When you take it regularly, it prevents the build-up of bad bacteria and the formation of plaques on the teeth. So, it also helps in the whitening of teeth due to the prevention of plaque formation. It helps in reducing and preventing bad breath as it kills harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Reduces Insulin resistance:
Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of our pancreas. Insulin helps in the transportation of glucose into the cells of our body. In patients with Insulin, resistance insulin fails to act on the receptors of the cells. So, glucose is not sent into the cells and it is increased in the blood. This leads to increased blood glucose levels or Diabetes.
Insulin resistance is associated with Obesity, Diabetes or increased blood glucose levels, PCOD or Polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc. Coconut oil helps in reducing insulin resistance in people. Therefore, it also helps in reducing blood glucose levels and helps in controlling Diabetes.
Moisturises lips:
All of us want healthy lips, don’t we? Eating this wonderful oil made from coconut helps in having moisturized and healthy lips. It helps in rejuvenating the damaged cells of the lips.
Eases dry mouth:
If you have a dry mouth, it irritates us a lot. Eating this oil every day moisturises the membranes in the mouth and eases the symptoms of dry mouth.
Protects liver:
As coconut oil has MCT called lauric acid which is broken down inside the liver, it prevents fat storage from other sources in the liver. This helps in enhancing the health of our liver.
Improves bone health:
Coconut oil helps treat or alleviate symptoms of arthritis or joint pains due to its anti-inflammatory nature. It helps in the absorption of vitamins like vitamin D and minerals like calcium which are essential for bone health.
Boosts Immunity:
Due to its antimicrobial properties, eating a spoonful of coconut oil every day helps to enhance immunity and helps us to fight various infections like bacteria, viruses and fungi.
