PharmEasy Blog

11 Evidence Backed Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil!

Coconut is one of the healthiest foods. The benefits of Coconut oil are much more than you can even imagine! A truly rich and highly nutritious superfood, this oil can be used for hair care to skincare and from treating infections to improving digestion. Coconut oil plays a vital role not only in India but also finds acceptance amongst Europeans, Canadians, Australians and Americans.

Coconut Oil Nutrition Facts:

Coconut oil contains 99% fat, out of which 82% is saturated fat. Half of the saturated fat content of coconut oil is lauric acid while others are myristic acid, palmitic acid and caprylic acid. It contains only 6% monounsaturated fats and 2% polyunsaturated fats. Coconut oil also contains phytosterols.

Some Health Benefits of Coconut Oil Are:

Fifty per cent of the saturated fat present in coconut oil is Lauric acid. Lauric acid has anti-microbial properties and effectively kills bacteria, viruses and fungi.[1]Caprylic and Lauric acid present in coconut oil are fungicidal in nature. So, coconut oil effectively destroys Candida albicans.[2] Polyphenols present in Coconut oil are strong antioxidants. They help reduce swelling and inflammation in patients with arthritis.[3] A hot coconut oil massage provides instant relief to aching knees and joints. Applying slightly warm coconut oil to the hair eliminates mental fatigue and offers immediate relief from a headache.Read More: 7 Different Relaxation Techniques That Help You Fight Stress Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, cleaner, and sunscreen. Its fatty acids help reduce inflammation, thereby doing wonders for almost all skin types. Along with this, it also helps to reduce the symptoms of eczema.[4]Regularly massaging our hair with coconut oil, ensures a dandruff-free scalp as it nourishes the scalp. It also helps to keep the hair free from lice and its eggs. Swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in our mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes, known as Oil Pulling, draws out toxins from our body. This ancient method of coconut oil pulling effectively reduces plaque and gingivitis and helps in maintaining good oral health.[5] Coconut oil contains a high concentration of MCTs. MCTs improve satiety, thus giving a feeling of fullness. This, in turn, reduces our food intake.[6]Note that Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are only present in a concentration of 13%-14% in natural coconut oil, hence you may not get the ‘feeling full faster’ benefit from regular coconut oil. To enjoy this benefit you may need to purchase a refined oil product (made from coconut oil or palm oil) that contains a 100% MCT concentration. There are plenty of other benefits of coconut oil as mentioned in this list. Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants fight free radicals and thus help in the treatment of osteoporosis. Coconut oil also decreases bone loss that occurs in osteoporosis.[7] Daily consumption of coconut oil increases HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in our body.[8]This increase in HDL levels decreases the risk of a variety of cardiovascular disorders.Read More: What Are The Side Effects of High Cholesterol? Coconut oil contains MCTs. When coconut oil is consumed, these MCTs are quickly absorbed by our body for energy and ketones are produced.Ketones are proved to be highly beneficial for our brain and help in the treatment of Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.[9][10] Coconut oil is rich in powerful antioxidants. Topical application of virgin coconut oil on wounds promotes wound healing by increasing fibroblast proliferation and neovascularization.[11] Coconut oil is healthy, though it has a very high saturated fat content because it contains medium-chain triglycerides(MCTs) which are shorter fatty acid chains as compared to long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) which are present in most dietary fats. Having MCTs in the diet was shown to reduce body weight.[12]MCTs were also found to be more effective in reducing abdominal fat compared to LCTs. MCTs are harder for the body to convert into stored fat and easier to burn off than LCT.

How to consume coconut oil and how much?

Side Effects of Coconut Oil:

Consuming too much coconut oil may lead to side effects like nausea, headache, dizziness, swollen glands, loose stools, chills, rashes, etc.While some studies have found an increase in healthy cholesterol (HDL) other studies also show that coconut oil consumption can also increase levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). For this reason, you need to be careful when using coconut oil if you have cholesterol issues. Do not let the coconut oil benefits outweigh the risks to your health.  Although many people continue to consider coconut oil as completely safe and healthy, this is not the case in the most medical literature. While it may have health benefits, coconut oil is made from mostly saturated fats which can be unhealthy in large amounts. It is recommended to consume less than 13 grams of saturated fats per day to avoid an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. This includes coconut oil. Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

1