Saturday, April 19, 2008

The Amazing Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 15-Ounce Tubs (Pack of 2)
Coconut Oil is amazing! It assists with weight loss, heart health and increases energy. Coconut Oil also helps reduce the risk of diabetes and other “age-related” diseases like cancer. Coconut oil will even help you get rid of wrinkles! What more could you ask from a product that can easily fit into any budget?


Many studies have been done on the benefits of coconut oil in the diet. Most recently a study from Malaysia showed that coconut oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the cause of many health problems such as arthritis, allergies and heart disease.

Read on to find out why coconut oil is good for your skin, your hair, your health and also your pets!

Besides being an anti-inflammatory food, here are some more Benefits of Coconut Oil:
  • Promotes heart health
  • Promotes weight loss when and if you need it
  • Supports immune system health
  • Provides an immediate energy source
  • Keeps skin healthy and youthful looking
  • Helps to protect the skin from premature aging, skin cancer and blemishes
  • Supports the proper thyroid function
  • Reduces risk of arteriosclerosis and related illnesses.
  • Reduces risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases
  • Helps prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal (including yeast) infections.
  • Supports immune system function.
  • Helps control diabetes.
Coconut Oil and Candida Yeast

Coconut oil also helps control and eliminates Candida yeast. Candida yeast overgrowth can occur when people take antibiotics or eat a diet of processed foods and sugar. Candida yeast can cause a wide variety of symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and digestive disorders. The antifungal properties of coconut oil fight Candida yeast and promote friendly intestinal bacteria in the system.

Other Uses of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a mild delicate flavor and is heat resistant, making it ideal for cooking. Coconut oil also has a long shelf life, unlike other oils which can get rancid quickly.

In the past, one study showed that coconut oil, as well as other saturated fats, were bad for our serum cholesterol levels. These studies, however, were done on hydrogenated coconut oil, a process that alters the original form of the pure, natural coconut oil, producing trans fats.

Newer studies, done on virgin coconut oil or 100% natural coconut oil, have shown that coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils on earth.

Coconut oil and weight loss

Substituting coconut oils for other oils in your diet helps to promote weight loss because coconut oil is a naturally reduced-calorie fat which is beneficial to the thyroid, the gland that controls your metabolism. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils, on the other hand, depress the thyroid and lower your metabolic rate, causing weight gain.

The fats in coconut oil produce energy, not fat.

How much Coconut Oil Should you Use?

Most experts recommend 3 to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil per day to build the immune system and receive the many benefits listed here.

What is the Best Kind of Coconut Oil to Buy?

Stick to unrefined coconut oil. Never by hydrogenated coconut oil, (or any other kind of hydrogenated oil, for that matter). Virgin or organic coconut oil is the very best best as commercial coconut oils are refined, bleached or deodorized and contain chemicals you don't want your body exposed to.

Virgin or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil?

The term “extra virgin coconut oil” is a term borrowed from the olive oil industry and there is really no such product when applied to coconut oil. Therefore look for virgin coconut oil.

Get Coconut Oil in your Diet

Replace refined vegetable oils used in cooking with coconut oil. Use it in place of margarine, shortening, and other hydrogenated oils in your diet. Coconut oil even beats olive oil for cooking.


To substitute coconut oil for vegetable oil, use the same amount of oil the recipe calls for. Melt the coconut oil, making sure that the other recipe ingredients are at room temp as cold eggs, milk or other liquids might cause the coconut oil to solidify.

  • To substitute coconut oil for shortening, try using a combination 1/2 butter and 1/2 coconut oil.
  • The amount of coconut oil can be reduced by about 25%, so in a recipe that calls for for 1 cup of shortening, you can use 1/2 cup butter and 3/8 cup of coconut oil.
  • If you would like to use all coconut oil then subsitiute 3/4 cup of coconut oil for 1 cup of shortening.
Other ways to Use Coconut Oil in Food
  • Add coconut oil to your daily smoothie
  • Use coconut milk in place of cow’s milk or soy milk in puddings, chowder and soup and gravy, to name a few.
  • Add dried coconut to granola or other recipes
Coconut Oil for your Hair
  • Use as a conditioner to soften and condition the scalp.
  • Use coconut oil as a pre-wash conditioner to get rid of dandruff
Coconut Oil for your Skin

Commercial skin lotions, unless they are made of 100% organic ingredients, consist mainly of water and chemicals. Coconut oil is a natural and chemical free alternative to commercial skin care products and costs a lot less!

Simply apply coconut oil to your skin to boost the skin’s natural antimicrobial and acid barrier. This helps create healthier skin, leaving your skin soft but not greasy.
  • Coconut oil fights wrinkles in the skin and helps fight sun damage like liver spots and other blemishes.
  • Coconut oil helps to heal and repair skin and gets rid of that outer layer of dead skin cells, creating a more youthful appearance.
  • Coconut oil strengthens underlying tissues to leave skin looking healthier and younger
  • Coconut oil reduces chronic skin inflammations and rashes like psoriasis and eczema
  • Coconut oil has healing properties which will help wounds and blisters
Use Coconut Oil for your Pets

Coconut oil can also be used to help your pets with various health problems.

  • Ear mites - Get rid of ear mites by applying warmed coconut oil very gently to your pet’s ears once or twice a day with a cotton swab. Coconut oil, which is antiviral, antibacterial and antimicrobial will have those ear mites gone quickly. Just be sure not to put the cotton swab too deeply into the ear canal.
  • Sleek and shiny coat - Just add one teaspoon of Coconut Oil to your pet’s food every day to help with dry skin and give them a beautiful coat.
Or what are you waiting for! Coconut oil is versitile AND inexpensive. Order some today through Amazon.com

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