Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Boosts Immune System
Coconut oil is made up of healthy fats – lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid –that contain antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties, all of which help strengthen the body’s immune system.

A strong immune system means the body is more capable of fighting a variety of viruses and bacteria that cause diseases like herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, candida and even HIV.

By adding coconut oil to your diet plan, you’ll keep your immune system strong year round and especially during the winter months.

Lowers Cholesterol
Several studies suggest that dietary use of coconut oil can increase the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol) and reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) in your blood.

This in turn reduces the risk of injury and damage to arteries and helps prevent atherosclerosis. This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors will help lower your blood pressure level and reduce your risk of heart disease over the long term.

Those who have a family history of heart disease can benefit from adding coconut oil to their diet on a daily basis to reduce their risk.

Soothe dry hands
This won't work for dry digits when you're on the go, but at home, coconut oil can work wonders on your dishwashing-parched hands. "I keep a jar of organic extra virgin coconut oil by the kitchen sink and put a little on after washing my hands to keep them soft and moist," says Low Dog. And if you cook with coconut oil—you can sub it for butter in baking recipes because it’s solid at room temperature—scoop out a little extra for your hands, too. "Whenever I cook with coconut oil, I make sure to moisturize my hands with it too," says Katrine van Wyk, a holistic health and nutrition coach based in New York.

As a cheekbone highlighter
Nothing perks up a tired face like a little highlighter, but you don't need store-bought products to achieve the same effect. Simply sweep a small amount of coconut oil on top of makeup and leave it alone. It looks like your skin but glowier, which is why many natural makeup brands use it as a base ingredient in their formulas. If you're looking for a more portable option, try the cult favorite Living Luminizer by RMS Beauty, which has a coconut-oil base and light reflecting pigment.

Weight Loss
Daily consumption of coconut oil has been shown to help with weight loss, particularly around the midsection.  By regulating appetite and improving digestion, coconut oil can make it much easier to reduce your daily caloric intake and lose weight at a healthy rate (around one to two pounds per week.)  Because it is a natural mood enhancer, coconut oil may help you to feel more motivated and energetic which can also assist with weight loss.  Coconut oil aids in balancing hormones that reduce stress and anxiety – two of the leading causes of excessive belly fat.
Just remember that coconut oil is high in calories.  Limit your intake to one or two tablespoons per day so as not to unwittingly sabotage your weight-loss efforts.

Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Disregard the old myth that all saturated fats are bad for you and a leading cause of heart disease.  Coconut oil has been shown to improve overall cholesterol by simultaneously increasing HDL (good) and lowering LDL (bad) levels.  It does this by helping the body to convert cholesterol in the blood stream into a usable form, thus reducing plaque build-up in arteries.  MCTs in coconut oil may also work to reduce triglycerides, improve blood coagulation, and perform antioxidant functions in the blood stream, further diminishing the risk of heart disease.

Body oil
As a solid, coconut oil's creamy texture makes it the perfect light moisturizer to slather all over. Apply a quarter sized amount right after you get out of the shower so it can sink into your warm skin. The light tropical scent that lingers after it's applied. Add in a few drops of peppermint or lavender oil for a massage mix.

Lip balm
Chapped lips don't stand a chance against ultra-hydrating coconut oil. Scoop some into a spare contact lens holder and throw it in your purse so you can dab it on with your finger throughout the day. Feeling fancy? It's easy to create your own pretty package. Start out with this plastic pot or this aluminum tin, both available on Amazon.com.