INTERESTING ARTICLE I RECEIVED TODAY: For thousands of years coconut has been a main part of the Pacific Islanders’ diet. The milk of the coconut is a main ingredient used for cooking. The juice or water of the coconut is consumed as a delicious and refreshing beverage.The meat is also used for eating and cooking, and can be dried and sold for use in baking and desserts. The oil from the coconut is not only used for cooking and frying, but for medicinal purposes as well. It was in the 70′s and the 80′s when coconut oil earned a bad rep because of its high content in saturated fat. What researchers failed to realize is that this study was done on partially hydrogenated coconut oil and not from its raw, organic state. When any natural oil is hydrogenated, its whole chemical make-up is changed, turning it into a trans fat. Trans fats are extremely unhealthy for you and can lead to heart disease. Virgin coconut oil that has not been hydrogenated, processed, or refined is actually a saturated fat that is good for you. What some people do not realize is that not all saturated fats are bad for you, especially some that occur naturally, such as coconut oil. It is considered a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) that can be easily digested and burned off. This is unlike most of the foods and oils we eat and use everyday that are made up of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) that our bodies cannot easily breakdown and end up storing as fat. The oil from coconut also contains a very rare natural fatty acid called lauric acid. It has antimicrobial properties that destroys viruses and bacteria. You can actually put coconut oil on cuts and burns because not only does it kill bacteria, but it also provides a protective barrier from bacteria and infection. Lauric acid is also known to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the body, or in other words, increases the “good cholesterol”. This promotes a healthy heart and less risk for heart disease. Another benefit of coconut oil is boosting your metabolism. Since coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid, it can easily be digested and quickly turned into energy. This in turn helps promote weight loss. It also helps support a healthy immune system because having a higher metabolic rate can speed up the healing process. A higher metabolic rate can also boost thyroid activity, which is also a benefit to those with thyroid problems and find it difficult to lose weight. When applied topically, coconut oil does wonders on the skin. The Lauric acid and its antimicrobial properties can actually help heal and treat acne. It can even be made into a scrub for exfoliating the face. It is rich in vitamin E and can also be used as a moisturizer and help reverse the effects of aging and reduce wrinkles. It can also help reduce the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rashes, or dry and flaky skin. You can use it to treat a dry and flaky scalp, help control dandruff, and treat dry and damaged hair The list really could go on and on of all the wonderful effects coconut oil has on the human body. It has rightly earned its title as the “miracle oil”. Whether taken internally or applied topically, the greatest benefit of coconut oil is being able to look and feel younger and healthier.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 10:02:08 +0000
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