Coconut oil, coconut water, coconut shreds, coconut butter, coconut cream, coconut milk and coconut flour are all the rage nowadays. If it has coconut in it, then it must be some sort of miracle cure, right?
While fads come and go, there are good reasons why coconut oils and coconut based products may be here to stay. They definitely do have a lot of benefits to them. Matter of fact, well over 100 benefits!
Its part of the Arecaceae (Palmae) family and belongs to the subfamily Cocoideae. The healthy acids exist in the flesh. The healthy fats do vary in composition depending on the processing. But mainly medium-chain saturated fatty acids are around 90% of its content, along with combined small amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. The MCFAs (medium-chain saturated fatty acids) are indeed easily digested by the human body as well as absorbed effectively. They even have mental and neurological health benefits, while providing energy to the body.
Unrefined virgin is cheap, tasty and all natural coconut oil that is very useful and has many health benefits.
Here is a list of the powerful health benefits it provides:
Anti-inflammatory properties
Antioxidant properties. It prevents formation of free radicals and the damage they cause.
Anti-microbial/ Infection-fighting properties. Kills viruses, yeast, bacteria, protozoa and parasites.
It enhances the absorption of nutrients. Its easily digestible. It makes fat-based vitamins (vitamin K, E, D, A) more available to the body.
Nontoxic to both, animals and humans.
Powerful anti-carcinogenic properties as it inhibits the spread of cancer cells while boosting the immune system.
Internal Health Problems
When you take coconut oil internally it can have numerous benefits, alleviating many health issues while improving overall health.
Heres a list of all the benefits:
1.Chronic and adrenal Fatigue
2.Diabetes. It prevents food cravings while stabilizing blood sugar levels.
4.Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchial Infections
5.Asthma (adults and children)
6.Acid Reflux/ Indigestion After meal consumption is key for relief.
7.Mild Depression and Cognitive Disease Taking coconut oil with a combination of fish oil, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), as well as other methods of treatment works best.
8.Bowel function. Gut infections, constipation, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).
9.Cancer Prevents breast and colon cancer studies have found.
10.Alzheimers/Dementia
11.Candida Albicans
12.Allergies Seasonal hay fever can be helped from coconut oil.
13.Cholesterol. It improves the ratio of HDL (good cholesterol) to LDL (bad cholesterol) in people who have high cholesterol levels.
14.Gas. The bacteria imbalance often causes foul gas to expel. Mild anti-microbial properties that this oil has will re-establish a healthy gut flora.
15.Colds and Flues. Has potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Very useful for when you get sick.
16.Flaky, dry skin. Not enough oils lead to dandruff and dry skin.
17. Poor Circulation. Applying to skin can help if you are constantly feeling cold, and for edema. Applying in circular motion towards the heart helps.
18.Gallbladder Disease. Raises the bile flow, which helps with gallbladder problems.
19.Kidney Disease and Stones. Dissolves small stones in the kidneys.
20.H. pylori. Taking orally is best for this.
21.Epilepsy. May effectively reduce epileptic seizures.
22.Hemorrhoids. Apply externally or internally two times a day.
23.Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you have an alternating of diarrhea and constipation, you may have IBS and coconut oil can help.
24.Hot Flashes
25.Menstruation Relief. Alleviates pain, heavy blood flow, and cramps
26.Liver Disease
27.Heart Disease. Gives protection for arteries from injury that leads to atherosclerosis.
28.Lung Disease
29. Tooth Decay and Periodontal Disease
30.Mental Clarity
31.Immune System Builder
32.Jaundice
33.Migraines. Using regularly is best.
34.Thrush
35. Bladder Infections and Urinary Tract Infections
36.Thyroid Function. Provides regulation in case of a overactive, or a underactive, thyroid gland.
37.Prostate Enlargement. BPH- benign prostatic hyperplasia.
38.Stomach Ulcers. Soothes the stomach lining. Reduces the growth of H. pylori
39.Malnutrition
40.Pancreatitis
Topical Health Problems
Using coconut oil topically can relieve and treat the following:
41.Athletes Foot
42.Cellulite
43.Decongestant Allergy or cold congestion can be helped by rubbing the oil on the chest or under nose.
44.Pink eye. Apply coconut oil to the eye and around it.
45.Allergies/Hay Fever. Rub a little coconut oil inside the nostrils. The pollen will cling to the oil.
46.Head Lice. Apply it topically
47.Herpes. You should take it orally and apply it topically
48.Ear infection. Not only fights the infection, but can reduce the pain as well. Pour several drops of coconut and garlic oil inside the ear two times during the day.
49.Cysts and boils
50.Hives. Coconut oil lessens the swelling and itching.
51. Acne. Often the skin is excessively dry. This means that your glands produce much oil and clog the pores.
52.Sore Muscles and Back Pain
53.Toenail Fungus
54.Gingivitis, Gum Disease, Canker Sores. Rub directly on gums, or use as a toothpaste.
55.Circumcision healing. Coconut oil are helpful in the healing process.
56.Genital Warts. Genital warts vanish on their own after 2 years of the initial infection. Using coconut oil topically, can cure them after 6-month treatment.
Personal Hygiene and the Body
57.Body Scrub. Mix some salt and oil, or add some other essential oil for a better smell. Wash the mixture off afterward and your skin should be very soft.
58.Bruises. Reduces redness and swelling. Accelerates the healing process. Apply directly to bruise.
59.Bug Bites. Speeds the healing process. Reduces burning sensation and itching. Apply directly on affected area.
60.Dandruff. Oil secretion is a common cause of dandruff. Coconut oil reduces it while moisturizing the scalp, alleviating dandruff symptoms.
61.Burns. Promotes healing and prevents scars. Apply immediately on burn. Keep using it until it is better.
62.Swimmers Ear. Mixing coconut and garlic oil, then pouring just a few drops in the ear and leaving them for 10 minutes can help. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day. A few days it should be better.
63.Skin Conditions. Provides relief in the case of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
64.Wrinkle Prevention and reduction. Rub coconut oil on wrinkles and sagging skin. This strengthens connective tissues and rejuvenates skin.
65.Chapstick. Rub coconut oil on lips. This softens them and protects them. It has an SPF of around 4.
66.After Shave. Coconut oil heals the skin after shaving. It will not clog the pores either.
67.Deodorant. Use it as a deodorant and it provides even better effects when you combine it with baking soda and cornstarch/arrowroot powder.
68.Hair conditioner/ Deep Treatment. Applying a teaspoon of this oil to the ends of hair and through the hair with your fingers, helps greatly. Also use it as a leave-in hair conditioner. For the deep treatment, rub a tablespoon of onto the dry scalp. Rub a bit in the hair ends. Put a shower cap on, then leave it on overnight.
69.Diaper Salve. No chemicals so it is safe for a rashy butt.
70.Eye cream. Apply some coconut oil on the eyelids at night. To reduce wrinkles, bags and puffiness, apply it under the eyes.
71.Age Spots. Apply some oil directly to the age spot, and it should fade.
72.Baldness. Make a mix of thyme, rosemary, coconut oil, lavender, cedarwood, Grapeseed/ castor oil, a little cayenne pepper and jojoba oil. Then apply this mixture at bedtime or three times during the day. Massage the area. This supports cell regeneration.
73.Face Wash/ Soap. Mix coconut oil with almond oil, olive oil, castor oil and avocado oil in equal amounts and use the mixture to wash your face. Do this instead of using soap. Rub it in then leave it on the face for 2 minutes. Then wash it off and pat it dry.
74.Hair Gel/ Defrizzer. Rub a bit coconut oil between the palms and finger comb. If hair is curly, scrunch into the hair on the ends.
75.Lubricant. Its safe on its own, but its not compatible with latex. Use it for a natural, safe personal lubricant for both sex and masturbation.
76.Massage Oil. Get some coconut oil and rub it in. Great for massages.
77.Healing. Apply coconut oil on the cuts and scrapes as it will create a thin chemical layer. This will prevent viruses, bacteria, and dust from collecting, while speeding up the healing process as it repairs the tissues which have been damaged. Plus it has a great smell!
78.Cradle Cap. Nourishes the baby skin and helps you get rid of cradle cap. Rub some on the scalp on a daily basis.
79.Nipple Cream. Nourishes sore, cracked and dry nipples. Apply oil on a cotton ball, then leave on affected areas between feedings.
80.Sunscreen. Has an SPF of around 4.
81.Pre-Shave. Will prepare the skin for the upcoming damage that can happen when you shave regularly.
82.Makeup Remover. Take some oil and dab with a cotton swab. It will remove makeup, then leave your skin soft and radiant looking.
83.Stretch Marks. Nourishes damaged skin and can reduce stretch marks.
84.Moisturizer. Applying some coconut oil to the body and can effectively moisturize it.
85.Sun Burn Relief. Take some oil and rub into the affected areas. It will relieve the red, burning skin.
86.Tattoo Healing and Moisturizer. Regular use of coconut oil will preserve your ink and prevent fading of the pigment. It also accelerates the healing process, while prevents infections from occurring.
87.Toothpaste. Mixing some coconut oil with baking soda, then using this to brush your teeth can make an effective toothpaste.
88. Acne Skin Fix. Applying a bit of coconut oil underneath makeup, or even alone can reduce the stimulation of the oil gland. The skin, susceptible to acne, may be too dry. This indicates that the gland excessively produces oil, meaning the pores will clog up and cause acne.
General Health and Wellness
89.Digestion. The saturated fats control fungi and parasites that lead to indigestion and other digestion issues. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome being one of them. Helps also with the absorption of minerals, vitamins and amino acids.
90.Breastfeeding. Regularly take 3 tablespoons of this oil in order to enhance the milk supply if you are breastfeeding.
91.Insulin Support. Stimulates the secretion of insulin and the use of blood glucose. Great for diabetics and non-diabetic.
92.Bones and Teeth. Helps absorption of magnesium and calcium.
93.The absorption of vitamins and nutrients. Makes vitamin D, E, A and K more available to the body.
94.Fitness. Proven to support the function of the thyroid, thus boosting metabolism, increasing energy levels, and overall reducing fat while increasing muscle.
95.Stress Relief. Apply to the head in circular motion through massage. The aroma itself is relaxing and soothing, leading to much less stress.
96.Weight loss. The saturated fats actually prevent food cravings and thus in turn will promote weight loss.
97.Gum Health. Oil pulling is hugely effective for treatment of gum infections and disease.
98.Lung Function. Raises the fluidity of cell surfaces.
99.Mental Cognition and Productivity. MCTs freely pass the blood-brain barrier, thus represent an alternate energy source to enhance cognition.
100. Nausea. Rub a bit on the inside of your wrist and forearm. This should help relieve an upset stomach.
101.Nose bleeds. It effectively prevents prevent nose bleeding, due to weather sensitivity. Once the nasal passages dry due to the dry air or the cold air, they can cause cracks and burns. These then cause cracks in the mucus membrane. By applying oil to the nostrils, it will strengthen and protect the capillaries that exist in the nasal passages.
Pets/ Animals
For every 10 pounds your pet weighs, teaspoon is recommended, twice a day, but a vet should also be consulted first.
102.Clears up skin conditions such as: itchy skin, eczema, contact dermatitis and flea allergies
103.Helps in the case of ligament issues and arthritis.
104.Alleviates allergic reactions and promotes skin health.
105.Prevention and treatment of yeast and fungal infections such as candida.
106.Promotes general wellness of your cats and dogs. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to their water every day.
107.Reduces cough and hairballs.
108.Accelerates healing process of wounds while it disinfects cuts.
109.Supports healing when you apply it topically to wounds, cuts, hot spots, stings, bites, dry skin and hair.
110.Provides energy in the case of sedentary dogs. The MCTs can enhance brain energy metabolism, reducing the accumulation of amyloid protein which can cause brain lesions in older dogs.
111.Boosts digestion and helps the absorption of nutrients.
112.Helps the healing of digestive disorders, like colitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome.
113. Regulation and balancing of insulin and enhancement of the function of the thyroid.
114. Reduces or gets rid of bad breath in dogs.
115.Enhances coats. Can deodorize the odor of you dog and give a glossy coat.
116. Prevents or controls diabetes.
117.Increases energy and promotes weight loss.
Additional Uses:
118.Polishing Bronze. Rubbing some coconut oil on a cotton towel, then wiping down bronze can deepen the bronze color.
119. Insect repellent. Mixing peppermint extract and some coconut oil, then rubbing the mix on exposed skin can avoid bug attacks.
120.Seasoning cookware.
121.Oiling wood bowls and wood cutting boards.
122.Goo Gone. Mixing baking soda and coconut oil in equal amounts, then this will create a paste that you then can apply to the sticky spots, leaving it on there for a minute and then scrubbing off with sponge.
123.Make a soap. Instead of other fats use coconut oil to make all natural soaps.
124.Chewing Gum in Hair Remover. Rubbing a little oil over the gum stuck in your hair and leaving for 30 minutes, then you can roll the gum between fingers and get it out.
125.Polish Furniture. Mixing coconut oil with lemon juice can polish wood furniture effectively.
126.Use it to clean and moisturize the leather products.
127.Seasoning animal hide drums.
Sources:
www.dralisonchen.com
theheartysoul.com
healthytipsworld.com
www.healthyfoodteam.com
