Coconut Oil - Health benefits & Medicinal benefits

Coconut Oil health benefits & Medicinal benefits

Coconut oil has increased in popularity in recent years due to reputed health benefits.

Coconut oil is tasty addition to a number of recipes.

Coconut oil contains 2.6 percent fewer calories than other fats. It has been said to provide various health benefits.

Increase good cholesterol

A component in coconut oil has been found to give "good" HDL cholesterol "a nudge."

Controlling blood sugar

It appears to preserve insulin action and insulin resistance in mice.

Reducing stress

It has antistress and antioxidant properties, which could make it useful as an antidepressant, according to research in rodents.

Hair Health

It makes hair shinier, because it penetrates better than mineral oils.

Boost Skin Health

It has been found to enhance protective barrier functions and have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin in humans.

Reduce Liver disease

It has reversed hepatosteatosis, a type of fatty liver disease, in rodents.

Reducing Asthma Syndrome 

Inhaling coconut oil has helped reduce asthma symptoms in rabbits.

Resisting Candida

Coconut oil has reduced colonization with Candida (a fungal infection due to a type of yeast) albicans in mice, suggesting it could be a treatment for candida.

After eating fullness of stomach
One argument has been that coconut oil leaves people feeling "fuller" after eating, so they will not eat so much. However, other research has shown that this is not the case.

Nutrition

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon, or 15 milliliters (ml) of coconut oil contains:  120 calories, 0 g of protein, 14 g of fat, of which 12 g is saturated, 1 g is monounsaturated, and 0.5 g is polyunsaturated 0 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol.

It provides no fiber and little to no vitamins or minerals.

Coconut oil has an unusually high amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These are harder for the body to convert into stored fat, and easier to burn off than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs).

Many of the benefits claimed for coconut oil are due to the high MCT content.

Types of Coconut Oil

Not all coconut oils are the same, and some are more healthful than others.

Virgin coconut oil is extracted from the fruit of fresh, mature coconuts without using high temperatures or chemicals. It is considered unrefined, and it may offer health benefits.

Controversy

The main argument against coconut oil is its high saturated fat content.

In June 2015, a Cochrane review suggested that saturated fats may not be as harmful as previously believed.