The Health Benefits of Organic Coconut Oil

The ancient people did not need books or the latest technology. They just knew. They knew what plants and oils they could use to cure, treat and prevent a variety of ailments. Even though they did not have college degrees, they were medical experts on the medicinal properties of plants and food. This includes coconut oil. It should be no surprise that organic coconut oil will make a delicious and healthy addition to the kitchen.

Unlike essential oils, organic coconut oil is edible. It is "extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts" (Wikipedia). It is a major food source in many tropical regions and the main source of fat in some of these countries. When we hear the word fat, we tend to shudder. Isn't fat bad for you? While organic coconut oil has a saturated fat of 90 percent, half that fat contains a medium-chain triglyceride acid called lauric acid. This acid is converted to monolaurin which helps boost the immune system. Even though some fat is unhealthy, coconut oil is good for us. There are many health benefits by adding this to the kitchen.

Organic coconut oil is an excellent source of energy. It is said that it is the only food source that contains medium chain triglycerides. As soon as coconut oil is consumed these triglycerides are absorbed into the liver. Then the liver turns them into energy.

Organic coconut oil plays a key role in maintaining weight and losing it. Of all the areas in the body, fat around the belly is the hardest to lose. People who have an excess of abdominal fat are at a higher risk of getting heart disease than people who do not.

Since organic coconut oil contains Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs), the body easily digests them into the liver, which turns them into energy. Using organic coconut oil in place of other oils is an excellent way to support your body when it comes to weight loss.

Most of the fat we include in our daily diets, even the other cooking oils, contain long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). Since they are bigger than MTCs, it takes longer for our bodies to process fats. You may notice that you do not lose weight even after sticking to a daily diet of 1200 calories. The reason may be you are consuming large amounts of LCTs. Since they take longer to process, these tend to get stored in your cells as fats. If you have a lower metabolism, you may find it difficult to lose weight. You may not realize it, but most oils you use in cooking contain LCTs. Some of them include:

• Canola Oil
• Corn Oil
• Olive Oil
• Soybean Oil
• Vegetable Oil
• Safflower Oil

I am not saying that you should throw out all these oils. Each of them contains many health benefits by including them in your cooking. However, by using Organic Coconut Oil in place of one of these oils, you are making it easier for your body to lose weight.

The thyroid gland plays an important role in weight loss. While some oils, such as soy oil slow down your thyroid, the MCTs in organic coconut oil increases the hormones in your thyroid. When your thyroid is working faster, your metabolism will speed up.

According to myfitnesspal.com, there are 117 calories in a teaspoon of organic coconut oil. Compare that to other cooking oils such as olive, soybean and sesame oil. All three are higher in calories. When you cook food that you normally eat and use organic coconut oil in place of oils that your normally use, you can lose weight since you are consuming fewer calories.

Organic coconut oil is an excellent source of calcium. Some individuals do not get enough dairy into their diet. Some people just do not like drinking that glass of milk. By including a tablespoon of organic coconut oil in your daily diet, you are helping your body by increasing bone density.

When you have a daily diet that does not contain enough potassium, you run the risk of getting high blood pressure. Even if you have a healthy blood pressure, you want to be able to maintain it by eating food that is high in potassium. Since Organic coconut oil is high in potassium, including it in your daily diet is a heart healthy choice for you.

Organic coconut oil is a natural blood thinner. When you have high levels of bad cholesterol in your bloodstream, your arteries get clogged up with fatty buildup. This causes high blood pressure, because your heart has to work faster to move the blood through the arteries. This in turn can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Just taking two tablespoon of coconut oil increases the amount of good cholesterol and reduces the amount of bad cholesterol at the same time. This, in turn reduces the chances of getting a heart attack or stroke.

Organic coconut oil boosts your immune system because it is high in vitamins C and B. Also, it is loaded with many minerals including magnesium and manganese. With some many viruses flying around, you want to do anything to prevent yourself from getting sick. By including coconut oil into your daily diet, you are protecting yourself from many illnesses.

Organic coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory properties and is considered to be a natural pain reliever. This helps if you are suffering from arthritis. It also helps you to get rid of the pain from headaches, sore throats, toothaches and sprains.

Organic coconut oil contains anti-fungal properties. You can use this cooking ingredient to treat conditions such as athlete's foot and toenail fungus.

Organic coconut oil is a natural antiseptic because of its anti-bacterial properties, in which it prevents cuts and bruises from getting infected. It can even Be effective in treating stomach ulcers.

Organic coconut oil contains antimicrobial and antiviral properties. If you are suffering from a yeast infection, putting some on your finger and inserting it in the infected area helps clear up the infection a lot quicker than many over-the-counter medications.

Organic coconut oil contains astringent properties. It can be used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, warts, corns and calluses. It is also used to treat bruises, cuts, burns and sores.

Organic coconut oil is excellent for your hair. It helps keep your hair conditioned, treat split ends and makes it easier to manage your hair. While you can use a tablespoon of organic coconut oil after you shampoo your hair, you can also purchase shampoos and conditioner that contains organic coconut oil.

Many grocery stores sell organic coconut oil as well as health food stores. You can also find it online at such sites like Amazon and EBay.

While organic coconut oil is a safe addition to the kitchen, it is important to talk to your doctor or nutritionist. There may be a small chance that it can interact with any other medications and vitamins you are already taking.