Description
Coconut oil is high in MCTs, a type of fat that your body metabolizes differently than most other fats. MCTs are responsible for many of the health benefits of coconut oil.
Coconut oil is incredibly popular â and for good reason. It offers many health benefits, has a delicate taste, and is widely available. It's also an extremely versatile oil with a number of uses you may not be aware of.
The unique combination of fatty acids in coconut oil may have positive effects on your health, such as boosting fat loss, heart health, and brain function. Here are 10 evidence-based health benefits of coconut oil.
1. Contains healthy fatty acids
Coconut oil is high in certain saturated fats. These fats have different effects in the body compared with most other dietary fats.
The fatty acids in coconut oil can encourage your body to burn fat, and they provide quick energy to your body and brain. They also raise HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, which may help reduce heart disease risk.
2. May boost heart health
Coconut is an uncommon food in the Western world, with health-conscious people being the main consumers. However, in some parts of the world, coconut â which is loaded with coconut oil â is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for generations.
3. May encourage fat burning
Obesity is one of the biggest health conditions affecting most people today.
4. May have antimicrobial effects
Lauric acid makes up about 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil. Then your body digests lauric acid, it forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Thereâs also some evidence that using coconut oil as a mouthwash â a process called oil pulling â benefits oral hygiene, though researchers consider the evidence weak. Using coconut oil in oil pulling may prevent mouth infections, but more evidence is needed
5. May reduce hunger
One interesting feature of MCTs is that they may reduce hunger. This may be related to the way your body metabolizes fats, because ketones can reduce a personâs appetite. In one study, 6 healthy men ate varying amounts of MCTs and LCTs. Those who ate the most MCTs ate fewer calories per day. MCTs can significantly reduce appetite, which may lead to reduced body weight over the long term.
6. May reduce seizures
Researchers are currently studying the ketogenic diet, which is very low in carbs and high in fats, to treat various disorders. The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in children with epilepsy.
7. May raise HDL (good) cholesterol
Coconut oil contains natural saturated fats that increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels in your body. They may also help turn LDL (bad) cholesterol into a less harmful form.
8. May protect your skin, hair, and teeth
Coconut oil has many uses that have nothing to do with eating it. Many people use it for cosmetic purposes to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
9. May boost brain function
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It usually affects older adults .This condition reduces your brainâs ability to use glucose for energy. Early studies suggest that MCTs can increase blood levels of ketones, potentially relieving Alzheimer's symptoms.
