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The Incredible Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Over the last couple of years I have started experimenting and introducing coconut oil into our diets.  I can't believe how nutritious this fruit can be from the inside out. 

The Coconut is highly nutritious and incredibly rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called "The Tree of Life." Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut's amazing healing powers.

While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fibre and nutritional content, it's the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.

Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food.

Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." That's quite a remarkable statement. What makes coconut oil so good? What makes it different from all other oils, especially other saturated fats?

The difference is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. 

The vast majority of fats and oils in our diets, whether they are saturated or unsaturated come from animals or plants and are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). 

Both the saturated and unsaturated fat found in meat, milk, eggs, and plants (including most all vegetable oils) are composed of these LCFA.

MCFA (Medium Chain Fatty Acids) are very different from LCFA. They do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and in fact help to protect against heart disease. MCFA help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is primarily due to the MCFA in coconut oil that makes it so special and so beneficial.

Health Benefits

Coconut In Modern Medicine

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:
 

·     Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.

·     Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.

·     Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.

·     Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.

·     Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

·     Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

·     Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

·     Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.

·     Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.

·     Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.

·     Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.

·     Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

·     Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.

·     Helps protect against osteoporosis.

·     Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

·     Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.

·     Improves digestion and bowel function.

·     Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

·     Reduces inflammation.

·     Supports tissue healing and repair.

·     Supports and aids immune system function.

·     Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

·     Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.

·     Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.

·     Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.

·     Functions as a protective antioxidant.

·     Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.

·     Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.

·     Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.

·     Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

·     Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).

·     Reduces epileptic seizures.

·     Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.

·     Dissolves kidney stones.

·     Helps prevent liver disease.

·     Is lower in calories than all other fats.

·     Supports thyroid function.

·     Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.

·     Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.

·     Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.

·     Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

·     Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

·     Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.

·     Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.

·     Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.

·     Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.

·     Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

·     Helps control dandruff.

·     Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.

·     Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.

·     Is completely non-toxic to humans.

No pantry should be with this, check out my Recipes Tab for some easy ideas.

For more information - 

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/Coconut%20Research-Coconut%20Research%20Center.pdf 

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/