Coconut oil (copra oil) often described as the "healthiest oil on earth" is an oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts with numerous health benefits such as hair treatment, digestion, skin treatment and a host of other benefits.

Coconut oil comes in 6 varieties, which include:
pure, refined, virgin, organic, fractionated and extra virgin. Though many have been advised against regular consumption of coconut oil having potential to increase risk of cardiovascular disease because of its high levels of saturated fat.


Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

1. Weight loss: Coconut helps to burn fat, losing belly fat, decrease appetite. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system.

2. UTI and Kidney Infection: Coconut oil helps to heal the urinary track and kidney infections and also protected the liver from damage.

Coconut oil work as a natural antibiotic by disrupting the lipid coating on bacteria and killing them.

3. Skin care: Coconut oil acts as an effective moisturizer for skin and also help in treating various skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and many more. It also helps in wrinkles and sagging of skin.

4. Heart diseases: The saturated fats in coconut helps to increase the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in the body. By Increasing the HDL’s in the body, it helps promote heart health, and lower the risk of heart disease. Study suggests that intake of coconut oil may help to maintain healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women.

5. Prevent Alzheimer: As the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient has lost the ability to create its own insulin, called the ketones which is the digestion of MCT’s by the liver. from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function.

6. Hair treatment: Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing and healing damaged hair and It reduces protein loss, which can lead to various unattractive or unhealthy qualities in your hair. Research studies indicate that coconut oil provides better protection to hair from damage caused by hygral fatigue.

7. Immunity: coconut oil helps to strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Coconut oil also make the immune stronger by destroying excess candida, which can weaken the immune system and lower your body pH. It also treats fungal infections like athlete's foot, thrush, and diaper rash.

8. Digestion: Coconut oil improves the digestive system and also prevents stomach and digestion-related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Also the saturated fats present in the oil helps tackle various bacteria, fungi, and parasites issues which can cause indigestion.

9. Gum Disease/Tooth Decay: Oil pulling with coconut oil has help heal periodontal disease and cleanse the mouth of bacteria.

10. Improves Type II Diabetes: The MCFA’s in coconut oil helps in balancing the insulin reactions in the cells and promote healthy digestive process. They take off the strain on the pancreas and give the body a consistent energy source that is not dependent on glucose reactions which can prevent insulin resistance and Type II diabetes.

11. Bones: Coconut oil improves the ability of ones body to absorb important minerals necessary for the development of the bones. Such minerals include calcium and magnesium.

12. Stress relief: Coconut oil helps in removing stress due to its soothing nature. Also applying Coconut oil to the head with a gentle massage, helps to eliminate mental fatigue.



Below are the types of coconut oil to buy for different purposes.

Cooking—————-Refined

Weight Loss———–Virgin

As a Carrier Oil——-Virgin, Fractionated

Good Health———-Virgin,

Organic Massaging————-Pure,

Refined Hair——————–Pure,

Refined Medicinal uses——–Virgin, Virgin Organic

Culled from www.ihealthng..co.ke/2016/05/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html?m=1