Crazy for Coconuts: 20 Benefits of Coconut Oil

Think about the foods you have in your pantry and refrigerator right now. What would you say the [...]

Think about the foods you have in your pantry and refrigerator right now. What would you say the healthiest one is? What if we told you that coconut oil was one of the healthiest foods on the planet, with over 1,500 studies backing that statement? According to Dr. Axe, coconut oil is the healthiest food on the planet, and they've rounded up 20 reasons why.

coconut

Proven Alzheimer's disease natural treatment: The digestion of MCFAs by the liver creates ketones which are a readily accessible energy by the brain. Ketones supply energy to the brain without the need of insulin to process glucose into energy.

Recent research has shown that the brain actually creates it's own insulin to process glucose and power brain cells. As the brain of an Alzheimer's patient has lost the ability to create it's own insulin, the ketones from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function.

Prevents heart disease and high blood pressure: Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body, but also help to convert the LDL "bad" cholesterol into good cholesterols.

By increasing the HDLs in the body, it helps promote heart health, and lower the risk of heart disease.

Cures UTI and kidney infection & protects the liver: Coconut oil has been known to clear up and heal urinary (UTI) and kidney infections. The MCFA's in the oil work as a natural antibiotic by disrupting the lipid coating on bacteria and killing them. Also there is a study showing that coconut oil directly protected the liver from damage.

Coconut water also helps hydrate and support the healing process. Doctors have even injected the coconut water to clear up kidney stones. Coconut is a super powerful food!

Reduces inflammation and arthritis: In a study in India, the high levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil reduced inflammation and healing arthritis more effectively than leading medications. In another recent study, coconut oil that was harvested with only medium heat was found to suppress inflammatory cells. It worked as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

Cancer prevention and treatment: 

Coconut oil has two qualities that help it fight cancer. One, because of the ketones produced in it's digestion. Tumor cells are not able to access the energy in ketones and are glucose dependent. It is believed that a ketogenic diet could be a possible component of helping cancer patients recover.Two, as the MCFA's digest the lipid walls of bacteria, they also can kill the helicobacter pylori bacteria that has been known as increasing the risk of stomach cancer. Even in studies where cancer is chemically induced, the introduction of coconut oil prevents cancer from developing!

coconut oil

Immune system boost (antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral): Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is known to reduce candida, fight bacteria, and create a hostile environment for viruses. Many diseases today are causes by the overgrowth of bad bacteria, funguses, viruses and parasites in the body.

You can replace grains and sugar in your diet with coconut oil as your natural fuel source when you're sick. Sugar feeds the growth of bad bacteria. Instead take one tablespoon of coconut oil 3 times daily when sick and consume plenty of vegetables and bone broth as well.

Improves memory and brain function: In a 2004 study published in the journal of Neurobiology of Aging, they found that the MCFA's found in coconut oil improved the memory problems in their older subjects.

Across all the patients there was a marked improvement in their recall ability after taking this fatty acid. As the MCFA's are absorbed easily in the body and can be accessed in the brain without the use of insulin, they are able to fuel brain cells more efficiently.

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Improves energy and endurance: Coconut oil is easy to digest, but also produces a longer sustained energy and increases your metabolism. When taking a quality non-processed coconut oil, you can get the most benefit as it's MCFAs are sent directly to the liver to be converted into energy!

Today, many triathletes will use coconut oil as their source of fuels during training and races for long distance events. You can make a homemade energy fuel by mixing coconut oil, raw honey and chia seeds together. Simply put together one tablespoon of each and consume 30 minutes prior to exercise.

Improves digestion, reduces stomach ulcers & ulcerative colitis:

Coconut also improves digestion as it helps the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. If coconut oil is taken at the same time as omega-3 fatty acids, it can make them twice as effective, as they are readily available to be digested and used by the body.

Coconut oil can help improve bacteria and gut health by destroying bad bacteria and candida. Candida imbalance especially can decrease stomach acid which causes inflammation and poor digestion.Reduces symptoms of gallbladder disease & pancreatitis: The MCFAs of coconut oil do not need the pancreatic enzymes to be broken down, so taking coconut oil eases the strain on the pancreas.

Additionally, this super fat is so easy to digest that it has been known to improve the symptoms of gallbladder disease as well. Replace other long-chain fats with coconut oil to improve gallbladder and total body health.

Want to know the other health benefits of coconut oil? Click here for the original story from Dr. Axe!

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