Coconut Oil

Health Benefits

Coconut oil has been proposed to lead to a range of health boons. These vary from helping in weight-loss, fighting heart disease, and the recorded anti-fungal and anti-microbial activity. And it aids the brain with a highly useful energy source.

Coconut oil has found championed use as a beauty product in recent years. When used on the skin and hair, coconut oil has a moisturizing result, and may also have a part to play in reducing hair loss through the application of lauric acid, a microbial agent found in coconut oil. The fatty acids held in coconut oil may also help to fight dandruff. Coconut oil is commonly seen in cosmetic products more and more due to these documented boons.

Few broad studies have been conducted into the benefits of coconut oil, with the large majority of studies being insufficient and uncontrolled. Despite this, research has highlighted several areas where coconut oil may be helpful, although this research is still inadequate. For example, it has been evident that coconut oil can be applied as a spray for the treatment of head lice in kids. Preliminary studies have highlighted that it can be as convincing as chemical solutions containing insecticides, but no large studies have been run.

Maybe ironically, some people use coconut oil as a method for weight loss in defiance of its high calorific attributes. Studies have yet to be conducted on a large scale, but developing research has pointed out that 10 ml coconut oil three times daily may perhaps lower waist size after 1-6 weeks of use.

There is also recorded advantages in using coconut oil as a medication for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and thyroid syndrome. No great research has been performed in these subjects, but some tests are continuing.

There are some concerns that coconut oil may boost levels of cholesterol in the body, however tests so far raises the possibility that coconut oil may in fact increase the levels of “good” cholesterol in the body whilst having no effect upon the levels of “bad” cholesterol.

Recommended Daily Dosage

No official treatment dosage at the moment prevails, and dosing routines of vitamin companies and nutritionists often vary greatly.

4g of coconut oil looks to be a common starting point, but wisdom says that if one is to further increase the dose it should be done carefully as experience allows.

In conclusion, it seems that coconut oil really is a safe addition to everyone’s diet and those who use high saturated fat oils, such as cornflower oil and vegetable oil should consider switching to coconut oil. You can also use coconut oil for spreading on toast, for frying chips and for moisturising and washing your hair; this substance really is a God send, so go and tell your friends all about it.

Final word: Please make sure you always consult your GP before starting any new supplement regime, in particular you should ask for liver, kidney and cholesterol levels to be monitored regularly and supplementation should cease if any of these readings become abnormal.