In these days I've heard a lot about the benefits of coconut oil, specifically relate it to improvements in people with Alzheimer's; for which I started to find out about this and all the other properties that we can obtain from this oil that not only has a pleasant aroma.
Coconut oil is one of the few foods that we could classify as "superfood".
Its unique combination of fatty acids can have positive effects for health.
This includes fat loss, better brain function and several other really relevant benefits.
So let's look at the top 10 benefits of coconut oil for health based on the evidence.
1.Coconut oil contains fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties.
Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats that have different effects to most other fats in the diet. These fats can increase fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy. They also increase good HDL cholesterol in the blood, which is related to reducing the risk of heart disease.
Most fats in the diet are called long chain triglycerides, but the fats in coconut oil are known as medium chain triglycerides (MCT). This means that the fatty acids are shorter than most other fats.
When you eat this type of fats, they go directly to the liver, where they are used as a quick source of energy or they are converted into ketones. Ketones can have powerful benefits for the brain, and have been (and continue to be) studied as a treatment for epilepsy, Alzheimer's and other conditions.
2. Populations that eat a lot of coconut oil are healthy.
The coconut is an exotic food in the western world, consumed mainly by people aware of their health. However, in some parts of the world, coconut (loaded with coconut oil) is a staple in the diet with which people have prospered for many generations.
The best example of that population are the inhabitants of Tokelau, who live in the South Pacific. They used to eat more than 60% of their calories from coconuts. When they were studied, it was discovered that they enjoyed excellent health, with very low rates of heart disease.
Another example of a population that ate a lot of coconut and remained in excellent health is the Kitavans (inhabitants of the island of Kitava, Papua New Guinea).
3. Coconut oil can increase fat burning.
Obesity is one of the biggest health problems in the world.
While some people think that obesity is just a matter of calories, others believe that the sources of those calories are also important. It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this sense, a calorie is not a calorie.
Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase the amount of calories you burn compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats.
One study found that 15 to 30 grams of MCT per day increased energy expenditure over 24 hours by 5%, totaling about 120 calories per day.
4.Coconut oil can kill harmful microorganisms.
The 12-carbon lauric acid makes up approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil. When lauric acid is digested, it also forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
5.Coconut oil can reduce hunger, helping you eat less.
An interesting feature of the fatty acids in coconut oil is that they can reduce hunger. This may be related to the way in which fats are metabolized, because ketones may have an appetite-reducing effect.
In one study, variable amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were given to 6 healthy men. The men who consumed the most MCT ate 256 calories less per day, on average.
Another study in 14 healthy men found that those who ate most MCTs at breakfast ate fewer calories at lunch.
These studies were small and only performed for short periods of time. If this effect persists in the long term, it could help reduce body weight over a period of several years.
6.The fatty acids of coconuts could reduce seizures.
Currently, the diet called ketogenic (very low in carbohydrates, higher in fats) is being studied to treat several disorders.
The most well-known therapeutic application of this diet is the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
This diet involves consuming very few carbohydrates and more amounts of fat, which leads to a considerable increase in the concentrations of ketones in the blood.
For some reason, this protocol dramatically reduces the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even in those who have not been successful with multiple different types of medications.
Because the fatty acids in coconut oil are sent to the liver and converted to ketones, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing a little more carbohydrate in the diet.
7.Coconut oil can raise good HDL cholesterol.
Coconut oil contains natural saturated fats that increase the good HDL cholesterol in your body. They can also help convert bad LDL cholesterol into a less harmful form.
By increasing HDL, many experts believe that coconut oil could be good for heart health compared to many other fats.
In a study of 40 women, coconut oil reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil.
Another study in 116 patients showed that a diet program that included coconut oil raised levels of good HDL cholesterol.
8.Coconut oil can protect the skin, hair and dental health.
Coconut oil has many uses that have nothing to do with eating it. Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of the skin and hair.
Studies in individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture content of the skin. It can also reduce the symptoms of eczema.
Coconut oil can also be protective against hair damage and one study shows its effectiveness as a weak sunscreen, blocking around 20% of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Another application is to use it as a mouthwash, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath.
9.The fatty acids in coconut oil can improve brain function in Alzheimer's patients.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs mainly in the elderly.
In Alzheimer's patients, there seems to be a reduced ability to use glucose as energy in certain parts of the brain.
Researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative source of energy for the malfunction of these brain cells and reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
In a 2006 study, the consumption of medium chain triglycerides led to an improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer's.
10.Coconut oil can help you lose fat, especially abdominal fat.
Since coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it will also help you lose weight.
Coconut oil seems to be especially effective in reducing belly fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around the organs.
This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many chronic Western diseases.
The circumference of the waist is easily measured and is a great marker of the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.
In a study of 40 women with abdominal obesity, the supplement with 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of coconut oil per day led to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference over a period of 12 weeks.
Another study in 20 obese men noticed a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm after 4 weeks of 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of coconut oil per day.
Coconut oil is still high in calories, so you should not add a ton to your diet. But replacing some of your other cooking fats with coconut oil could have a small benefit in weight loss.
11.Something else?
In order to obtain the impressive health benefits described in the article, be sure to choose organic virgin coconut oil, not the refined one.
Resources.
http://www.fisicologia.com/2018/04/07/sobre-el-aceite-de-coco-usos-beneficios/