Coconut Oil: Natures Cure-All

Who doesn't like coconuts? The smell alone is strong enough to remind me of a tropical oasis. But did you also know that coconuts and coconut oil have also been proven to be very beneficial to your health? I had no idea until I read the eye-opening book Coconut Cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut by Bruce Fife. I have recommended this book to a lot of people and they have all found it equally informative and interesting.

This book focuses on coconut oil and its miraculous healing powers. Research has shown that taking coconut internally can have health benefits including weight loss, increase immunity, heart disease prevention, protection against cancer, skin and hair benefits, along with relief from diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney problems, in addition to MANY more. Coconut oil can also be used externally to alleviate symptoms from issues such as psoriasis, acne, rashes, scars and open wounds.

I am sure you are saying, "How can oil be good for me and help me in ways including weight loss?" I'll be the first to admit that before reading this book and doing research on coconut oil, I was a huge skeptic! One thing that most people do not know about coconut oil, is that its chemical composition is completely different than that of other oils. While most oils are long-chain fatty acids, coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid, or medium-chain triglyceride. The different sizes of the fatty acids determine how our bodies metabolize them. Our bodies have a difficult time breaking down long-chain fatty acids and therefore predominately store them as fats in the body. It is said that about 98% of the oil we consume falls into this category which explains the negative connotation tied to oils.

Coconut oil on the other hand is a medium-chain fatty acid. Its smaller size allows it to be more easily digested in the body. It has been proven to help boost metabolism. This boost in your metabolism may help you burn extra calories every day which could ultimately lead to weight loss. Unlike long chain fatty acids, medium chain fatty acids do not have negative effects on cholesterol and they also help protect against heart disease. In addition, this type of fatty acids is immediately processed in the liver and converted into energy once they enter the body.

Another benefit of coconut oil being a medium chain fatty acid is its composition of Lauric Acid. Lauric Acid is anti-fungal and one of the most essential fats for maintaing a strong immune system. The only other place you can find high levels of Lauric Acid is in Mother's milk. If you are interested in knowing a little more about Lauric Acid, check out this website.

Coconut oil can be taken internally or externally. It is recommended that your daily consumption is 1 tablespoon for every 50 pounds of body weight you carry. If the thought of eating straight oil worries you a little, you can start small by substituting oils you use daily for coconut oil. You can use it when cooking, baking, and even in smoothies. You can also use it on your skin through out the day. I have been rubbing coconut oil on a scar that I got from a dog bite. After using the oil for only a few days, I have already noticed a significant lightening of the scar.

As with anything you take for your body you should be very conscious about the quality. The two most important words to look for are "extra-virgin" and "organic." Give coconut oil a try and let me know what it does for you!