Coconut Oil Benefits

Coconut Oil Benefits

People from around the world, from many cultures, have considered coconut to be a significant source of food and effective medicine.  For centuries traditional medicine (the formalized aspects of folk medicine; remedies practiced and passed on by lay people) has recognized coconut oil benefits.  

Although the health benefits of coconut oil are extensive and covered elsewhere on this website, there are other helpful benefits that it provides.  Among them are skin care, hair care and weight loss.

Skin Care :

Coconut oil is an effective moisturizer on all skin types, including dry skin.  It doesn’t have the side effects of petroleum based moisturizers.   Because of its antioxidant properties, coconut oil also helps skin with anti-aging in that it helps prevent wrinkles and sagging.  You will find coconut oil in many skin care products like soaps, lotions, crèmes, etc. and is an excellent massage oil.

Acne is caused by, in very simplistic terms, infections in the openings of sebum glands.  These are glands that secrete an oily/waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate and waterproof the skin in order to protect the skin.  In teenagers, because hormonal changes are so intense, the sebum production is increased and creates an oily condition.  Most teens go after this with harsh soaps and other treatments, which remove the beneficial microbial acid guard, thus making the skin prone to further infections.

Coconut oil contains two of the most powerful microbial agents found in a food source.  These are capric acid and lauric acid which are found in human breast milk and help protect babies from infections.  When applied topically, the body’s chemistry converts these acids thereby replacing the protective acids on the skin.

Consuming coconut oil has a similar effect from the inside.  

It is a rich source of vitamin E, which keeps skin healthy, helps with the proper function of the sebum glands and clears blockages.  In this way coconut oil treats the cause of acne as well as the symptoms.

Hair Care:

There are particular components of coconut oil that keep hair strong, nourished, vitalized and protected from the effects of aging.  One of the main reasons for loss of hair is microbial action on the hair roots and scalp.  As stated above the capric and lauric acids have powerful antimicrobial properties, when broken down in the body.  These, along with the naturally occurring vitamin E in coconut oil, results in a healthy hair and scalp when applied topically.

Dandruff is another malady that can be treated with coconut oil.  Apply topically on a regular basis and say goodbye to embarrassing and annoying dandruff flakes.

Weight Loss:

Replacing other oils in your diet with coconut oil can be the basis of a weight loss program that is very effective.  Due to the nature of medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil (see Is Coconut Oil Good for You? for an explanation of triglyceride chains), consuming coconut oil increases the body’s ability to absorb and use the fat in the oil.  This improves energy levels and metabolism and acts as a natural appetite suppressant.

The author read one man’s story of how he lost 36 lbs in a year just by changing exclusively to coconut oil for his fat consumption!  Now that’s a weight loss program we can all get on board.