Do you know that Coconut Oil is the healthiest oil on Earth? In South India, we begin any goog deed by breaking coconuts. Poojas are not complete without coconuts and after Pooja, coconut is broken and given to everyone as Prasad.
Mother Nature provides all the living beings with fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients so that we live a long healthy life. One such blessing is the coconut.
It is known as the “Tree of Life” for its healing property.
Before and during world war II, coconut oil was used as a medicine to lessen lot of medical conditions like cough, constipation, skin infections, toothaches, earaches, malnutrition and so on.
In the 1960s, there came a weak theory from nowhere saying that saturated fats in products like butter, coconut oil, egg and milk increased the bad LDL cholesterol and should not be consumed by humans.
These gave rise to the production of refined vegetable oils that was much cheaper to produce. With the refined vegetable oils replacing the healing coconut oil and other saturated fats, diseases became more prevalent.
Learn How to Choose Healthy Cooking Oil
Now, with experts knocking down the refined oils as dangerous, Coconut Oil is back in the shelves as a super food.
The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
In Countries like India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and other South East Asian countries, coconut oil is a main ingredient in healing and maintaining health. Coconut is mainly helpful in
Weight Loss and Weight Control
As coconut oil is a low-calorie fat, it helps to reduce/maintain weight in the mid-section, both in men and women. It also helps to control the blood fat levels inn diabetics.
Boosts Metabolism
Coconut oil are shorter chain fatty acids. So, they do not end up in the blood as fat but instead are used as a power supply to the body.
Heart Disease
The myth spread by the Westerners that coconut oil increases bad LDL cholesterol is not true. As regular use of coconut oil helps in reducing blood fat, it is good for the heart.
The other areas where coconut oil is used are for indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Dental care, healing and Topical use.
Coconut Oil is as Good as Mother’s Milk
Having discussed all the above health benefits, one might think of what makes the coconut oil so special?
Why in India, is Coconut celebrated as the divine fruit and used in all the rituals?
It is because Coconut Oil is good and powerful as mother’s milk. Both have common nutritional elements present in them.
When a baby is born, mother’s milk is essential to boost his/her immune system.
Breast milk is full of nutritional elements and one element that is so dominating is the Lauric Acid. The same is present in abundance in Coconut Oil.
Lauric Acid
Lauric Acid is good not only for the babies but for grown-ups too. Other than mother’s milk, lauric acid is found in lesser quantities in butter.
It is found in abundance in Coconut oil and palm kernel. Coconut oil becomes the hero because it contains very large amounts of Lauric acid than any substance on Earth.
Lauric Acid is a powerful fatty acid that is antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal. As it is a monoglyceride, it destroys lipid-coated viruses like the influenza, HIV, measles and a lot of pathogenic bacteria.
It also helps in the absorption of A, D, E and K vitamins.
There is much more to Coconut Oil
Other than Lauric Acid, coconut oil has
Capric Acid: Capric Acid is a medium chain fatty acid with antibacterial and antiviral properties. It can fight viruses, bacteria and Candida yeast.
Caprylic Acid: Another element found in both breast milk and coconut oil, it is a saturated fatty acid that promotes health. It is used in treating fungus in intestines, create a positive impact on high blood pressure, and used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease.
Consumption of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a friendly oil and can be used for frying, baking, sautéing and so on. Its aroma can be best enjoyed in any food form.
Unlike other oils, it does not break down during cooking and hence, it therapeutic powers remains the same.
Breast Feeding and Pregnant women can take coconut oil to increase the quality of their breast milk. But it is not restricted to them alone.
Adults or children, irrespective of their age can consume 10-20g (2-4 teaspoon) of coconut oil every day to reap the benefits of nature’s best gift to humans.
Oh Yes Saumy, Coconut oil is very beneficial for health.
I never knew that coconut oil is so beneficial for health and skin. I use coconut oil for hair but in North we normally don’t used coconut oil for cooking. Great to read that it comes with so many benefits. Another amazing post, Menaka. Also, happy holi to you and your family 🙂
Thanks Mayuri
Informative, detailed and well written post, Menaka. Keep writing.
Hope it was useful to you Manisha!
It is best for cooking Deepa, However since it has an aroma of its own it takes some time to get used to it.
Coconut oil is really beneficial but still not sure about using it in cooking. It is a very helpful and informative post Menaka.
DId not know so many benefits Menaka..this is so much good info
Cold pressed always the best Nidhi, and I always would advice to get it directly from a farmer closest to you.
Coconut oil is certainly one of nature’s goldmine foods. I am still a bit confused about the cold-pressed vs. virgin vs. grocery store coconut oils though 😉
Thanks Mayura! Yes coconut oil is the best among all oils for its health benefits
Camphot and coconut oil of receding hairline, seems like people could try, how much success have you got in this Mandavi?
Ha Pushpanjalee Me too, Hi – five on that! I too use coconut oil, coconut milk and everything related to coconut everyday
Thanks Rachna! for stopping by. Coconut oil is my all time favourite, in fact I am trying to become its brand ambassador.
Wow Alana! Adding coconut oil in coffee is news to me, do you really do that?
Ha ha true Sulekha I can understand, I remember the first time I had something cooked in mustard oil and I just couldn’t stand it. Habits are hard to change
Coconut oil is the best moisturizer I have used till date Ramya, In fact when we were young, we used different brands of moisturisers, it is now that I have found the real difference
Really glad to hear you use coconut oil for your skin Rajlakshmi, I off lae have become a great fan of coconut oil
Thanks Shilpa, Hope I reduced your googling time
This is just what I had been planning on Googling….benefits of coconut oil! Thank you, Menaka, for this informational post! <3
wow, I knew coconut oil was good for skin, but never realized it was this healthy. I love cononut water and dishes with coconut milk.
Well said. I remember after I delivered my elder one… after a few months and old granny in my house suggested I give the baby a few drops of freshly prepared Coconut milk. It ia supposed to have a lot of nutrients.
Some great benefits of coconut oil mentioned here. I can’t get used to the smell of it, for me the best use of this oil is for hair massage.
Coconut oil has become very popular in the United States for its health benefits in the last couple of years. I use unrefined coconut oil as a fat substitute in baking. Some put it into coffee.
That’s a very useful post. I actually do know about the benefits of coconut oil. A long time ago I read an article about it and was quite fascinated.
I swear by coconut oil in my daily life. I use it as body lotion, to cure dry nails, diaper rash cream, for hair..you name it and I use it. I didnt get a single stretch mark during my pregnancy thanks to coconut oil. Thanks for sharing the information Menaka!
Ah coconut oil. The age old wonder-food. In fact, in my family, coconut oil mixed with kapur is the remedy to a number of ailments like receding hair line in men, nose bleeding, chapped skin etc.
An extremely useful post…I didn’t know about several benefits of coconut oil especially that it doesn’t break down during cooking…thank you…:)