Proven Coconut Oil Benefits For Natural Health & Beauty

Coconut oil is versatile and has grown in popularity from its wider uses in South Indian cooking, making it ideal for frying, steaming, sautéing, and more.

Later, people and even herbal professionals started using it in medicines, hair, and skin health products, with the world further adapting it widely.

But you would think, is coconut oil good for you? Does it deserve the hype it's praised for?

It is truly a miracle for hair and skin. Well, to know more about coconut oil benefits, let's check the details! 

What Are Coconut Oil Benefits?

Coconut oil has been used since time immemorial for skin, face, and even in food to boost health.

The benefits can be categorised into: 

• Health

• Skin 

• Hair 

Let's check them one by one! 

Benefits of Eating Coconut Oil For Health

1. Reduces Fat and Body Weight

Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in abundance. It's a kind of saturated fats that reduce body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, as per a 2023 study.

As coconut oil contains 65% MCTs, it burns fat. However, consuming it in abundance can lead to weight gain; hence, take it in regulated amounts. 

2. Quick Source of Energy

The MCTs of coconut oil provide an instant supply of energy. Unlike long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are packaged in molecules called chylomicrons.

These latter are carried from your blood in the lymphatic system, which transports it to the liver and other tissues, where it is stored and broken down into energy. However, the process takes time

Thus, coconut oil is better due to MCTs as they are absorbed as it is from the small intestine in the bloodstream and, therefore, can be used instantly for energy.

Therefore, coconut oil is even used in sports and nutrition products as athletes need a quick energy boost for activities.

3. Has Antimicrobial Effects 

Coconut Oil contains lauric acid, which is a fatty acid forming 50% of the MCTs found in coconut oil. It has antimicrobial effects against disease-causing organisms like:

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Streptococcus mutans

• Streptococcus pyogenes

• Escherichia coli

• Helicobacter pylori

This shows that lauric acid acts as a bacteriostatic agent and prevents bacteria from multiplying without killing them.

It acts as a bactericidal agent that destroys various bacteria. It even inhibits the growth of microorganisms that are harmful to plants.

Moreover, it has antimicrobial properties against a range of harmful microorganisms. 

4. Decreases Hunger 

Coconut oil has a range of MCTs that break down into ketones. They decrease your appetite by acting directly on the brain’s chemical messengers. Hence, it modifies the levels of hunger-causing hormones.

You can relate it to the fact that people on the keto diet don't consume many carbs, and hence, their bodies use ketones for energy. 

5. Reduces Seizures 

People switch to keto diets that are low in carbs and high in fats for treating various disorders like drug-resistant epilepsy in children. This reduces the occurrence of seizures.

Similarly, coconut oil is low in carbs, which decreases the amount of glucose fueling brain cells, thus reducing the occurrence of seizures in people with epilepsy. It even helps those who are on ketogenic diets.

Thus increase in blood ketone concentrations decreases seizure frequency in children and adults. 

6. Improves Oral Health 

Coconut oil is used in oil pulling, where it is swished in the mouth like a mouthwash. This reduces the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth, like S. mutans, as compared to a regular mouthwash. Thus, it benefits from the antibacterial properties of lauric acid. 

This is because the latter reacts with saliva, forming a soap-like substance, preventing cavities, decreasing dental plaque buildup, and fighting against gum inflammation. 

7. Reduces Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease 

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. It decreases your brain’s ability to use glucose for energy.

Here's where studies show that ketones can help prevent early signs of Alzheimer’s by providing ketones as an alternate source of energy for brain cells instead of glucose. 

Having abundant MCTs, coconut oil increases levels of ketones in the blood, thus reducing symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

8. Rich in Antioxidants 

Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants that neutralise free radicals that otherwise damage the body. Thus, coconut oil reduces the chances of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Some antioxidants found in coconut oil are:

• Tocopherols

• Tocotrienols

• Phytosterols

• Flavonoids

• Polyphenols

These have anti-inflammatory and brain-protective effects on the human body as well. Besides, it even has antidiabetic effects. 

9. Improves Immunity

Antioxidants have antimicrobial properties that boost immunity. Thus, your body can fight off infections and diseases better. 

10. Improves Gut Health 

Coconut oil has essential fatty acids like lauric acid, and more are good for digestion and hence help to improve gut health. 

For Skin

Both edible and non-edible coconut oil is highly beneficial for the skin and is considered an elixir by helping with the following:

• Skin Hydration: Coconut oil plays a crucial role in moisturization. Hence, it leads to hydrated yet healthier skin. It prevents cracking or flaking of the skin, thus improving its moisture retention as well. 

• Fights Off Bacteria: Coconut oil prevents bacteria from entering your skin. This is because it richly moisturises and acts as a tough barrier for the skin, thus preventing bacteria and treating dryness.

• Removes Spots: Often, injuries leave marks on the skin. Coconut oil, with its natural healing properties, helps fade the marks upon daily application, thus giving a spotless glow. It provides the skin with an even tone and texture and calms facial redness, thus minimising dark spots as well. 

• Keeps Skin Healthy: Studies show that pure coconut oil reduces the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, which leads to skin inflammation and a dysfunctional skin barrier. 

• Anti-Inflammatory: Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory in nature and is beneficial for those suffering from dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema. 

• Antibacterial and Antifungal: Coconut oil prevents the spread of microorganisms that control or prevent bacterial skin problems like acne, folliculitis, and cellulitis. Coconut oil even has capric acid, which makes it antifungal in nature. 

• Reduces Signs of Ageing: For those who are conscious about aging, using coconut oil for dry skin causes moisturised and plumper skin that looks youthful. It even boosts collagen levels that promote skin elasticity, resulting in fewer fine lines and wrinkles. 

Is Coconut Oil Healthy For Hair? 

Yes, coconut oil is healthy for hair due to its moisturising ability and better penetration into the hair shaft.

Thus, it helps by:

• Moisturising and Hydration: Coconut oil seals moisture in the hair, thus preventing dry, brittle, and damaged hair.

• Protects From Damage: Coconut oil creates a protective barrier on the hair shaft, which protects it from the harmful effects of heat styling, chemical treatments, and harsh environmental effects. 

• Minimises Protein Loss: Various researchers have suggested that coconut oil reduces protein loss in hair, helps maintain hair strength, and promotes elasticity. 

• Reduces Dandruff: Dandruff is caused by to itchy and irritated scalp; thus, coconut oil, with its ability to soothe it, reduces dandruff.

• Repairs Split Ends: By moisturising and strengthening the hair, coconut oils repair and prevent split ends. 

• Adds Shine: With proper usage and application, coconut oils add a natural shine and bounce to the hair.

However, it is worth considering not consuming non-edible coconut oil to promote health, as it can be fatal. 

What is Coconut Oil Good For?

Yes, coconut oil has been used since ancient times and is beneficial for health, hair, and skin.

But do you feel that oils are unhealthy, and even doctors restrict you from adding them to your diet?

If yes, then you are at the right place. Earlier oils were manually extracted in a wood press or stone press without any chemicals, additives, or application of additional heat.

Thus, coconut oil maintained its natural properties and provided the benefits that it was meant to provide.

However, now people use commercial extraction with machines, chemicals, and heat for better extraction in bulk quantities, which makes it harmful to health and overall consumption.

Here's where you can go for brands that take care to ensure pure, manual, and organic extraction at every step of their cold-pressed or stone-pressed coconut oil.

One such brand is Gyros Farm, which even grows coconuts with the help of farmers organically and tests for purity and authenticity at each step.

So, what stops you from prioritising your health and saving your hospital bills? Order now to live a healthy life just like people in earlier times!