By: Zorana Jagodić |
Coconut oil – a perfect gift of nature |
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Recently, one oil became very popular among people who study the influence of food on overall human health.
That is coconut oil.
This oil is a common remedy in folk medicine among inhabitants of Asia and Pacific.
It became popular in the western world only during the last ten years.
Coconut oil has so high nutritive value and healing properties that it should be used in every home.
But because of the strong influence of political and pharmaceutical lobbies, this oil has not received appropriate recognition until just recently.
Healing properties of coconut oil
Coconut oil is produced of copra – dried kernel of the coconut.
The basic ingredient of coconut oil is lauric acid that has strong antiviral and antibacterial effects which protect us against many illnesses.
The only other source of lauric acid is breast milk and it is known that breast milk builds the immune system of newly-born child so it is clear how important this substance really is.
The other ingredient of coconut oil is caprylic acid that encourages the growth of “good” bacteria, especially lactic acid bacteria.
Caprylic acid has beneficent effects on candida treatment. It also destroys parasites in our digestive tract.
The advantages of coconut oil when compared to other oils are medium-chain fatty acids that are easily digested and absorbed in the human body without overloading our digestive system.
These fatty acids are excellent for our health - they are directly transported to our liver where they are converted into energy.
The energy we receive from coconut oil prolongs our feeling of fullness. That is why coconut oil is an excellent choice for those fighting with excess weight.
Coconut oil helps our body lower the bad cholesterol and enhances absorption of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and iron.
Regular consumption of coconut oil is beneficial for the health of our intestines; it reduces body weight and normalizes our metabolism.
Professor Mary Enig – an international expert on lipid chemistry– has conducted numerous researches on coconut oil.
Among other things, she discovered that coconut oil possesses not just antiviral and antibacterial, but anticancer effects as well.
Coconut oil can be useful in treating:
- wounds and skin diseases
- arthritis and rheumatism
- bug bites
- hair loss
- gum diseases
- intestinal parasites
- digestive problems
- viral and bacterial infections
- fungal infections
- malignant diseases
- diabetes
- weak immunite system
- chronic fatigue
- migraines
- depression and anxiety
- weak concentration and memory
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Crohn’s disease
Nurtures your skin and hair
Apart from having beneficent effects on internal organs, coconut oil is also used for massage and treatment of skin and hair.
Coconut oil feeds our skin, makes it softer and more elastic, prevents the formation of wrinkles and spots.
Used for massage, it has anti-inflammatory effect on limbs and joints. It helps cure gout, arthritis, rheumatism, pain and joint swelling.
Coconut oil enhances hair growth and regeneration.
Women in tropic areas use coconut oil for hair care since early age. They rarely lose hair or go gray later in life.
Purchasing and using the coconut oil
It is the best to buy coconut oil in raw form because that way you get the most benefits from its healing substances.
You can also use it for cooking or frying because it has high resistance to temperatures - unlike other oils that drastically change their properties and become carcinogenic at higher temperatures.
Coconut oil is in solid state at lower temperatures, but it becomes liquid at approximately 23 C.
So do not be confused if you see coconut oil in a solid state. It is the same product.
When purchasing, ask for cold pressed coconut oil because it has all the mentioned benefits.
Avoid refined oil, which is significantly cheaper, since it is deprived of healing properties this valuable product has.
Recommended amounts are two to four spoons of cold pressed coconut oil every day. You can add it to your salad or green smoothy.
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