7 Reasons You Should Use Coconut Oil

It is a common misconception that coconut oil is bad for you. People all over the world are experiencing the healthy benefits of using coconut oil, as it is actually one of the healthiest oils that can be consumed.

Here are the top seven reasons why using coconut oil should be your first alternative to other common cooking oils:

1. Coconut oil does not turn into fat in your body.

Unlike many other common oils such as soy (vegetable) and corn, coconut oil is not fattening as it contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are an easy fuel for the body to burn, without becoming fat.

Many other cooking oils and fats contain long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are generally stored as fat. Since coconut oil is an MCT, it is more easily absorbed and converted to energy faster.

People in the tropics, for example, have relied on coconuts as a traditional staple in their diet for centuries. They consume large amounts of coconut oil every day and instead of gaining weight, it helps them stay healthy, slim and fit.

However, studies have shown that when these people switch from coconut oil to our modern (vegetable) oils, they develop obesity along with the health problems that our modern society faces.

2. Coconut oil increases your metabolism.

Not only is coconut oil converted to energy faster in your body, but it also increases your metabolism, which promotes weight loss, helping your body burn fat more effectively.

Coconut oil can triple your calorie burn. Since coconut oil is an MCT, as I had discussed, it is converted to energy so quickly that it generates a lot of heat. MCTs promote thermogenesis, which increases the body's metabolism and produces energy.

In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, MCTs burn three times more calories for six hours after a meal than LCTs.

The February 15, 2005 issue of Woman's World magazine stated that coconut oil is the "hidden secret to increased metabolism."

For people who have thyroid problems, this oil slowly improves the thyroid by stimulating the production of additional thyroid hormones. Most of the other common oils, such as vegetables (soybeans) and corn, on the other hand, have been shown to inhibit thyroid function.

3. Coconut oil has omega 3 fatty acids.

Most cooking oils contain omega 6 fatty acids, which cause inflammation in the body. Our omega 6 to omega 3 ratio should be 1: 1, but in the normal diet, specifically in North America, it is more like 50: 1.

We need to drastically reduce our omega 6 oils and consume a lot more omega 3 oils to be healthy. Coconut oil is packed with these healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

4. Coconut oil gives you energy.

Due to the healthy omega 3 fatty acids and the fact that it increases metabolism, most people who switch to coconut oil feel a burst of extra energy in their daily life.

Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have found that adding coconut and coconut oil to their diet was helpful in increasing energy levels and reducing fatigue.

5. One of the best oils that you can use on your skin and hair is coconut oil.

Coconut oil is one of the best oils that you can apply directly to your skin and hair. It gives temporary relief to skin problems like rashes and helps heal and restore the skin to a more youthful appearance.

It is also known to help with people suffering from fungal skin infections, as well as many other skin problems.

Not only does coconut oil soften, but thanks to its antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage, coconut oil is also excellent for body massage.

6. Coconut oil has health benefits that most other oils do not.

There is increasing evidence that coconut oil has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral effects when consumed and used topically on the skin.

Most oils oxidize and go rancid very quickly, causing free radical damage in our bodies. Coconut oil does not oxidize easily and does not cause free radical damage like polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

Free radical damage is believed to be responsible for many ailments in our body, from arthritis to increased susceptibility to cancers. Furthermore, coconut oil also helps our bodies to absorb other nutrients more effectively, such as vitamin E which has been proven to be high in antioxidants that are excellent to fight against free radicals.

7. Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use for cooking.

This oil is more resistant to high temperatures than olive oil. There are several healthy omega 3 oils that we can choose to consume, such as flax and olive oil, but they do not work well in the heat we use for cooking. Coconut oil can be used at higher cooking temperatures. It is stable for more than a year at room temperature.

Due to the misinformation that has been given to us for years, we have missed the healthy benefits that coconut oil has provided to the people of the tropics for centuries. But now it has been rediscovered! Coconut oil is so effective that it won't be long before we see coconut oil supplements promoted on the market.