30 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Coconut & Coconut Oil!

Coconut oil is a pack of health benefits, which include both skin care, hair care, better digestion and providing immunity against infections and diseases.

Coconut oil has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut oil is also known to boosts energy levels, increase good cholesterol levels, and balances out blood sugar levels without gaining weight!

Here are 30 Evidence-Based, Science-backed Health Benefits of Coconut & Coconut Oil.

1. Helps in Managing Diabetes

Coconut positively affects the hormones for blood sugar control and improves the insulin secretion. It also promotes the utilization of blood glucose. This controls the rise in blood sugar level thus managing diabetes.

2. Prevents Premature Aging

The anti-ageing effects of coconut on the body is because of the presence of Cytokinins, kinetin, and trans-zeatin. They also have antithrombotic, anti-carcinogenic effect.

3. Boosts Immunity

Coconut has antifungal and anti-bacterial, properties. Coconut oil helps the body to mount the resistance against both viruses and bacteria that cause illness. Intake of coconut in its raw form can help to treat some of the worst illness like throat infections, bronchitis, UTIs, tapeworms and other infections caused by microbes.

4. Reduce Belly fat

Coconut is also salutary in treating fats in the abdominal cavity which is dangerous for health. Abdominal fats are associated with various diseases. Intake of 200 grams of coconut daily can lead to the reduction in both body mass index and waist circumference in 12 weeks.

5. Coconut is a Natural energy booster

Coconut helps to burn fat, thus increasing energy. The triglycerides found in coconut oil increase energy expenditure leading to weight loss in the long run. Moreover, also known to reduce hunger pangs. It is believed that people who consistently use coconut products have a stronger ability to go without eating for several hours. It also relieves the symptom of chronic fatigue.

6. Helps in epilepsy

A ketogenic diet is recommended for epileptic children. It is a low carb diet including large amounts of fat which can lead to the increase in concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood. This is used to treat various disorders and is best-known application is treating epilepsy in children. This diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children.

7. Inhibit cancer growth

Coconut possesses anti-cancer properties. It is quite beneficial to treat colon and breast cancer.

8. Coconut Water Prevents dehydration

Coconut water is a better alternative to water. It is tastier than plain water and is loaded with nutrition. People performing workouts and other strenuous activities must include as much coconut water as they can in their diet. It provides hydration and increases immune response and also replaces the lost electrolytes of the body. It contains crucial electrolytes that help in maintaining hydration.

9. Coconut Water is a Natural source of rich Nutrition

Coconut water is highly nutritious and healthier. It contains lauric acid which is considered equal to mother’s milk. It also cures the hangover. It has a natural isotonic beverage in the same level as that in the blood.

10. Prevention of UTIs

The natural diuretic property of coconut aid in the treatment of urinary tract infections. The flow of urine is improved by it to get rid of the infection naturally.

11. Lowers bad cholesterol level

Consuming coconut on a daily basis helps to improve blood cholesterol levels in the body. The saturated fats in coconut raise the good cholesterol in the body. This controls the levels of bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart diseases.

 12. Good in pregnancy

Coconut water is good for pregnant ladies because of its sterile nature. It boosts the levels of amniotic fluid to improve the overall health of the fetus. It also strengthens the immunity and health of the mother and baby and prevents infection and other diseases.

13. Inhibits bacterial growth

Coconut has a high concentration of monolaurin and lauric acid. These help the body to kill bacteria, fungi and also keep away from infections.

14. Helps in Maintaining Good oral health

The antibacterial properties of coconut eradicate bacteria present in mouth responsible for bad breath. It improves the dental health by killing germs present in the mouth.

15. Make Bones strong & healthy

Intake of coconut helps improve body’s ability to absorb calcium and magnesium, which are responsible for bone development. This also prevents osteoporosis. Coconut is quite a healthy alternative for those who are lactose intolerant.

 16. Heals dry skin

Coconut oil is like a magic oil for dry skin. It prevents dryness and flakiness of skin and also reduces dermatitis. It helps skin to retain its moisture and makes skin supple. Coconut oil cleanses and eradicates all the toxins, fungal and bacterial infections.

 17. Prevents skin cancers

Coconut oil is really effective in preventing skin cancer. It improves the moisture and lipid content in the skin. This prevents skin cancer by blocking harsh UV rays. It is a great skin moisturizer, hydrating the skin by replenishing the natural oils.

18. Improve blood circulation

intake of coconut on a regular basis boosts oxygen in the skin and promotes circulation of blood.  For proper breathing and healthy and flawless complexion of the skin, cells need an adequate amount of oxygen which is possible by proper circulation in the body that carries oxygen.

 19. Eradicates scalp infections

Dandruff, rough scalp are major hair problems which lead to hair fall and slow hair growth. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of coconut make it perfect to treat these hair problems. Coconut oil protects the scalp from dandruff, lice, and itchy scalp, promoting healthy hairs.

20. Promotes Healthy & Shiny hairs

irritated of your dry hairs. Then try this magic nut! Coconut can help you to get silky shiny hairs. It contains Vitamin K and iron that maintain the health of the hair and impart shine to it.

21. Relieves stress

A gentle massage of coconut oil is very soothing and helps to eliminate mental fatigue hence it helps in removing stress.

22. Helps in Weight Loss

People generally have a misconception about coconut oil that it increases body fat. But the truth is different. It contains unique medium- chain fatty acids, which like other fats do not get stored as fat in the body this oil helps to speed up metabolism rate and also burn calories.

23. Prevents candida

The anti-fungal properties of coconut help to prevent candida infections. It prevents the overgrowth of yeast present in the body, thus preventing infection.

24. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease

Studies show that intake of coconut oil can help in boosting brain function thus preventing Alzheimer’s disease. It is a brain disorder in which brain cells start degenerating.  The oil contains medium chain triglycerides which boost brain functioning in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.

25. Protects liver against harmful Toxins

Coconut oil helps the liver in removing toxins. The antioxidant property removes free radicals, which can harm the liver.

26. Cures dry lips

Coconut oil treats dry lips by moisturizing them. It is a natural lip balm and also lightens dark lips.

27. Provide instant relief to tired, puffy eyes

Massage coconut oil around your puffy tired eyes, this relaxes your skin and reduces the redness, tiredness, puffiness of eyes. This also lets you sleep calmly.

28. Cure acne problems

The antibacterial properties of coconut oil help treat acne. The oil can kill bacteria that causes acne. Regular intake of coconut oil is effective in treating acne problems and also prevents its reoccurrence.

29. Prevents pancreatitis

Studies show that coconut oil is really effective in treating pancreatitis.

30. Cures Sunburn & Removes tanning

Coconut oil combined with fullers earth, applied on the tanned skin can reverse the tanning effects.

You can replace your food oils with coconut oil and enjoy its benefits. Furthermore, coconut water and raw coconut consumed daily helps you improve your overall health. 

Precautions

Taking anything in excess always does harm than good. Same goes for coconut.

Intake of a large amount of coconut oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding can harm your health. Furthermore, it also increases bad cholesterol levels. The fats are not digested by body which then get stored and pose risk of heart diseases