So far, the results remain inconclusive, and more studies are needed. Learn more about how to reduce cholesterol.
Findings from a animal study suggested that MCTs, present in coconut oil, may help preserve insulin sensitivity. The review also listed the specific beneficial health effects of MCT oil, not coconut oil, in 29 studies. However, other investigations have not found the same results. This study on mini pigs, however, looked at an excess calorie, high fat diet that also included hydrogenated fats and high fructose.
Which foods help manage blood sugar levels? Find out here. Virgin coconut oil may have antioxidant properties. In a rodent study , it appeared to reduce stress resulting from exercise and chronic cold.
Researchers believe that virgin coconut oil could be useful in treating some kinds of depression. Many plant based foods provide antioxidants. Learn more here. Some people apply coconut oil to their hair to increase shine and protect it from damage. It may penetrate the scalp better than mineral oils. However, one study of people with similar hair types found no difference in hair condition between those who used coconut oil and those who did not.
Applying a coconut extract to human skin may enhance its protective barrier functions and have an anti-inflammatory effect, says a study. Some foods may help boost skin health. Get some tips here. In an in vitro study , coconut oil was active against Candida albicans C.
However, this is not the same as consuming regular coconut oil since it is not fermented. Can coconut oil fight candida? See this article for more details.
In a study , rats with liver disease consumed a high glucose diet either with or without coconut oil. Those who consumed coconut oil had better measures of liver health after 4 weeks than those who did not.
Inhaling coconut oil has helped reduce asthma symptoms in rabbits. Some people have argued that coconut oil leaves people feeling fuller after eating, which means they will not eat so much.
However, one study compared MCT oil to coconut oil and confirmed that MCT oil exerts effects on satiety, not coconut oil. A review discusses the importance of oil pulling for dental health. Oil pulling is a traditional oral treatment. It involves swishing an oil around the oral cavity, in a similar way to the modern mouthwash. Studies have found coconut oil pulling to protect against cavities, improve gingivitis , and influence the oral bacterial balance.
A study comparing two products found that coconut oil was less likely to trigger diabetes and weight gain in mice. Some have interpreted this as meaning coconut oil can help people lose weight. Coconut oil, once vilified for its saturated-fat content as a potential artery-clogger, has enjoyed a new, almost superfood status. But what is it, really? Coconut oil is a tropical oil derived from — you guessed it — the flesh of coconuts.
Virgin coconut oil is less processed than the refined version, and that preserves its sweet, coconut-y tropical flavor. Refined coconut oil goes through more processing, which leads to a more neutral smell and flavor. Like many trendy health foods, coconut oil once enjoyed a burst of popularity, which has waned in recent years, the Washington Post reported in The newspaper noted that at the time the article was published, retail sales had been down by 30 percent since , coconut oil's biggest year yet.
That decline is due in part to the continued controversy surrounding the oil's health benefits and risks. More on that later. According to the U. Department of Agriculture, these are the nutrition facts for a 1 tablespoon serving of coconut oil. For instance, a tablespoon of olive oil has calories and The difference lies in the types of fat each contains.
Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guidelines as a less healthy fat compared to one like olive oil, which has only 1. The American Heart Association recommends that an average person who eats 2, calories per day limit their saturated fat intake to 13 g. Because of its saturated fat content, coconut oil garnered a reputation as an unhealthy, artery-clogging oil, and many experts still recommend avoiding it.
Take one Harvard University professor's comment that coconut oil is reines Gift , or "pure poison," in a viral video of a talk she gave in Germany. In the video, Business Insider Deutschland reports , the professor, Karin Michels , also says in German that the trendy oil is "one of the worst foods you can eat. One randomized clinical trial in BMJ Open looked at the health result of consuming about 1.
Much as previous research has shown, butter upped LDL levels more than coconut and olive oils. Coconut also increased HDL levels more than butter or olive oil. A recommendation from top nutrition and health researchers on behalf of the American Heart Association recommended that people replace saturated with unsaturated fats to reduce heart disease risk. The reality may be that when placed in the typical standard American diet dubbed the SAD diet , coconut oil may behave differently.
The entirety of your eating habits may matter more than whether or not you include this oil. Baseline heart disease rates may be lower in South Asian cultures, which frequently consume coconut oil, and that may not be the case if the oil is included in any diet. However, due to large differences in dietary and lifestyle patterns, these findings cannot be applied to a typical Western diet," the authors of the Nutrition Reviews study write.
One potential benefit: Medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid are quickly broken down by the body and converted into energy, which is why the oil is often included in weight loss diets. Coconut oil still contains calories, and eating more than your body needs will likely result in weight and fat gain. Research shows that the MCTs in coconut oil get transported to your liver and turned into ketones MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood ketone concentrations, which may help reduce seizure frequency.
Coconut oil has many uses that have little to do with eating. Many people use it for cosmetic purposes to improve the health and appearance of their skin. Studies show that coconut oil can boost the moisture content of dry skin. It may also improve the function of the skin, helping prevent excessive water loss and protecting you from external factors, such as infectious agents, chemicals, and allergens 16 , 17 , 18 , In fact, a recent study determined that applying 6—8 drops of virgin coconut oil on your hands and leaving it overnight may be an effective way to prevent dry skin caused by frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers It may also reduce the severity of mild to moderate symptoms of atopic dermatitis , a chronic skin disease characterized by skin inflammation and defects in skin barrier function 18 , 21 , Coconut oil can also protect against hair damage.
For instance, one study determined that, since coconut oil deeply penetrates hair strands, it makes them more flexible and increases their strength to prevent them from breaking under tension Similarly, another study found that coconut oil nourishes hair strands and reduces breakage, which further strengthens the hair Coconut oil may help strengthen your hair by increasing flexibility and reducing the breakage of hair strands.
Evidence shows that using coconut oil as a mouthwash — a process called oil pulling — benefits oral hygiene in a cost-effective way 25 , Oil pulling involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth like mouthwash. It may significantly reduce the count of harmful bacteria in the mouth — namely S.
This is thought to be due to the antibacterial properties of lauric acid 27 , Additionally, lauric acid in coconut oil reacts with saliva to form a soap-like substance that prevents cavities and helps reduce dental plaque buildup and gum inflammation 28 , More research is needed on the effects of oil pulling on dental health However, further studies are needed.
Coconut oil is a good source of antioxidants , which help neutralize damaging molecules called free radicals. This, in turn, helps ward off several chronic and degenerative diseases Some of the main types of antioxidants in the oil are 33 , 34 :.
Antioxidants in coconut oil confer it with potential anti-inflammatory and brain-protective effects 1 , 35 , One study also suggests the possible role of coconut oil, particularly the MCT lauric acid, in reducing secondary diabetic complications Coconut oil is a good source of antioxidants, which provide anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and brain-protective effects.
In recent years, coconut oil has been touted as beneficial for heart health. Further research has determined that it may actually significantly increase LDL bad cholesterol levels — which increases the risk of heart disease 1 , 37 , One possible explanation for the contradictory results could be differing methods between studies. For example, some studies compare the effects of coconut oil with other sources of saturated vegetable fats, while others compare it with saturated animal fats — such as butter 1.
Compared with vegetable fats, coconut oil increases both LDL bad and total cholesterol levels to a greater extent. However, this increase is smaller compared with that of butter 1 , An increase in HDL good cholesterol levels actually reduces the risk of heart disease, so you might think that the increase in HDL from coconut oil could be beneficial.
However, the American Heart Association AHA has determined that increases in HDL caused by diet or drug therapy do not appear to be directly linked to changes in the risk of heart disease So, the increase in LDL bad cholesterol levels outshines the benefits. However, the AHA advises against consuming it to reduce your risk of heart disease. Coconut oil has a number of emerging benefits for your health, both when you add it to your diet or use it for cosmetic purposes.
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