What Is Coconut Oil?
Once thought to be extremely unhealthy, coconut oil is proving itself as not only being the healthiest of all the cooking oils, but also an all around excellent health benefit for both the inside and the outside of the body. Coconut oil is jammed packed with healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and acids, and helps to promote good health. Coconut oil is incredibly versatile, a superb cooking oil, delicious in baking and cooking, an amazing skin care product and hair conditioner, and a fantastic daily health supplement.
Coconut oil is made from the meat of mature coconuts. It is completely edible and has been a common staple for hundreds of years in areas south of the equator where coconut palms commonly grow. Coconut oil is packed full of healthy nutrients and has not only been used in cooking, but also in medicine and beauty products. Coconut oil is one of the best oils to use in cooking, as it is very heat stable and is one of the healthiest cooking oils available. Coconut oil also has a longer shelf life than many of the other types of cooking oils, easily lasting two or more years.
Is Coconut Oil Good For You?
Is coconut oil healthy? It definitely is! At one time, coconut oil was thought to be unhealthy, but science has proven that it is not just healthy, it is far healthier than the commonly used cooking oils like olive oil, peanut oil or vegetable oil. Coconut oil is packed full of health benefits and is by far the healthiest choice of all the cooking oils. It helps to promote a healthy heart and cholesterol levels, helps to increase metabolism promoting weight loss, and helps to boost immunity levels. Coconut oil also helps to fight HIV, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure, and it helps to increase bone strength as well. It helps to soothe dry or irritated skin, fight acne and other skin conditions, and helps skin stay younger and healthier looking. In addition, it can be used on hair as a deep conditioner to help heal dry broken ends and overworked hair. Keep in mind that the health benefits of coconut oil are far higher in virgin non-hydrogenated coconut oil than in hydrogenated coconut oil, as hydrogenated coconut oil has had a large amount of its healthy properties processed out.
Why Is Coconut Oil Good For You?
Coconut oil is good for you due to its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil has all these great properties due to the lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid it contains. It also contains healthy medium chain fatty acids, iron, vitamin K, vitamin E and other important vitamins and minerals. The biggest reason coconut oil is good for you, is the lauric acid it contains. Coconut oil has the highest amount of lauric acid next to mother’s milk. Lauric acid is an amazing immunity booster, and disease and infection fighter.
What Can Coconut Oil Be Used For?
Coconut oil can be used for a variety of purposes. It makes excellent cooking oil, and is the only cooking oil that is healthy to use at high temperatures. It is a superb substitute for butter, margarine and shortening in baking and cooking. It also makes a great make up remover, shaving lotion, skin moisturizer and hair conditioner. In addition, coconut oil makes an excellent health supplement that can be taken daily to boost immunity, combat disease and assist in weight loss.
How Much Coconut Oil Should I Take?
You might be asking, how much coconut oil should I take daily? Coconut oil can be taken daily. Most physicians recommend taking 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil daily to benefit from its nutrients and health benefits.