	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Health & Fitness Articles

The Benefits of Coconut Oil

By Ben Mester

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 06Nov2010
Word count: 738
Viewed: 184 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

Because of the many benefits of coconut oil being uncovered by modern research, coconut products are starting to appear almost everywhere. From coconut skin oil, to coconut cooking oil, to coconut butter, to fermented coconut milk, coconut oil is being widely added to the diets and habits of many diets and natural health products. Oils in general are a hot topic, from things to pomegranate seed oil, to cod liver oil, to little known oils like starflower oil.

Current research is beginning to show some very excellent benefits of coconut oil. In fact, some research is calling it a sort of wonder-food. Nearly every day it seems, research is yielding new benefits. Below are listed some of the different types of coconut oils and their benefits.

1. Coconut Cooking Oil. According to many sources, pure virgin coconut oil is the best, healthiest cooking oil on the market. Even though coconut oil is high in fat, the fat it contains is healthy and vital to normal bodily function. Many experts agree that one of the main reasons for the current levels of obesity in America is due to such a large intake of unhealthy fats, and not enough intake of healthy fats. Healthy fats are able to be processed and used by the body for energy. Unhealthy fats are difficult to process and are generally stored in fat cells. Even though coconut oil is high in fat, 3 of its main benefits are:

Weight Loss
Heart Health
Metabolism Health

Our bodies require healthy fats in order to function properly. Starving the body of fat is not the most effective way towards weight loss and health. Supporting the metabolism and giving the body what it needs instead of what it wants is better. Here are some other benefits of using pure coconut cooking oil:

Immune System Booster
Quality Energy Source
Thyroid Gland Supporter

2. Topical Coconut Oil for Skin and Hair. This can be applied directly to the skin and hair, and many products are sold for that specific purpose. On the skin, coconut oil has some very good health benefits. Acting as a massage oil, it moisturizes dry and damaged skin, and can also slow down the process of skin aging and sagging. When applied to the hair, coconut oil helps restore the healthy function of hair by giving it back its natural shine and moisturizing the scalp. Many conditioners now contain coconut oil.

3. Healing Ointment. Coconut oil has been used as a topical ointment for many years. When applied externally to wounds, bruises, and infections, the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties help keep the wounds safe from further harm. And since coconut oil is such a nutritious oil that's able to be readily absorbed by the body, it helps speed up recovery time.

4. Organ Function. Coconut oil helps support organs such as the liver and kidneys, battling the onset of various diseases and conditions that can set in. Coconut oil also supports the digestive system by enhancing the body's ability to absorb nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This helps ensure that they body's systems, like skeletal and muscular, have the vitamins and minerals they need to stay strong.

5. Coconut Butter. Coconut butter is nice because it can be used in ways that coconut cooking oil can't be. Coconut butter is just like it sounds and has a consistency similar to peanut butter or almond butter. It's nice because it can be used in spreads or eaten plain. And being that coconut butter contains more than just the oil in the coconut, you get the benefit of the rest of the fruit.

For many years, large corporate producers of vegetable oil have had a campaign against coconut oil, claiming that its high fat content makes it unhealthy, especially for the heart. But the proof is in the pudding as they say. Those cultures which use coconut oil most heavily have shown to be much healthier than our own culture which relies so heavily on vegetable oils. Coconut oil is rich in fat, that's true. But everything in coconut oil is readily utilized by the body to support its different functions. Having an efficient body is much more important than feeding your body less fat. Coconut oil supports things like your metabolism and your digestive system, making your body more efficient and able to deal with the calories and fats that come its way. That, to me, is the best benefit of coconut oil.

For more about different kinds of oils and their health benefits, check out my other articles on pomegranate seed oil, and emulsified cod liver oil.

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here