HEALTH

KNOW MORE ABOUT COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil is one of the most in-demand oils today. You will always see different brands of
it whenever you go to grocery stores or when you browse online.  This sweet-smelling
tropical staple has a major role in our diet today as it is believed to help your heart and
thyroid, protect you against illnesses and even help you lose weight.

These are the reasons why people are using it in everything, from cooking to cosmetics and
dental health. But what are the truths about Coconut oil? Should you shift on using it?

Coconut Oil comes from copra, or the dried kernel of coconuts. It is extracted using expeller pressing,
a natural way of extracting oils, to retain most of its nutrients. About 84% of its calories come from 
saturated fat. This explains why, like butter and lard, coconut oil is solid at room temperature with
a long shelf life and the ability to withstand high cooking temperatures.

Health Benefits:

  • The fatty acids in coconut oil can encourage your body to burn fat, and they provide quick energy
    to your body and brain. They also raise HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, which may help reduce
    heart disease risk.

    • LDL or Bad Cholesterol: forms plaque that blocks your arteries.
    • HDL or Good Cholesterol: helps remove LDL.
  • Most dietary fats are categorized as long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), while coconut oil contains 
    medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are shorter fatty acid chains. Several studies have found MCTs
    to have impressive benefits for brain disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Coconut oil contains Lauric acid which has antiviral properties. Recent studies proposed the
    potential of coconut oil as safe agent against COVID19. Researchers believe the potential mechanism behind
    antiviral activity of lauric acid includes the following:
  1. They cause disintegration of the virus envelope
  2. They can inhibit late maturation stage in the virus replicative cycle.
  3. They can prevent the binding of viral proteins to the host cell membrane.
  • Coconut oil contains Vitamin E, which is known as a natural antioxidant.