Health benefits of coconut oil have been a very popular subject recently, but there is still a lot of misconception. For decades we’ve been told that saturated fat is bad for us and that eating high complex carbohydrates, low fat diet is the way to health and weight management. Even though a lot of people still believe that, there is mounting evidence that this is simply not true. Following high sugar and grains, low fat diet, has led to major obesity problems in this country. There are many health benefits to consuming coconut oil, but it can also be used as part of natural skin care.
I would recommend using only extra virgin coconut oil for both cooking and for skin care. It is a great moisturizer and can be used for any skin type. It even helps treat conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Read on to learn more about the health benefits of coconut oil.
Let’s look at the health benefits of coconut oil. Extra virgin coconut oil is a healthy oil that is used in cooking in most tropical countries. We have been conditioned to stay away from coconut oil because of saturated fat, but the saturated fat in this healthy oil isn’t the enemy you think it is.
Saturated Fat and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
I was looking at Yahoo Answers the other day and someone had asked a question about the best place to buy coconut oil. Everyone who answered the question said that coconut oil was high in saturated fat and that they shouldn’t use it. There is a lot of misinformation out there about coconut oil and many people still think it’s bad for them.
Coconut oil does contain saturated fat, but did you know that there are different types of saturated fats? That’s right. There are short(SCT), medium(MCT), and long chain triglycerides(LCT). Most of the fats we eat are LCT. LCT have a larger molecule structure that makes them harder for the body to process. Coconut oil contains mostly MCT. MCT are made from smaller molecules that are easily broken down by the body and processed. As a result the nutrients contained in coconut oil are quickly absorbed by the liver to produce fuel for the body.
Because it is make up of about three fourths MCTs, coconut oil does not raise your bad cholesterol.
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Coconut oil is often used in all raw natural desserts. That’s a great and tasty way to include this healthy essential fatty acid in your diet. Also here is a natural skin care tip for chapped lips: mix 1 tbsp of honey with 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Store in the refrigerator and use as needed especially in winter time. It will heal your chapped lips in no time.
Image from www.istockphoto.com
