5 Surprising Benefits Of Coconut Oil Including Weight Loss

Coconut oil seems to be  gradually taking over a good number of products and has softly created a space in our hearts for itself.

It’s no news that not only is coconut oil edible, it smells great, making it a good hand wash, moisturizer and an essential active ingredient in a good number of scented skin care products.

Apart from the popular weight loss benefit of coconut oil as a result of the short and medium-chain fatty acids which help in taking off excessive weight and increasing metabolism, it has a number of health benefits when consumed directly and when applied on the skin.

Here are 5 amazing health benefits of coconut oil

1. Weight loss

If you’re looking to lose weight and excess fat, coconut oil might just be an answered prayer as scientists have discovered coconut’s ability to help blast fat.

The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase calories burned over 24 hours by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

According to a study on 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of coconut oil per day led to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks.

It also increases body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby, burning more energy and helping obese and overweight people lose weight.

2. Healthy skin and hair growth

Apart from consuming coconut oil, it can also serve cosmetics purposes for a healthy skin without blemishes and for healthy hair growth and also prevent hair damage.

Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil that acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin with no side effects whatsoever.

It also helps in treating various skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, and other skin infections while preventing wrinkles and sagging skin. Thanks to its antioxidant properties.

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3. Oral health

Coconut oil can serve as a mild form of mouthwash.

Before the invention of toothpaste, the act of swishing oil around the mouth was a method of cleansing the mouth of bacteria. The medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in the oil lifts the bacteria from the surfaces within the mouth, reducing your risk of gum disease.

Calcium is an important component of our teeth and since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth.

4. Curbs overeating

According to a short term study, varying amounts of medium and long-chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men The men eating the most medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average.

Meanwhile, in a second short study of 14 healthy men, it was discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch. These studies over a significant period of time, adding MCT-rich coconut oil to one’s diet could have a very positive effect on weight and body composition.

5. Healthy organs

The medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids in coconut oil help in preventing liver diseases because they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing the workload of the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

Apparently, coconut oil has a whole lot of health benefits than you imagined. So, incorporating it in your everyday use is a good way to enjoy the amazing benefits of this oil.