10 Benefits of Coconut Oil

By tallene

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Coconut oil is nothing new. Its benefits and popularity have become so mainstream that it seems to be everywhere, and for good reason. Coconut oil is jam-packed with antioxidants, moisturizing fatty acids, and antibacterial antifungal properties. Coconut oil should become a staple in your natural beauty regimen and healthy balanced diet. But before getting into the benefits, let’s discuss what coconut oil is.

It is a mono-unsaturated oil extracted from the white flesh of the coconut. Unlike olive oil, coconut oil has only two types: virgin and refined. Virgin coconut oil is a cold-pressed natural oil whereas refined versions go through chemical processing. There is actually no difference between extra virgin coconut oil and virgin coconut oil. The medium chain triglyceride (MCT), meaning it is made up of three medium-chain fatty acids bonded together, composition of coconut oil responsible for its many characteristics.

Coconut Oil Benefit #1: Supports Immune System

One of the best components of coconut oil is lauric acid, a medium-length long-chain fatty acid. Approximately half of the fatty acids in coconut oil are lauric acid. Lauric acid is especially beneficial for killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Since many diseases today are caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites in the body, the lauric acid in coconut oil strengthens the immune system against these conditions. When you consume coconut oil, lauric acid reacts with your enzymes to form a monoglyceride called monolaurin. Similar to lauric acid, monolaurin is antibacterial and antifungal.