Coconut Oil. You’ve probably heard about how it’s supposed to be great for you but no one actually bothers to explain in great detail. Here’s where I come in!
Introduction to Coconut Oil
What is Coconut Oil anyway? Oil extracted from coconuts; no fancy marketing gimmick there. There’s coconut water for your perfect hot weather refreshment, or coconut milk for your favourite nasi lemak or curry chicken recipe but coconut oil is something that has gotten mainstream attention only recently. However, it has a long history of use in many Asian countries such as India for consumption or for skin and haircare. Coconut oil has long been considered unhealthy because of the high saturated fat content which many experts suggest can contribute to high cholesterol levels and increase the chances of suffering from heart disease.
New research though, has shown that consuming coconut oil might actually have the opposite content. This is because it mainly consist of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) which sounds super technical but it’s another way of classifying fat. Unlike Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT) which are found in most other food, MCT are directly metabolised and are not stored as fat in our cells. Keto dieters can jump for joy right now.
So why are there different types like Organic, Cold-Pressed, or Virgin out there in the market? These refer to how the coconuts are processed to get the final product. Organic, as we all know, means that the coconuts were grown without the use of pesticides or harmful chemicals. Cold-pressed describes the extraction process, where minimal heat is used to preserve natural goodness. Virgin oil is subjected to minimal refining for a purer product. There is actually no difference between ‘virgin’ or ‘extra virgin’ for coconut oil.
By the way, coconut oil has a faint coconut-ty taste but it isn’t as strong as coconut milk or coconut water. It is solid at temperatures below 24 degrees Celsius so do take note!
Coconut Oil Benefits
The above image sums up the top benefits of using coconut oil but let me give you a more detailed explanation. Let’s break the benefits down to 2 categories: Health & Aesthetic.
Health
Including coconut oil in your diet can provide quite a few health benefits.
Boost Metabolism and Energy to Support Weight Loss
As mentioned earlier, MCT is metabolised directly after consumption and this means that it can provide a quick dose of energy for your body. This will kickstart your metabolism which is the main reason why many recommend eating 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the morning. As this does not contribute to fat storage in our body, it is one of the healthier sources of fats you can get for your keto diet to lose weight.
Improve Brain Function
Glucose is the main source of fuel used by the brain. MCT can also be used as a secondary energy source for brain function. You might think this doesn’t mean much but older folks with brain degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s are unable to access glucose for their brain. Research has shown that consuming coconut oil has had a positive effect for their condition.
Reduce Bad Cholesterol
Consuming coconut oil helps maintain the balance between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered bad as they build up along the arteries. The saturated fat in coconut oil can help increase the size of the particles which lowers their ability to clog up. A common misconception is that eating saturated fat equates to a higher chance of heart disease. In fact, countries with the highest consumption of coconut oil suffer from lower rates of heart disease compared to the rest of the world.
Aesthetic
Coconut oil is also commonly used to treat or improve external conditions.
Moisturise and Promote Hair Growth
Applying coconut oil directly to our hair and scalp can have a deep moisturising effect. Protein loss is also reduced which can help repair damaged hair. It is also used as a treatment for dandruff.
Hydrate Skin & Face
Similar to using it for haircare, coconut oil has the same hydrating effect for skin. It has also been noted to relieve skin conditions such as eczema, acne, dry skin, and dermatitis due to the high lauric acid content which has an anti-microbial effect.
Usage
For consumption:
- 1-2 tablespoons.
- Add onto salads as a dressing.
- Use as cooking oil.
- Spread on bread.
- Add to peanut or almond butter.
For applying:
- Massage onto hair and scalp and leave on for minimum of 30 minutes up to overnight.
- Use as standard skin moisturiser; use more regularly for skin conditions.
All in all, coconut oil is actually an amazing product which we should try to incorporate into our daily lives in some form. While it may not be a miracle weight loss/health solution or magic lotion, the various benefits of using it can be very helpful. In case you’re looking to get some, check out our Nakula Virgin Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil!