Specific Coconut Oil Benefits

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Medium-chain fatty acids are powerful germ fighters and are known to kill dozens of disease-causing organisms. Coconut oil also helps protect you from the germs that cause ulcers, influenza and herpes.

Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and amino acids. This helps prevent various stomach- and digestion-related problems, including irritable bowel syndrome.

The saturated fats present in coconut oil have germ-fighting properties that help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Regular use of coconut oil reduces your risk of developing diabetes, and is effective in alleviating symptoms of diabetes.

The idea of using a fat like coconut oil for weight loss seems contradictory to most people — you can actually lose weight by adding fat to your diet? For decades now, we have been told to cut back on fat in our diet if we want to lose weight and prevent heart disease. We've also been told that saturated fat is the most harmful one of all — and coconut oil is 90 percent saturated fat!

In fact, saturated fats are not the villains they've been portrayed as — they actually have more benefits than the polyunsaturated fats that make up so much of the typical American diet today. And coconut oil is the healthiest saturated fat there is! See Coconut Oil for Weight Loss to discover the secret to using dietary fat to help you lose weight.

Coconut oil is one of the most common natural ingredients found in shampoos and hair conditioning products today, for good reason. Coconut oil contains several different nutrients that keep your hair strong, protect it from the effects of aging, and make it healthier and shinier.

Using coconut oil for hair has been a common practice for ages , especially in areas where coconut grows in abundance: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma and the Philippines. See Coconut Oil for Hair for more information.

There's no better oil than coconut oil for the skin. It smoothes and moisturizes, promotes skin elasticity, helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals.

The benefits of coconut oil for the skin are not just temporary; coconut oil will also aid in restoring your skin's youthful appearance. When coconut oil is absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple. See Coconut Oil for the Skin for more information.

How to Use Coconut Oil

There are several ways you can add coconut oil benefits to your everyday life, and it really is easy! Coconut oil is stable even during long periods of storage, and needs no refrigeration. Because its melting point is 76° F, it can be used in both liquid or solid forms. It has a neutral flavor that makes it ideal for use in frying, cooking and baking.

Here are just a few suggestions:

• use it in any recipe that calls for vegetable oil, shortening or butter
• it makes a healthy butter replacement on bread or vegetables; if you add a bit of salt to it, you won't be able to tell the difference
• coconut oil is the best oil for making popcorn; it stands up to high temperatures as well as any other fat
• use it externally as an oil for your skin, hair care and massage

You can even eat coconut oil right out of the jar. It gives you a quick burst of energy without creating a spike in your blood sugar levels.

Coconut Oil and Smoothies Make a Great Combo!

One of the easiest ways to add the benefits of coconut oil to your daily routine is by using it as an ingredient in your smoothies. Coconut oil adds a rich, creamy texture to any smoothie recipe, although it may congeal if you add frozen ingredients.

If you haven't discovered the magic of smoothies yet, you might want to consider them. There's no easier way to increase your daily intake of antioxidants than a well-made smoothie.

You can discover how to make a smoothie the healthy way elsewhere on this website.

There are several excellent organic coconut oils that I can recommend. Click on any of the logos below for more information on any one of them:

If you want to take a look at a wider selection of coconut oil products, check out the Coconut Oil Store at iHerb.com. There's over 30 different name-brand products to choose from — and buying from iHerb means that you also get all of these benefits as well:

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