Real quick before we get into this post, let me introduce myself to those who are new here!
I’m Marissa Schillinger, a Holistic Nutrition Coach specializing in acne and autoimmune diseases. I’m a cat mom from Washington State and I’m obsessed with dark chocolate and thai curries!
Now let’s get into this post!
It’s a common misconception that coconut oil is bad for you. People all over the world are experiencing the amazing benefits of using coconut oil. It’s actually one of the healthiest oils you can consume.
Here are the top five reasons why you could benefit from using coconut oil as an alternative to most other common cooking oils.
Coconut oil is low in omega 6 fatty acids.
Many cooking oils contain high amounts of omega 6 fatty acids, something we get way too much of in the United States. Our omega 6 to omega 3 ratio should be 1:1 to 1:4, but it is more like 15:1. We need to drastically cut back our omega 6 oils and consume a lot more omega 3 oils to improve our health.
Coconut oil gives you energy.
Because of the healthy fats and the fact that it increases the metabolism, most people that switch to coconut oil feel a burst of added energy in their daily life.
This is because coconut oil is nature’s richest source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT’s), which increase metabolic rates and can lead to weight loss. MCT’s promote thermogenesis, which increases the body’s metabolism, producing energy. Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have found that adding coconut and coconut oil to their diet was helpful to them.
One of the best things you can use on your skin and hair is coconut oil.
Coconut oil is one of the best things you can apply directly on your skin and hair. It gives temporary relief to skin problems like rashes. It aids in healing and restoring skin to a younger appearance. It has also been known to help with people who suffer from yeast infections in the skin, as well as many other skin problems. (Using fractionated coconut oil is best for face, chest, back, and shoulders if you are acne prone because regular coconut oil is moderately comedogenic.)
Not only does it soften and smooth your skin, coconut oil has antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage. It makes excellent massage oil, too.
Coconut oil has healthy benefits that a lot of other oils do not.
There’s mounds of evidence suggesting that coconut oil has anti-fungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial effects when both consumed and used topically on the skin.
Also, most oils oxidize and turn rancid very quickly causing free radical damage in our bodies. Coconut oil on the other hand is not easily oxidized and does not cause harmful free radical damage. Free radical damage is thought to be responsible for many ailments in our body including increased susceptibility to cancers.
Coconut oil also helps our bodies absorb other nutrients more effectively, such as Vitamin E and Vitamin A.
Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use for cooking & baking.
It has a higher smoke point than olive oil, for example, which means it can take higher temperatures better. There are several healthy oils we can choose to consume, such as hemp and olive oil, but they don’t do well under the heat we use for cooking. Coconut oil can be used in higher cooking temperatures.
It is harder for coconut oil to go rancid, unlike other cooking oils, which are usually rancid long before you even bring them home. Rancid oils cause free radical damage in the body, which is a leading contributor to cancer. Coconut oil is stable for over a year at room temperature.
Because of the misinformation we have been given for years, we have lost out on the healthy benefits that coconut oil has given the people of the tropics for centuries. But now this new information is becoming more well-known!
One important thing to keep in mind, though, is to be sure to choose organic, extra virgin coconut oil instead of refined versions as often as possible for consumption.
