Reasons You Need More Coconut Oil In Your Diet

Coconut oil is an incredible natural oil to be keeping in your kitchen. While it’s an amazing ingredient in baking and a fantastic oil for cooking, coconut oil also has an incredible number of benefits that will help you achieve overall health. From ingesting this natural product to topical use for the skin, if you were to be stranded on a desert island, coconut oil is one of those products you will want to have with you. Time to break coconut oil out of just the kitchen cabinets, placing it everywhere from your bathroom to your desk at work, into your travel bags and with you everywhere on-the-go because you’re about to discover just how valuable this natural oil is with these amazing benefits.

1. Calorie Burning Abilities

Have you ever tried doing everything in your power to get in shape but your body just won’t cooperate? Losing weight can be a massive challenge, and coconut oil is a product that is on your side; proving that not all oils are bad for you!

Coconut oil actually helps your due to the medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) that are present in the oil. They work to help your body burn more calories than you would have before consuming coconut oil. Woman’s Day says that your body’s metabolism is boosted for up to 24 hours and may help reduce fat even in the most stubborn areas such as the belly.

2

2. Dental Health

Are you avoiding the dentist? Maybe it’s because you don’t have health coverage or because your worst nightmares consist of doctors using electrical tools in your mouth. Either way, avoidance is never the answer! A huge amount of illnesses and diseases can begin with your teeth, so in the meantime, eat some coconut oil to tide you over until your next dentist appointment.

Coconut oil may help improve your dental health because it actually helps the absorption of calcium in your body. It also can help prevent tooth decay. Coconut oil in dental care became popular in recent years when “oil pulling” became a hot topic on social media. Simply swishing coconut oil between your teeth for several minutes has many claiming it helps with removing plaque or even helping your sinuses!

3

3. Diabetes

Diabetes can sometimes feel like a hopeless cause when you are having to constantly check your blood sugar levels and make sure that the food you eat affects your body positivity. While more research still needs to be done, animal studies have shown there are some benefits.

Healthline says that coconut oil can help with diabetes by controlling your body’s blood sugar, as well as enhancing insulin sensitivity. increasing the amount of insulin that is secreted. It’s important to note that having too much coconut oil can have negative impacts in diabetics, so make sure to talk with your doctor to consume an appropriate amount.

4

4. Sun Protection

Sunscreens are filled with a lot of additives that aren’t always as beneficial as those sun ray guarding properties. When you’re looking for a sunscreen in the store and see that some of them include coconut oil, that’s a really good thing! It’s not just added for a great smell, but also for health reasons.

Mayo Clinic says that coconut oil is known to have the ability to protect your skin from about 20% of the sun’s rays. That being said, don’t just rely on coconut oil to protect your skin. You should definitely use it in addition to sunscreen for added protection.

5

5. Skin Care

Chapped dry skin is an epidemic in cold regions of the world with harsh winters! Sometimes that Neutrogena skin moisturizer just isn’t doing the trick. Instead, try using coconut oil in the place of moisturizer. Not only is it very effective, but you don’t need much to cover a dry area of your body.

Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a wonderful moisturizer but also as a preventative treatment for acne. While the logical thought process of applying oil to the face is that it will clog pores, this is simply not the case. Coconut oil actually sinks into the cells and cleanses the skin of dirt and toxins while allowing the skin to breathe.

6

6.  Immunity

When cold season hits, we are looking for just about any way to prevent our bodies from getting the bug. From upping your intake of Vitamin C to drinking piles of water, we have tried it all. Thankfully, coconut oil has some fantastic benefits that will help our body continue to stay strong through those tough months when we are surrounded by coughing and sneezing.

Coconut oil has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. This means that it will help your body build up an immune system that is ready to fight not only the common cold but a variety of illnesses that will land you in bed sick.

7

7. Muscle Building

Looking to get into seriously good shape? How about building up all that muscle that you have the potential to build? Weightlifting and bodybuilding have become popular ways to get in shape, but having the right diet is the first place you need to start.

Coconut oil increases the secretion of insulin into your body and one of the properties of insulin is to get nutrients to your muscles. It also increases production of testosterone, which helps to build muscle mass. Including coconut oil in your protein shake after a workout is a great way to add this to your diet.

8

8. Hair

Adding sprays and creams to your hair can be beneficial, but when there are additives such as parabens that damage your hair and health, they do more damage than healing. That’s why opting for organic products can do wonders for your hair health.

Coconut oil is basically a hair product, made by nature. Not only does it protect your hair, but it also adds protein to your luscious locks to add nutrients so your hair can shine! Last but certainly not least, coconut oil can actually help kill lice, so go ahead and use it on your kid’s hair too!

9

9. Energy

When the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it can be hard to get enough energy together to workout, make supper, go to work and everything in between. WebMD says the lauric acid in coconut oil travels to the liver and converts it into energy. While more research needs to be done, it could be a healthier thing to try instead of an energy drink.

Coconut oil is known for giving athletes and bodybuilders that extra kick of energy they need to get through their intense days of training. Just because you may not be an athlete or a bodybuilder, doesn’t mean you can’t reap the benefits of the energy coconut oil provides!

10

10. Belly Fat

Coconut oil comes up multiple times whenever weight loss is being discussed. That’s because, as you’re seeing here, there are so many incredible benefits that contribute to overall health. A specific place coconut oil is very helpful it is with belly fat. This part of the body can be difficult spot to lose weight, even if you’re doing all the right things.

It may sound counter-intuitive to rely on oil to reduce belly fat, but that’s exactly what it does. Use coconut oil in your diet if you’re trying to lose that last little bit of baby belly or those last few pounds you ate on your cruise a few months back.

11

11. Healing

I constantly get cuts and bruises from running into the corner of my dresser, the coffee table, or slamming a drawer on my fingers. I just happen to be that kind of clumsy lady! As a result, I am always looking for ways to heal up my minor injuries and coconut oil, I’ve discovered, could be exactly what I need.

This may actually blow your mind, but coconut oil heals your skin by forming a (natural) chemical layer that protects your bruises and cuts from any external threats of infection including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Time to add coconut oil to your first-aid kit!

12

12. Hormones

It has been shown time and time again that making sure your hormone balance is in check is crucial to achieving optimal health. Hormones control everything from metabolism to reproduction to mood and lots more. Thankfully, coconut oil can help you in your endeavor to do just that.

Coconut oil may actually be able to improve your estrogen levels if you are lacking in that area, and is also important to consume while going through menopause. If you aren’t at that stage yet, there’s no reason why you can’t start early and get your body prepped for what’s to come.

13

13. Anti-Aging

While aging is completely natural and inevitable, there is nothing wrong with wanting to slow down our aging process in one way or another. An easy way to start is to consume foods and use skin products that will keep our skin looking vibrant and clear as long as possible.

Take a spoonful of coconut oil with some dark berries such as blueberries or blackberries to help your skin from aging too quickly. Healthline says you can use it as a serum on your face up to two times per day. It can also help keep your liver intact after those university or college years by detoxing your liver.

14

14. Stress

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and stress every once in a while. Whenever I am stressed, I always am often found using essential oils to calm myself down. Simply rubbed onto my temple, at the base of my head, my neck, and my chest. Coconut oil offers very similar benefits for stress as well.

Coconut oil is moisturizing and soothing which makes it ideal for a face or body massage. Apply it to your face in circular motions, and don’t be afraid to add a little essential oil to it as well for added relaxation. Make this part of your regular routine to help manage stress.

15

15. Thyroid

What is your thyroid? We hear about it all the time and the importance of keeping it intact but what does that actually entail? Your thyroid is a gland in your neck that secretes hormones for growth and development through the rate of metabolism. When it’s working properly, it keeps your body weight consistent and your resting heart rate low.

Coconut oil can boost the function of the thyroid which is extremely helpful to those who struggle with achieving a healthy thyroid. Health.com explains how Mediterranean diets are helpful in keeping inflammation in check. For this type of diet, coconut oil is one of the recommendations to try out.

16

16. Lips

Many suffer from chapped lips not only in the dead of winter, but all year round. Often times normal chapstick and lip balms don’t seem to keep them hydrated enough to not be chapped. The best thing you can do is look for a natural, moisturizing substance that will solve your lip problems.

This is where coconut oil comes in. It’s absorbent and locks in all its moisturizing elements with its protective consistency. Try packing a small amount of it in a tiny airtight container to carry around with you and reapply when needed. No need to worry about chapped lips now!

17

17. Under Eye Bags

Swollen under eye bags is a common insecurity people have. Dermatologists always discourage patients from using the same lotion they use on their face on their under eye skin because it is so thin and sensitive. So what do you put under your eyes to help prevent those dreaded bags?

Coconut oil is actually gentle enough to be placed on this area of the face for reducing bags and increasing moisture. Healthline says it can help with inflammation and treat the puffiness that comes with under eye bags. Gently massage the coconut oil under your eyes and allow your skin to soak up all the benefits!

18

18. Exfoliating

While it’s obvious that you should use soap in the shower (please tell me this isn’t news to you), it’s also very important to exfoliate your skin. It removes all those dead skin cells from your skin and any dirt and sweat that the soap just couldn’t clean.

Coconut oil is perfect for exfoliating because it is not too harsh on your skin, and because of it’s moisturizing benefits, it will leave your skin smooth and quenched by the end of your bath or shower. Plus, it’s gentle enough to use on a daily basis and will leave you feeling smoother than ever.