Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Q: Is it a good idea to replace vegetable oil with coconut oil?
A. Yes, coconut oil clears blockages in the arteries. Vegetable oil clogs arteries. Coconut Oil helps raise the good cholesterol HDL/high density lipoproteins, which in turn helps lower bad cholesterol LDL/Low density lipoproteins, and promotes heart health.
Q. Ok, but isn’t coconut oil a fat?
Yes, that is correct. The body needs fat to survive and thrive. Coconut oil increases the metabolic rate and helps the body burn more fat and lose weight.
Q. Ok, but why is that?
A. Cooking oils like canola, corn, soy, safflower, and sunflower are loaded with omega – 6 fats, which cause heart disease and do many other bad things to the body. Although Coconut oil is a saturated fat, it has lauric acid, which through your body’s process strengthens your body’s ability to fight bacteria and viruses effectively, while increasing good cholesterol in the body. Pure virgin refined coconut oil is considered by many research scientists, around the world, to be the healthiest oil on the planet.
Q. What if I have diabetes?
A. Virgin coconut oil is effective in treating diabetes and has a definite effect on blood sugar. Consuming virgin refined coconut oil not only stabilizes blood sugar but curbs cravings for junk food and essentially curbs hunger. Coconut oil does not contain glucose.
Q. Is coconut oil good for the skin?
A. Yes. Coconut oil can be put on insect bites, bruises or sun burns to help sooth the irritated skin.
Q. Can coconut oil be used for beautifying the skin?
A. Yes. Pure virgin coconut oil is found to have many dermatological benefits including anti-aging. Coconut oil moisturizes the skin. I personally put it on my face at night to help eliminate wrinkles. I’ve gotten many compliments on my youthful skin since I’ve been doing this.
Q. Interesting Liz! How does this actually help you look younger?
A. Coconut oil promotes the production of collagen. When collagen is produced, it will minimize wrinkles.
Q. How do I apply coconut oil to my face?
A. First cleanse your face to remove any dirt, and toxins on the face. Place the coconut oil into a glass jar. Dip your fingertips into the coconut oil and apply the oil onto the area of your face that have wrinkles. Massage the oil into the skin gently. I like to do this before I go to bed.
Q. Can I also use coconut oil to clean my teeth?
A. Yes, coconut oil is excellent for oral health. You can take coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15 minutes, and then spit it out. This is called oil pulling, which has been around for thousands of years in the Far East. This will reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and eliminate plaque. The way that this works is that the coconut oil actually dissolves the bacteria in the mouth.
Q. What else is coconut oil good for?
A. Let’s just say that populations that consume a lot of coconut oil are among the healthiest people on Earth. The benefits of coconut oil includes increasing metabolism, improving heart health, promotes anti-aging, protects against pathogens including Candida and Staph, improves brain function and helps to calm the spirit!
Q. Thanks Dr. Liz. I’ve heard a lot about coconut oil from different sources, but I had no idea of the total benefits! I know I will start to cook with coconut oil now!
About Dr. Liz Perry
Dr. Liz is a primary care provider with a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Harvard University. For over 22 years, Dr. Liz has worked as an international healthcare consultant, has traveled the world, and has written hundreds of published articles as a health journalist.