The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, weight loss, boosted immunity, proper digestion, and regulation of metabolism. It also helps with kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer, while supporting bone health and strength. These benefits are primarily due to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid, along with their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and soothing properties.
Coconut oil is widely used in tropical countries, especially India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines, and others where coconut oil production is abundant. The oil used to be popular in Western countries like the U.S. and Canada, but a major propaganda campaign in the 1970s labeled it as harmful due to its high saturated fat content. Over the past decade, however, people began to question these claims, and coconut oil has made a huge comeback worldwide.
To learn more about superfoods and how nutrition supports your health, join the free seminar by The Art of Living Foundation: Ayurveda – The Path to Health and Balance.
How Does the Body Use Lauric Acid?
The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which helps fight viruses and bacteria that cause diseases like herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It also combats harmful bacteria and protozoa.
As a result of these numerous health benefits, even though its exact mechanism of action remains partially unknown, coconut oil is widely used in Ayurveda – the traditional Indian system of medicine.
Composition of Coconut Oil
More than 20% of coconut oil consists of saturated fats (don’t panic – it’s not as bad as it sounds, quite the opposite!) and a few unsaturated fatty acids, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Most saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain triglycerides, which are readily metabolized by the body.
Polyphenols: Coconut oil contains phenolic acids. These polyphenols are responsible for the flavor and aroma of coconut oil.
Coconut oil also contains various derivatives of fatty acids, including betaines, ethanolamides, ethoxylates, fatty acid esters, polysorbates, monoglycerides, and polyol esters. It also includes fatty chlorides, derivatives of fatty alcohols, vitamin E, vitamin K, and minerals like iron.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Hair Care
Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrients for our hair. It promotes healthy hair growth and adds shine. It is highly effective in reducing protein loss, which can cause hair to appear unhealthy or damaged.
In the Indian subcontinent, coconut oil is widely used for hair care. Many people apply it daily after bathing. It’s an excellent conditioner and supports the regrowth of damaged hair, providing essential proteins for hair nourishment. Regular scalp massage with coconut oil can also eliminate dandruff, even chronic dryness. Coconut oil is used in a variety of hair care products, including conditioners and anti-dandruff creams.
Heart Health
There is a widespread misconception that coconut oil is harmful to heart health due to its high saturated fat content. In reality, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains around 50% lauric acid, which helps prevent heart conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The saturated fats in coconut oil are not the same as those in vegetable oils – they don’t raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and instead help reduce arterial damage and prevent atherosclerosis.
To further support your health, explore The Happiness Program offered by The Art of Living Foundation, focusing on breathwork and physical practices.
Skin Care
Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil and effective moisturizer for all skin types, including dry skin. Its benefits are comparable to mineral oil, but unlike mineral oil, it has no adverse side effects. It prevents dryness and flaking, delays wrinkles and skin sagging, and helps with conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin infections. This is why coconut oil is a base ingredient in many body care products such as soaps, lotions, and creams. Its antioxidant properties also help prevent premature aging and degenerative diseases.
Weight Loss
Coconut oil is highly effective in weight management. It contains medium-chain fatty acids that help reduce excess body fat. It is easily digested and supports healthy thyroid and endocrine function. Additionally, it boosts metabolism by supporting the pancreas, increasing energy burn, and helping those with obesity or excess weight to shed pounds.
Immunity
Coconut oil strengthens the immune system due to its antimicrobial lipids, lauric, capric, and caprylic acids, which possess antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. The body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which fights harmful pathogens, including viruses like herpes and cytomegalovirus, and even HIV.
Digestive Health
Coconut oil improves digestion and protects against stomach and digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Its saturated fats have antimicrobial properties that combat bacteria, fungi, and parasites causing digestive disorders. It also enhances nutrient absorption, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
To discover which foods support your body best, schedule a pulse diagnosis consultation with Dr. Avishek Mishra from India.
Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Truffles
For a smooth texture, a high-speed blender is best. A standard blender may not fully purée the shredded coconut, resulting in a slightly grainy (but still tasty) texture.
Makes ~40 truffles
Equipment: High-speed blender
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil (softened)
3/4 cup agave nectar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup shredded dried coconut
2 1/4 cups raw, sifted cocoa powder
Preparation:
Blend the softened coconut oil, agave nectar, vanilla, and salt in a high-speed blender.
Add the shredded coconut in batches, blending until smooth.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in 2 cups of cocoa powder. Chill for 10+ minutes.
Roll into truffles and dust with the remaining 1/4 cup of cocoa powder.
Store in the fridge.
You can find coconut oil at The Art of Living Happiness Centers (bio shops, yoga & wellness courses, Ayurveda):
The Art of Living Happiness Center, Studentski Grad (Sofia)
The Art of Living Happiness Center, Business Park (Sofia)
The Art of Living Happiness Center, NDK (Sofia)
The Art of Living Happiness Center, Blvd. Bulgaria (Sofia)
The Art of Living Happiness Center, Stara Zagora
