Let’s be honest. Sometimes an item comes along that explodes in popularity due to supposed health benefits, or cosmetic benefits. But most of these items turn out to be duds. The benefits are non-existent or so minimal that they don’t help in any meaningful way. So when coconut oil became so popular a few months ago, you could be forgiven for thinking it was just another passing phase. This is not the case. Many cosmetic doctors, dieticians and everyday people consider it to be a miracle product, and I am going to explain why.
It will help you burn fat
I’ll say it again to let it sink in. Coconut oil will help you burn fat. I understand if you laughed when you read that, because generally oil in food will work in a negative way for your health, actually making you gain weight in the end. However, coconut oil contains something called Medium-chain Triglycerides (MCTs) which work to increase the amount of energy being expended by up to 5% every single day! This is incredible, and long term would no doubt lead to a significant loss in weight.
Saturated fat is bad, right?
For years and years saturated fats were considered a demon ingredient. And coconut oil was demonized because it was full of them. Well, fear not, because new studies have found saturated fats to be harmless. The widely held belief that they clog arteries now turns out to be a complete myth. Great news for fans of this delicious oil!
The hunger games
No, not the movie. Hunger is, of course, the main reason why people become overweight and eventually obese. In 2014, 39% of adults aged 18 and over were overweight, and 13% were obese. These worldwide statistics are horrifying, and we need to find food that can help to reverse these figures. Coconut oil is one such food item. The way that the fatty acids in it are metabolized actually work to reduce your appetite. Recent studies have shown healthy men who ate more MCTs than healthy men not eating them consumed 256 fewer calories over the course of a day.
Protect the skin!
Who would have thought that it can have health benefits to your body that have absolutely nothing to do with eating it? Well that’s right. Eating it is only half of the story with this miracle item. There’s a whole group of cosmeticians using coconut oil in their daily skincare and haircare routines. Dry skin can be combated effectively with coconut oil, as well as damaged hair. But more amazingly, a new trend has started up called “oil pulling”, in which coconut oil is used as a mouthwash to improve dental health and significantly reduce bad breath!
As you can see, the science behind the oil is rock solid, and the benefits eating it (or using it cosmetically) can bring are huge. Coconut oil is here to stay, and I’m on board!