7 Borderline Miraculous Health Benefits of Coconut Oil (2)
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2. Sharpen Mental Clarity
You probably know that caffeine acts to boost mental clarity, but you may not know that one of coconut oil’s benefits is improving mental alertness—quickly, naturally, and for longer durations than caffeine. When you consider that 60 percent of your brain is fat, it seems logical that feeding it a healthy fat—coconut oil—would make your gray matter function better. And, indeed, it does.
Whether you’re feeling sluggish in the morning, out of energy in the afternoon, or simply find yourself slipping into a “brain fog” at any time of the day, coconut oil use can help. By adding 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil to your daily diet, you can dramatically improve your mental alertness and maintain a higher level of cognitive functioning throughout the day. You can also add a dollop of coconut oil to your tea for a quick “pick me up.”
With medium-chain fatty acids that are quickly and easily digested, coconut oil has special stimulating effects on brain functioning that no saturated fat provides. Ingesting coconut oil benefits your brain by providing immediate and long-lasting energy. This sudden stimulation “wakes up” your brain and improves your mental awareness and cognitive functioning.
Studies have also shown that ingesting coconut oil significantly increases the production (and resulting number) of ketone bodies in the blood. Your brain requires “food” for energy and utilizes ketones for optimum nourishment. A 2013 study published in Biomedical Journal found the medium-chain triglycerides in a ketone-boosting diet to be “one of the most effective therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy.” Coconut oil use may even reduce the incidence of serious degenerative mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
3. Fight Fungal Infections
For fighting fungal infections, the benefits of coconut oil’s natural healing capabilities exceed those of products provided at your local drugstore—in fact, a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in June 2007 advised that “Coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections.” When the body succumbs to a fungal infection, a number of possible afflictions may arise, ranging from mild discomfort and fever to severe bouts of infection that spread to other parts of the body (even the brain, lungs, and internal organs), requiring hospitalization—some of these afflictions may even result in death. According to a 2013 article in Science Daily, fungal infections cause more than 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. You can greatly reduce your chances of having a bout of life-altering or life-threatening illness related to a fungal infection, however, and coconut oil can play a role.
To help prevent against fungal infections, use:
– 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
– Consume each day (neat or added to food).
To topically aid fungal infections, use:
– 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
– With a cotton ball, apply coconut oil to the affected area of the skin as often as 5 to 10 times per day.
More than half the composition of coconut oil is a saturated fat that belongs to the classification of medium-chain fatty acids. This part of the coconut oil is processed by the liver and broken down to create lauric acid, which in turn becomes an antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal combatant against infection. These powerful properties of coconut oil can effectively relieve fungal infections.
4. Soothe Dry Skin
So many conditions can contribute to dry skin that it’s difficult to find someone who doesn’t suffer from this condition. Do you wash your hands repeatedly throughout the day to prevent potential infection? Are you exposed to extremely cool or dry conditions because of your climate? Do you suffer from a skin condition that is exacerbated by lifestyle or environmental factors? Do hormonal issues upset your skin’s pH balance? Thankfully, there are many uses of coconut oil for skin can help relieve dry skin and repair the effects of dryness while also delivering the germ-fighting properties of lauric acid and capric acid that safeguard your skin’s health.
Uncomfortable dry skin can affect any part of your body. Not only do you want to get rid of dry patches on your skin, you want a dry-skin soother that also provides protection from infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and microbes that can attack the vulnerable areas of the skin that have become cracked and irritated by dryness. Using coconut oil for your skin delivers intensive moisturizing benefits, while simultaneously providing antibacterial, antiviral support for damaged skin.
1. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil to dry patches of skin.
2. Allow the oil to be absorbed into the skin for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Reapply the oil as often as needed.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and you can give it support by consuming just 1 to 3 daily tablespoons of coconut oil. This benefits your body by helping it better absorb and deliver essential nutrients needed for optimal skin health. By maintaining a daily dietary regimen that includes the consumption of coconut oil for skin health, you can quickly, easily, and safely improve internal conditions that prevent dry skin and keep your skin moisturized regardless of the external conditions it has to endure.
5. Nix Acne
Acne is a reaction to bacteria that has been absorbed into the skin’s cells or that is causing an encapsulated blockage of one of the skin’s sebaceous glands or pores. The clogging of the pores, which are responsible for purging bacteria, dirt, grime, and germs that cause irritation, can lead to redness, irritation, blackheads, whiteheads, or acne. Products that contain salicylic acid, a powerful synthetic acid intended to kill bacteria that cause acne, can actually cause more irritation and can lead to other conditions including dryness, overproduction of oils (in response to the dryness), inflammation, and possibly contribute to wrinkles. By opting for a more natural treatment method—coconut oil—for your skin, you can achieve results that will leave your face acne-free and moisturized, without unpleasant side effects.
With antibacterial properties from lauric acid, coconut oil can be applied directly to the skin of the face and/or body—wherever acne is prevalent. Soak a cotton ball in liquefied coconut oil and apply a light coating of oil to your skin as often as desired. Coconut oil can also assist in maintaining a healthy balance of oils on the skin and keep your skin free of acne-causing bacteria to further minimize the development of acne. An acne study published in the Journal of Dermatological Science in 2013 found that lauric acid inhibited bacterial growth and reduced inflammation. This anti-inflammatory property can reduce redness and irritation on the skin where blotches and discoloration occur. Try blending in tea tree, oregano, or rosemary essential oils for added benefits. In just a matter of days you’ll start developing evenly toned, radiant, acne-free skin.
6. Stimulate Hair Growth
Whether you’re trying to grow your hair longer or stimulate growth in areas of thinning hair, commercial products often fail to deliver the promised results. Additionally, these potions and lotions may be packed with harsh chemicals that can damage your hair or seep through your scalp and infiltrate your blood stream through the numerous veins that lie just below the skin of your scalp.
If you’re seeking a safe, natural way to stimulate hair growth, look no further than coconut oil for hair health. Its moisturizing properties help to maximum moisture retention at the base of the hair shaft. Coconut oil also benefits and stimulates collagen production, due to its lauric acid and capric acid that combine to promote the regeneration of skin cells and hair follicle production, which can help improve hair quality and encourage new hair growth.
Use this simple procedure to optimize hair growth by protecting the new hair’s structure and delivering powerful phytochemicals and vitamin E to the scalp:
– ½ cup of coconut oil
– Massage oil into your scalp and hair. Allow the oil to be absorbed for 1 to 3 hours, or up to a day if you have the time. Rinse, then shampoo and condition as usual. Repeat the process every 1 to 3 days to maximize results.
– To support this topical application, consume 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil per day for hair that looks extra smooth and healthy. This enhances hair growth by enabling your body to better absorb the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain hair health.
Can Your Ponytail Damage Your Hair?
Yes! Surprisingly enough, studies have shown that when the hair is repeatedly pulled into a ponytail, the strands of the hair are exposed to more stretching and breaking. Wet hair, which is weaker than dry, is more prone to damage. One benefit of using coconut oil for your hair is that you’ll strengthen your locks to prevent breakage.
7. Whiten Teeth
In addition to using coconut oil for your hair and skin, did you know that most of the stains and discoloration that occur on teeth can be easily removed and prevented with simple, inexpensive at-home treatments? One of the little-known benefits of coconut oil’s uses is that it can help naturally whiten your teeth. You can enjoy all food that you like without developing the yellowish or grayish discoloration that often results—and without the chemicals contained in popular, commercial teeth-whitening products.
Combine three simple ingredients to brush away stains, whiten teeth, and prevent future stains. It works quickly—and you don’t have to refrain from eating and drinking for hours before and after the procedure.
– 1 teaspoon coconut oil
– 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (the unfiltered, unpasteurized, organic version)
– 1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
– 1 tablespoon water
Combine all the ingredients. Sip the concoction; swish throughout your mouth and over your teeth for a minimum of 1 minute and up to 5 minutes. Spit out the mixture and brush teeth as usual. You can repeat the process as often as necessary throughout the day to brighten your teeth and safeguard your pearly whites.
yogaesoteric
July 17, 2019