Food Poisoning Relief
We are all constantly trying to find shortcuts to living healthier lifestyles, but what might work for one problem area doesn’t necessarily work for another. So we decided to search for that special thing that could help humans improve their health in a wide variety of ways. After some thorough research, we are incredibly happy to introduce you to coconut oil; to clarify, we are talking about virgin coconut oil – NOT the hydrogenated stuff.
Coconut oil is a magical superfood that can improve the health of each and every one of us. The list of benefits goes on and on, but these are the 35 most significant health benefits that will 100% sell you on coconut oil…it may very well save your life.
We have all heard of it – dreaded food poisoning. Coconut oil can help reduce the severity of food poisoning symptoms when ingesting and kills the bacteria that causes symptoms (Hybrid Rasta Mama). In the process of recovering from food poisoning, the last thing someone really wants to do is put anything into their bodies.
Eases Sore Throats
In order to make consuming coconut oil less daunting, try drinking coconut milk or coconut water. If you’re feeling well enough to eat, then try eating some gelatin with coconut oil whipped cream.
Coconut oil creates a soothing layer over one’s sore or scratchy throat. You can either eat a spoonful of coconut oil or take a spoonful and mix it into hot tea to drink (Sun Warrior).
Helps Cracked Heels
It acts as an anti-inflammatory, which is why it relieves you from the pain and scratchiness. As if that wasn’t enough, coconut oil is also an antimicrobial, which means it will fight whatever bacteria, fungi or virus that might be causing your sore throat in the first place.
Many people struggle with this, but especially you runners and dancers – so pay attention! Coconut oil doesn’t only help with internal struggles, but also issues at the surface level – e.g. cracked heels! Take some of that virgin coconut oil and massage a spoonful of it on the cracks of your heels.
Reduces Appearances of Varicose Veins
For optimum results, do this right before bed time and be sure to put on a pair of socks immediately after! When you wake in the morning, your heels should be much softer and smoother. If you don’t experience immediate results, be sure to do this consistently for the next couple nights until you see the difference! Don’t Mess With Mama.
We are very excited to report that you can save yourself a lot of money and a lot of pain in your efforts to get rid of unwanted varicose veins. Before you ever start dabbling with the idea of getting surgery, try coconut oil. You’re not alone, varicose veins, aka spider veins, are something most people want to get rid of if possible – so that’s why people started looking for all-natural ways to do so.
Acts as Constipation Relief
Massage warm coconut oil on the area where you have varicose veins for five-to-fifteen minutes twice a day (Bustle). This will promote blood flow and get rid of the blood clots that cause the veins.
For a lot of people, eating fiber-rich foods, drinking lots of water and exercising moderately doesn’t necessarily means you’re “regular.” After a few days of zero bowel movements, people start to get a little desperate for relief. What to do, what to do? Ah hah, you guessed it – coconut oil!
Relieves Dry Nostrils
Once upon a time, people thought coconut oil actually caused constipation, but it’s quite the opposite. Eating coconut oil is considered the best natural laxative to helps relieve difficult and infrequent bowel movements (Fussy Body).
If you’re anything like us, you aren’t a huge fan of nasal spray or other nostril-drying solutions. Whether your nose is dry from that god-awful cold or the brisk winds of winter, we have the solution for you. Instead of suffering, go to your local grocery store and buy some affordable virgin coconut oil.
Can Be Used as Diaper Cream
Coconut oil is a wonderful go-to for people who want to relieve their dry nostrils with something natural. It’s effective, simple and smells nice. Simply take some coconut oil on cotton swabs and apply it to the inside of your nose (Everyday Roots).
First-time parent? Worried about putting something prescribed or over-the-counter on your little one? We totally understand. Our style is all-natural too.
Soothes Insect Bites
Which is why we are excited to tell you that you don’t have to take risks when it comes to your child suffering from a diaper rash. For those looking to ease the discomfort of a diaper rash with something safe and natural, coconut oil is highly recommended. It creates a soothing barrier and even prevents diaper rash by keeping your baby’s skin smooth. It contains antimicrobial, anti-viral, ant-bacterial and anti-fungal properties promoting your baby’s healthy skin (Home Remedies for Life).
Nothing can spoil a summer’s day out quite like being eaten alive by blackflies and mosquitoes – buzzzzz kill (get it?) Don’t do that silly thing where you make an “X” on your bite with your finger nail… If you’re bit by those terrible summer black flies don’t panic, just get your butt to the closest grocery store and pick up some coconut oil. Might sound unorthodox, but hear us out.
Helps Prevent Scratch Marks
Coconut oil’s anti-microbial actions kills harmful microbes in the infected area and helps it heal faster without infection. This means less scaring, less itching and fewer sleepless summer nights (Coconut and Health).
Don’t be embarrassed because majority of us have or will experience stretch marks throughout the course of our lives. Whether it’s from aging, weight gain or pregnancy – it’s a natural part of life and should be treated as such – naturally. The number one way to fight stretch marks is by keeping the skin lubricated as often as possible! Coconut oil is famous for its ability to moisturize and nourish skin.
Counters Body Odor
Simply apply coconut oil to one’s skin right after you shower. Don’t rub it in all the way – allow it to be absorbed into your skin for optimal results. Think of it like conditioning your hair, the more you leave on and the longer you leave it on – the smoother and greasier it will be. If you don’t want to walk around all day with coconut oil all over your body, then shower before bed at night and allow your skin to spend 10-12 hour absorbing the benefits (The Healthy Homes).
You’ve probably heard it time and time again, but have paid no real attention to it. The deodorants that you buy at CVS or Walgreens, more often than not, are made with toxins and harmful ingredients. You were probably unaware, but something commonly used to make deodorant is aluminum, which has been linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. But you that’s not your only option to stay smelling fresh. Coconut oil works as an excellent deodorant.
Can Treat Ear Infections
Not only will it moisturize your armpits, but your armpit absorbs the coconut oil and acts as a good-smelling agent for longer than your store-bought stick (Xovain). Not kidding. There is tutorial after tutorial walking you through how to make your own natural deodorant at home. What is consistently the common denominator among them all – coconut oil!
As you now know, coconut oil can be used to treat viral and fungal infections. It can be used to treat things that’d you normally have to take antibiotics for, including…(drum roll – get it?) ear infections! If you simmer some coconut oil with a garlic clove. Make sure it’s not warmer than 98-degress before using it in your ear. Simply take a eye drop or the heated coconut oil, lie on your side and put two drops of the natural remedy in your ear.
Increases Energy and Helps Burn More Fat
Wait five minutes for getting up, making sure the oil has time to reach it’s destination within the ear drum. Repeat on the other side if necessary. Again, it acts as antibacterial oil in the ear and helps heal the infection. (Green Med Info)
How ironic, right? Coconut oil, a source of fat (and has the consistency of fat), ACTUALLY helps you burn fat! Oh, what a world. Crazy as it sounds, there was a time not long ago when people thought coconut oil was actually one of the “worst fats.” It was claimed that it contributed to heart disease and obesity.
It Can Kill Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses & Help Prevent Infections
Wow, we bet some scientist somewhere is a wee bit embarrassed because that claim is so far from the truth. It’s one of the world leading natural thermogenic agents. A study reported by Authority Nutrition proved that 15-30 grams of coconut oil’s MCT’s (medium-chain triglycerides) per day increased 24-hour energy expenditure by 5 percent. Meaning, the study subjects burns an extra 120 calories per day.
It Can Kill Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses & Help Prevent Infections
We have said it more than once already, but it doesn’t cease to amaze us just how powerful coconut oil really is. Yes, it can act as an antibiotic. Imagine all the money people spend on antibiotics each year when coconut oil is only a fraction of the price. The point: coconut oil helps with a wide variety of problems ranging from mouth ulcers to bruises to urinary track infections.
It Reduces Hunger
You might be asking yourself, “how exactly?” Coconut oil is filled with fatty acids, 50% of which are Lauric Acid. When it’s digested, it forms monoglyceride known as monolaurin. Both of these kill harmful pathogens including bacteria, fungi and viruses. (Authority Nutrition)
We mentioned earlier how coconut oil can help burn fat, but it can also prevent you from packing it on in the first place. According to a study cited by Authority Nutrition, the more coconut oil ingested by people, the fewer calories they ate per day. This is great news, because many people agree it’s significantly harder to lose weight than to maintain weight. If we can stop the problem before it starts, life would be that much easier.
Can Dramatically Reduce Seizures
When we say “eat less” we’re talking a whole meal’s worth of calories less! The study showed a dramatic 256 fewer calories per day were consumed. This method leads to long-term dramatic weight loss.
This is how it works. The fatty acids in coconut oil are turned into ketones, which are being applied to epilepsy treatments.
Improves Blood Cholesterol Levels & Can Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Many epileptic patients are put on a special diet on which they consume very little carbs and a lot of fat because this creates increased amounts of ketone bodies in blood. According to Authority Nutrition, “Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet.”
Improves Blood Cholesterol Levels & Can Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Coconut oil contains Lauric Acid (a kind of MCT) that increases good HDL cholesterol in blood, which improves cholesterol levels. It lowers cholesterols by converting to pregnenolone (Dr. OZ).
Prevent Hair Damage
The overall improvement in cardiovascular health can reduce the risks that lead to heart disease. According to Quick and Dirty Tips, “there has been a recent study in humans and it discovered that LDL cholesterol increased 8% on a diet rich in coconut oil versus a diet rich in olive oil.” Coconut oil should not be consumed as someone’s only source of monosaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, but it absolutely posses enough benefits to be considered a vital part of anyone’s diet.
According to Authority Nutrition, studies have proven that coconut oil is great for preventing hair damage because of its moisturizing properties. Even people with the driest and most brittle of hair have found that by using coconut oil they can transform their locks into a shiny, lush, manageable mane. Your stylist might have even slipped you this tip!
Moisturize Skin
Coconut oil is abundant in properties that help regrow and strengthen hair including antimicrobial properties, medium-chain fatty acid and lauric acid. Not to mention how rich coconut oil is in antioxidants, which can help scalp health and promote hair growth.
Much like how it prevents hair damage, coconut oil has great moisturizing properties that are applied to skin regimens. Authority Nutrition reports that coconut oil improves the moisture and lipid content of the skin. Not to mention that a lot of what people use on their hands and bodies contains toxins and fake fragrances.
Act as Sunscreen
It’s coconut oil’s saturated fats that your store-bought lotions can’t compete with! Accompanied with its ability to moisturize, coconut oil can also improve skin tone!
If there is one thing we can count on every day of the year, it’s that there will be UV rays. Some people are incredibly sensitive, both to the sun and to harsh properties of store-bought sunscreens. It simply comes down to this; why would you use toxic chemicals on your body if there is an all-natural, equally as effective option?
Improve Brain Function in Alzheimer's Patients
If you’re interested in natural remedies then you’ll be interested in knowing coconut oil can act as a substitute for sunscreen. A study cited by Authority Nutrition found that coconut oil blocks about 20% or UV rays.
Alzheimer’s is one of the most challenging illness, for both the person suffering from it and everyone who loves them. One in three seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the United States overall. They are continuing to conduct studies, but here is the good news: coconut oil has been proven to improve memory function.
Help Lose Harmful Fat
Alzheimer’s patients have a reduced ability to convert glucose into energy in parts of the brain. Coconut oil possesses ketone bodies that can supply an alternative energy source and help reduce the Alzheimer’s symptoms. (Authority Nutrition).
Bet you never thought someone would be telling you to fight fat with fat, but we are! As we discussed earlier, coconut oil can promote weight loss. Something special about it though is that it can help you lose harmful fats, specifically in the abdominal cavity. “Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs,” from Authority Nutrition.
Boosts Immune System
All it takes is adding some coconut oil to your everyday diet. A little bit of the science behind it is that coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids and which is processed in the living and turned into ketone bodies. It’s these ketones that make the major difference!
Improves Digestion
Some of the most popular things that coconut oil has reputation for fighting off includes: herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, HIV, listeria monocytogenes, helicobacter pylori and giardia lamblia. It has not necessarily been proven to cure any of these diseases, but it’s absolutely been proven to help with and/or improve them.
Improves Dental Quality and Bone Strength
(Organic Facts) To an even more extreme level, people who suffer from Crohn’s Disease claim that coconut oil provides a lot of relief. As reported by Health Impact News, “Another study done in 2009 in Spain that compared sunflower oil with coconut oil on mice found that the mice fed the MCT diet with coconut oil had reduced colitis and reduced intestinal inflammation offering therapeutic hope for those suffering from Crohn’s disease.”
Helps With Diabetes
(Organic Facts) Make your life easy by simply adding ¼-1/2 cup of coconut oil to your diet a day. Try drinking it in a smoothie or melt it in your tea. The coconut oil is also effective in attacking Streptococcus Mutans bacteria, which is notorious for causing cavities. You can also participate in oil pulling, which is when you swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes and it whitens your teeth.
Balances Hormones for Thyroid and Blood Suagar Control
That being said, we are not suggesting anyone use large amounts of coconut oil to improve their diabetic symptoms. Simply incorporating a little bit of coconut oil in your everyday routine should improve your health.
Anti-Aging Remedy
Because of this, “it’s considered to have to necessary building blocks for hormone production,” (Wellness Mama) It’s medium-chain fatty acids that work their magic. It’s one of the three essential blocks for keeping hormones in check and hormone production.
Can Cure Yeast Infections
Oz, oxidation is a major contributor to aging and coconut oil can help the body reduce the need for antioxidant intake. “The natural oil minimizes wrinkles by promoting collagen production and replacement.” (Natural News) Some bloggers also recommend adding apple cider vinegar in your daily regimen for the best possible results.
Protects the Liver
“It can provide relief from inflammation caused by candid, both externally and internally,” said OF. This is a gradual process and doesn’t happen immediately. Partnered with its antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties – coconut oil’s caprylic acid helps break down the cell membrane which controls the yeast, keeping it from growing and getting worse.
Reduce Inflammation and Arthritis
As reported by Coconutoil.com, a study found that coconut oil protects the liver from toxic antibiotics. The coconut oil’s MCFAs, aka medium chained fatty acids, can have a lot of antioxidant properties that keep the liver healthy. Also, coconut oil is broken down very quickly in the liver, which gives the consumer an extra boost of energy and is processed like a carbohydrate.
Helps Prevent Cancer
Its MCFAs ease and loosen up stiff muscles and joints. It acts as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory and muscle/joint lubricant. (Be Healthy with Coconuts)
Improves Skin Issues Like Burns, Eczema, Dandruff, Dermatitis, and Psoriasis
In the study, individuals who were given coconut oil were less likely to develop tumors and more likely to fight off cancer cells. Also, breast cancer patients going through chemo claim that coconut oil helps curb some of the painful side effects of the treatment.
Helps Build Muscle
The fatty acids in the oil make it great for cleansing, moisturizing and sun protectant. It also has antioxidants that help heal the skin. (Dr. Axe)
Can Treat Cold Sores
The magic of coconut oil is its healthy fats. The good monounsaturated fats it has to offer are what make those muscles really pop (not to mention the longer lasting energy). (Muscle and Fitness)
Coconut oil’s antiviral properties make it a great way to heal cold sores quickly. It also acts as a pain reliever. (Green Med Info) How? Again, those medium0-chain triglycerides have antiviral properties and knock back those cold sores. Bonus: coconut oil is clear, so by applying to the sore you’re not drawing any more attention to it.