To the excitement of people who love delicious food everywhere, coconut oil has gained massive popularity over the past few years. Some of the things you read may have you asking, “Is coconut oil good for you?” There are many reasons for the rise of coconut oil—with attributes like its flavor in the kitchen and its health benefits among them. Other benefits that you might not have considered come from the topical application of coconut oil.
Coconut Oil Benefits
Let’s get a bit more specific on some of the reasons you might consider adding coconut oil to your health, wellness and beauty regimens.
1. Fatty Acid Profile
Depending on the type of diet that you follow, the fatty acid profile of coconut oil could be highly beneficial for you. Some shy away from coconut oil because of its saturated fat content—and to be clear—eating an oil high in saturated fat is not recommended for all dietary patterns. However, for those eating a ketogenic diet or who need a quick energy source, the fatty acid profile of coconut oil can be desirable.
Some of the main fats in coconut oil act as MCTs, or “medium-chain triglycerides”, which is a specific type of fat that our body processes differently than other types of fatty acids, mainly long chain triglycerides. These MCTs (or most of them, anyway) are absorbed and processed to create energy more quickly than long chain triglycerides.1 I chose to list this as the first benefit of coconut oil because the fatty acid profile of coconut oil plays a role in many of its other benefits.
2. Dental Health
A lesser-known aspect of coconut oil are its antibacterial properties. These anti-bacterial properties make it useful for dental health.2 Also, it has been found to reduce halitosis (a.k.a. bad breath!).3 Oil pulling is a remedy that has been used in traditional and folk medicine for many years, so it could be something to try if you are looking for a natural solution for dental health!4
3. Fuel For your Weight Loss Goals
Coconut oil is a fat—so it’s something that must be used carefully on a weight loss regimen—but there may be a place for coconut oil in some instances. The way that our body processes MCTs (one of the prominent types of fat in coconut oil) is a more energy intensive process, so we burn more calories to process this type of fat.5 There is still more to learn on the potential benefits of coconut oil for weight loss, so stay tuned!
4. Keto Diet Support
The keto diet is another type of diet that is often used for weight loss (and other health goals, too), and has been shown to be effective for weight loss when done properly.6 Coconut oil can be a great addition to a ketogenic diet. It is beneficial for its nutritional properties and for its culinary properties. It can be used to make lots of keto friendly treats to assist in compliance with the sometimes difficult to stick with ketogenic diet.
READ MORE: 5 Amazing Keto Snacks
5. Skin Health
Coconut oil makes an amazing moisturizer for both skin and hair. It has even been used with success in preterm infants to moisturize their skin7—so you know it must be gentle! It also has anti-inflammatory benefits, so use it generously to nourish your skin. Your hair can also benefit from a coconut oil mask on a weekly basis, because the fats in coconut oil have been shown to be able to penetrate the hair shaft.8, 9 Coconut oil can even be used to remove make-up, so it might be a good idea to keep a jar in your bathroom in addition to the one in your kitchen!
Disclaimer: Coconut oil can be a beneficial addition to your diet, depending on your typical eating patterns and health goals. Talk to your doctor if you have questions regarding if its right for you.
