To date, there are over 1,500 studies showing coconut oil to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Coconut oil uses and benefits go beyond what most people realize, as coconut oil — made from copra or fresh coconut flesh — is a true superfood.

It’s no wonder the coconut tree is considered the “tree of life” in many tropical locations.

Coconut oil is made by pressing dried coconut meat, called copra, or fresh coconut meat. To make it, you can use a “dry” or “wet” method.

The milk and oil from the coconut are pressed, and then the oil is removed. It has a firm texture at cool or room temperatures because the fats in the oil, which are mostly saturated fats, are made up of smaller molecules.

At temperatures about 78 degrees Fahrenheit, it liquifies. It also has a smoke point of about 350 degrees, making it a great option for sautéed dishes, sauces and baked goods.

This oil is also easily absorbed into the skin because of its smaller fat molecules, making it an excellent skin and scalp moisturizer.

There’s no doubt that many people are confused about whether or not they should consume coconut oil regularly, especially after the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2017 report on saturated fats that recommended reducing saturated fats from your diet. This doesn’t mean that people should avoid consuming any of it.

In fact, the American Heart Association recommends sticking to 30 grams per day for men and 20 grams per day for women, which is about 2 tablespoons or 1.33 tablespoons of coconut oil, respectively.

In addition, we should highlight that the American Heart Association did point out that we don’t have to completely avoid saturated fat, and that’s because we actually need it. It works to enhance our immune function and protect the liver from toxins.

While the AHA is focused on how saturated fats may increase LDL cholesterol levels, we need to remember that coconut oil works to reduce inflammation naturally. Reducing inflammation should be everyone’s biggest health goal, as it is the root cause of heart disease and many other conditions.

So despite the questions about whether or not coconut oil is healthy, I’m still a huge advocate of consuming it to reduce inflammation, support cognitive and heart health, and boost energy levels.

Coconut Oil Benefits

According to medical research and the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrient database, the health benefits of coconut oil include the following:

1. Helps Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

The digestion of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) by the liver creates ketones that are readily accessible by the brain for energy. Ketones supply energy to the brain without the need for insulin to process glucose into energy.

Research has shown that the brain actually creates its own insulin to process glucose and power brain cells. Studies also suggest that as the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient loses the ability to create its own insulin, the ketones from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function.

A 2020 review highlights the role of medium chain triglycerides in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease because of their neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

2. Aids in Prevention of Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure

Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL cholesterol)  in your body, but also help convert the LDL “bad” cholesterol into good cholesterols.

A randomized crossover trial published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that daily consumption of two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil in young, healthy adults significantly increased HDL cholesterol. Plus, no major safety issues of taking virgin coconut oil daily for eight weeks were reported.

Another more recent study, published in 2020, had the same results and concluded that coconut oil consumption results in significantly higher HDL cholesterol than nontropical vegetable oils. By increasing the HDL in the body, it helps promote heart health and lower the risk of heart disease.

3. Treats UTI and Kidney Infection and Protects the Liver

Coconut oil has been known to clear up and improve UTI symptoms and kidney infections. The MCFAs in the oil work as a natural antibiotic by disrupting the lipid coating on bacteria and killing them.

Research also shows that coconut oil directly protects the liver from damage.

Coconut water also helps hydrate and support the healing process. Doctors have even injected coconut water to clear up kidney stones.

Coconut is a powerful superfood, which is evident given all of these tremendous coconut oil health benefits.

4. Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis

In an animal study in India, the high levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil proved to reduce inflammation and improve arthritis symptoms more effectively than leading medications.

In another recent study, coconut oil that was harvested with only medium heat was found to suppress inflammatory cells. It worked as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

5. Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Coconut oil has two qualities that help it fight cancer, including the ketones produced in the oil. Tumor cells are not able to access the energy in ketones and are glucose-dependent.

It’s believed that a ketogenic diet could be a possible component of helping cancer patients recover.

The second quality is the medium-chained fatty acid content in coconut oil. As the MCFAs digest the lipid walls of bacteria, they also can kill the helicobacter pylori bacteria that is known to increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Plus, research shows that lauric acid found in coconut oil may have anticancer actions by triggering anti-proliferation and pro-apoptotic effects.

6. Immune System Boost (Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral)

Coconut oil contains lauric acid (monolaurin), which has been shown to reduce candida, fight bacteria and create a hostile environment for viruses. Many diseases today are caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites in the body.

A 2020 review indicates that it has antimicrobial activity and helps activate the anti-inflammatory nature of the immune response in the human body.

You can replace grains and sugar in your diet with coconut oil as your natural fuel source when you’re sick. Sugar feeds the growth of bad bacteria.

Instead, take one tablespoon of coconut oil three times daily when sick, and consume plenty of vegetables and bone broth as well.

7. Supports Memory and Brain Function

In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Neurobiology of Aging, researchers found that the MCFAs in coconut oil improved the memory problems in older subjects.

Across all the patients there was a marked improvement in their recall ability after taking this fatty acid. The MCFAs are absorbed easily in the body and can be accessed in the brain without the use of insulin. Thus, they are able to fuel brain cells more efficiently.

8. Improves Energy and Endurance

Coconut oil is easy to digest. It also produces a longer sustained energy and increases your metabolism.

Studies indicate that when taking a quality unrefined coconut oil, you can get the most coconut oil benefits as its MCFAs are sent directly to the liver to be converted into energy.

Today, many triathletes use coconut oil as their source of fuel during training and races for long-distance events.

You can make a homemade energy fuel by mixing coconut oil, raw honey and chia seeds together. Simply put together one tablespoon of each, and consume 30 minutes prior to exercise.

9. Aids Digestion and Reduces Stomach Ulcers and Ulcerative Colitis

Coconut also improves digestion as it helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, calcium and magnesium. If coconut oil is taken at the same time as omega-3 fatty acids, it can make them twice as effective, as they are readily available to be digested and used by the body.

Research suggests that coconut oil can help improve bacteria and gut health by destroying bad bacteria and candida. Candida imbalance, in particular, can decrease stomach acid, which causes inflammation and poor digestion.

All this together means coconut oil benefits digestive health and helps treat or prevent stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis.

10. May Help Reduce Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease and Pancreatitis

An animal study published in the Journal of Animal Sciences shows that the MCFAs of coconut oil do not need the pancreatic enzymes to be broken down, so taking coconut oil eases the strain on the pancreas.

Additionally, this superfood is so easy to digest that it has been known to improve the symptoms of gallbladder disease as well. Replace other long-chain fats with coconut oil to improve gallbladder and total body health.

11. Can Improve Skin Issues (Burns, Eczema, Dandruff, Dermatitis and Psoriasis)

Coconut oil is wonderful as a face cleanser, moisturizer and sun screen, but it can also treat many skin disorders. The fatty acids (caprylic and lauric) in coconut oil reduce inflammation internally and externally and moisturize, making them a great solution for all types of skin conditions.

It protects the skin and has many antioxidants that make it ideal for healing the skin. In addition, the antimicrobial properties balance out the candida or fungal sources that can cause many skin conditions.

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There’s so much unrefined coconut oil can do for skin.

12. Helps Prevent Gum Disease and Tooth Decay

Oil pulling with coconut oil has been used for centuries as a way to cleanse the mouth of bacteria and help heal periodontal disease. Plus, research shows that in addition to offering several oral perks, oil pulling with coconut oil also has a beneficial effect on overall health.

Coconut oil is one of the most effective oils for oil pulling due to its high concentration of antibacterial MCFAs.

By swishing the oil in your mouth, it denatures the bacteria and sticks to it. Removing oral bacteria greatly reduces your risk of periodontal disease.

If you want to heal your gums and repair your teeth, try oil pulling three times a week for 20 minutes a day.

13. Support Bone Health

Oxidative stress and free radicals are the two biggest culprits of osteoporosis. Since coconut oil has such high levels of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals, it is a leading natural treatment for osteoporosis.

Coconut oil increases calcium absorption in the gut. Research on osteoporosis has found that coconut oil not only increases bone volume and structure in subjects, but also decreased bone loss due to osteoporosis.

14. Helps with Type II Diabetes

When cells refuse to respond to insulin and no longer take in glucose for energy, they’re considered insulin-resistant. The pancreas then pumps out more insulin to compensate and creates an overproduction cycle.

Insulin resistance is the precursor to type II diabetes.

Studies suggest that the MCFAs in coconut oil help balance the insulin reactions in the cells and promote healthy digestive process. They take the strain off the pancreas and give the body a consistent energy source that is not dependent on glucose reactions, which can prevent insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

15. Coconut Oil for Weight loss

Because of the energy-creating abilities of coconut oil and the fact it’s a no-carb oil, it is no wonder that it is beneficial for losing weight. It helps burn fat and calories, decrease appetite, and in studies it has been especially helpful in losing belly fat.

Coconut’s ability to help you shed fat has been well-established. A 1985 study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that a single injection of capric acid resulted in “initially rapid, then gradual decrease in food consumption and a parallel loss of body weight” in male rats.

It might seem counterintuitive to assume that eating coconut oil (a fat) will contribute to fat loss, but it is actually quite logical. The key to understanding this phenomenon lays in the multidimensional ability of the MCFAs to control a variety of physiological processes.

For example, in the 1985 study mentioned above, it was discovered that capric acid shows significant improvements in thyroid function, helps lower resting heart rate and assists your body in burning fat for energy.

More recently, the Obesity Research Journal published a study from Boston University Medical School that gives us a clue why MCFAs have fat-burning ability. Testing the effects that MFCAs have on fat breakdown, adipose (fatty) cells in rats were pretreated with caprylic acid. Researchers observed that fat breakdown occurred at such a significant level that it literally mimicked the characteristics of fasting.

Fasting, in this sense, is not to be regarded as negative, but positive in that the body uses its energy reserves most effectively and speeds up the breakdown of needless fat reserves. In the words of the researchers who conducted this study, “Such changes could contribute, in part, to weight loss in animals and humans associated with dietary medium-chain fatty acids.”

16. Building Muscle and Losing Body Fat

Research suggests that MCFAs aren’t just good for burning fat and decreasing metabolic syndrome — they are also great for building muscle. The MCFAs found in coconut are also used in popular muscle-building products like Muscle Milk™.

The vast majority of heavily produced supplements, however, use processed forms of MCFAs. By eating actual coconuts instead, you get the “real deal,” so try adding two tablespoons of the oil to a muscle-building shake daily.

17. Coconut Oil Benefits for Hair Care

If you have dandruff or dry hair, coconut oil has the perfect fatty acids to help improve these conditions. In fact, there is so much coconut oil can do for hair.

You can make homemade coconut lavender shampoo to improve your hair and use straight coconut oil as an all-natural hair conditioner.

To get rid of dandruff and thicken hair, massage one tablespoon of coconut oil mixed with 10 drops of rosemary essential oil into your scalp for three minutes. Then shower 30 minutes later.

18. Candida and Yeast Infections

A study published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy found the capric acid and lauric acid in coconut oil made for an effective natural treatment for candida albicans and yeast infections.

To effectively kill candida and treat yeast infections, remove processed sugar and refined grains from your diet, and consume plenty of healthy fats. Take one tablespoon of coconut oil three times daily as a supplement.

19. Coconut Oil for Anti-Aging

Research published in the medical journal Food and Function found that coconut oil improves antioxidant levels and can slow aging. Coconut oil works by reducing stress on the liver and lowering oxidative stress.

Also, researchers found that coconut oil may support detoxification because of how it works with the liver.

To naturally slow aging, take one tablespoon of coconut oil with antioxidant-rich berries for breakfast. You can also apply it directly to skin for additional health benefits and smoothing.

20. Coconut Oil for Hormone Balance

The health benefits of coconut oil include hormone balance as well. Coconut oil may help naturally balance hormones because it’s a great source of saturated fat, including lauric acid.

Studies have found that coconut oil may be an excellent fat to eat during menopause and also may have positives effects on estrogen levels.

In order to naturally balance hormones, reduce sugar and grain consumption, and load up on healthy fats from coconut, avocado, flaxseeds and ghee. You can also consume other coconut forms, such as coconut butter or coconut water.

Nutrition Facts

To understand its nutritional impact, it’s important to understand the few types of coconut oil that are available on the market:

Virgin coconut oil: Virgin coconut oil is the least refined and most beneficial. It’s made with copra, or dried coconut meat, that’s removed from the shell and pressed to extract the natural oils. It typically has a great nutty and sweet flavor.

Within this category, you’ll see oil that’s been produced using a “wet-milling” method, which means that it’s extracted from fresh coconut meat, and oil that’s been produced with a dry method, as dried copra is used instead. Sometimes you’ll see “extra-virgin coconut oil,” but there really is not difference between virgin and extra-virgin when it comes to coconut oil, so either option is a great choice.

Refined coconut oil: Refined coconut oil has gone through a refining process that involves bleaching and deodorizing the oil. Unlike virgin coconut oil, refined oils don’t have a noticeable coconut taste or aroma. They are not recommended because many of them are made with high temperatures and harsh chemicals, both of which can destroy the oil’s beneficial antioxidants.

Those types differentiated, thousands of studies have been conducted to uncover the secrets of this amazing superfood: namely healthy fats called medium-chain fatty acids. These unique fats include:

• Caprylic acid
• Lauric acid
• Capric acid

Around 62 percent of the oils in coconut are made up of these three healthy fatty acids, and 91 percent of the fat in coconut oil is healthy saturated fat. This fat composition makes it one of the most beneficial fats on the planet.

Most of the fats we consume take longer to digest, but MCFAs found in coconut oil provide the perfect source of energy because they only have to go through a three-step process to be turned into fuel, as opposed to other fats that have to go through a 26-step process!

Unlike long-chain fatty acids found in plant-based oils, MCFAs are:

• Easier to digest
• Not readily stored as fat
• Antimicrobial and antifungal
• Smaller in size, allowing easier cell permeability for immediate energy
• Processed by the liver, which means that they’re immediately converted to energy instead of being stored as fat

One tablespoon of coconut oil contains about 120 calories, 14 grams of fat, no fiber, no cholesterol and only trace amounts of vitamins and minerals.

All things considered, the MCFAs present in coconut copra make it a true superfood, and it’s why coconut oil health benefits are so plentiful and amazing.

Related: MCT Oil Health Benefits, Dosage Recommendations and Recipes

Risks and Side Effects

There are rarely any side effects for coconut oil.

Research shows that, occasionally, a contact allergy may occur for certain individuals who are allergic to coconuts. Some of the cleaning products created by coconut oil have been known to cause contact allergies as well, but it is not common.

In fact, coconut oil is known for reducing side effects of many medications. For instance, studies show that it can reduce the symptoms and side effects of cancer treatments.

Keep in mind that refined or processed coconut oil can be bleached, overheated past the preferred melt point and chemically processed to increase its shelf life. Processing the oil changes the chemical makeup, and the fats are no longer good for you.

Avoid hydrogenated oils whenever possible, and choose extra virgin coconut oil instead.

Related: Is Peanut Oil Good or Bad for Health? Separating Fact vs. Fiction

How to Use

When purchasing coconut oil, choose an extra virgin coconut oil. This type offers the greatest coconut oil benefits.

Opt for virgin, wet-milled, unrefined, organic coconut oil to ensure you get pure coconut oil. Refined versions, like with other foods, are not as beneficial and lose key nutrients.

What can coconut oil be used for?

1. Cooking and Baking

Coconut oil can be used for cooking and baking, and it can be added to smoothies. It’s my oil of choice, since unrefined, natural, organic coconut oil adds a nice coconut flavor but does not contain the harmful toxins other hydrogenated cooking oils often do.

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Plus, adding it to your food or smoothies helps boost energy quickly, and it’s easier to digest than other types of oils. Some ways to use it in your food include:

• Sautéing veggies and meats
• Adding a creaminess to your coffee
• Adding nutrients to your smoothie
• Replacing unhealthy fats in baked goods

2. Skin and Hair Health

How do you apply coconut oil to your body? You can simply apply it topically directly to your skin or as a carrier oil for essential oils or blends.

Rubbing it into your skin right after you shower is especially beneficial. It works as a great moisturizer, and it has antimicrobial properties that boost skin and hair health.

Some ways to use it for your skin and hair include:

• Using as a natural skin moisturizer
• Fighting premature aging
• Creating a natural wound salve
• Making an antifungal cream
• Making a natural hair conditioner
• Treating dandruff
• Detangling hair

3. Mouth and Teeth Health

It can be used for oil pulling, which is an Ayurvedic practice that works to detoxify the mouth, remove plaque and bacteria, and freshen breath. Swish one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10–2o minutes, and then dump the oil into the trash.

4. DIY Natural Remedy Recipes

Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent ingredient in DIY natural remedy recipes that are used to fight infections and boost immunity. Some recipes that can be made with coconut oil are:

• lip balms
• homemade toothpaste
• natural deodorant
• shaving cream
• massage oil

5. Household Cleanser

Coconut oil works as a natural dust preventer, laundry detergent, furniture polish and homemade hand soap. It kills bacteria and fungus that may be growing in your house, and it keeps surfaces looking shiny too.

Related: Coconut Milk Nutrition: Beneficial Vegan Milk or High-Fat Trap?

Conclusion

• Is consuming coconut oil good for you? The answer is yes. In appropriate amounts (about 2 tablespoons per day or less), its advantages are immense, and they don’t stop with these 20.
• It helps the body in so many ways, which is due, in large part, to the medium-chained fatty acid content. Not only that, but coconut oil for dogs has benefits as well!
• MCFAs are easier to digest quickly used for energy, help boost cognitive health, work to improve HDL cholesterol levels and more.
• You can use coconut oil in so many ways — from cooking and baking to adding it to smoothies and coffee, using it as an ingredient in DIY natural remedy recipes, and using it for oil pulling.
• Remember to always opt for a pure, unrefined organic products.