Coconut oil has become a popular health and beauty product in recent years due to its potential health benefits. Therefore, it is becoming one of the top choices for preparing meals.
Here are some ways in which coconut oil may be beneficial, according to scientific research:
- Heart health: A review published in the journal Nutrients found that coconut oil may help improve cholesterol levels, which can lower the risk of heart disease.
- Weight loss: Some studies have found that coconut oil may help reduce abdominal fat and increase weight loss when used as part of a calorie-controlled diet.
- Skin health: Coconut oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help improve the health and appearance of the skin. It can also be used as a natural moisturizer.
- Hair health: Coconut oil can be used as a hair conditioner to improve the health and appearance of the hair. It can also help prevent protein loss in the hair.
- Oral health: Coconut oil has been shown to have antimicrobial properties and may help reduce the risk of gum disease when used as a mouthwash.
References:
- "Coconut Oil: A Nutrient-Rich Functional Food for the 21st Century." (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/3/235)
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "Coconut oil consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in humans." (https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/101/3/505/4577496)
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "Coconut oil supplementation and exercise-induced changes in body composition and metabolism in overweight women." (https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2017133)
- Journal of Lipid Research. "The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial." (https://www.jlr.org/content/early/2016/06/30/jlr.M069490.long)
- Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. "The effect of coconut oil on female pattern hair loss in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/)
- Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. "Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - a preliminary report." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5469647/)