Coconut oil in your diet

Coconut oil should be seriously considered to include in your diet. The health benefits of Coconut oil appear to be far reaching, and some members of the press are calling this a ‘wonder food’. The ability of Coconut oil to boost the immune system, as well as soothe and repair digestive disorders will be very relevant and supportive if you have endometriosis. Coconut oil is now deemed as one of the healthiest oils you can consume. It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal. You can even use it on your skin to help prevent wrinkles.

In addition to tasting and smelling great, the health benefits of Coconut oil include:

Help you lose weight as it speeds up the metabolism

Reduce your risk of heart disease

Lower your cholesterol

Improve conditions in those with diabetes and chronic fatigue

Improve Crohn’s, IBS, and other digestive disorders

Prevent other disease and routine illness with its powerful antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents

Increase metabolism and promote healthy thyroid function

Boost your daily energy

Rejuvenate your skin and prevent wrinkles

There is a widespread misconception that coconut oil is bad for you because it contains saturated fat. Fats are categorised as either short, medium, or long-chain depending on how many carbon molecules they contain. Close to two-thirds of the saturated fat in coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids, which have anti-microbial properties, are easily digested by the body for quick energy, and are beneficial to the immune system. Far from being dangerous, the saturated fat in coconut oil is actually health promoting.

Quality of Oil

You need be absolutely certain, however, of the quality and effectiveness of whatever coconut oil brand you choose. There is a very wide variety in terms of the types of coconuts, and the manufacturing processes used to make the oil. Most commercial coconut oils are RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorised). RBD oils do contain the medium chain fatty acids; however they also contain chemicals used in processing. You need to purchase cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil – the same as you would for olive oil – to get the health benefits without the added chemicals.

Bad Press in the Past

In the past Coconut oil has got a bad press and a bad reputation in turn. Based on some flawed studies performed over four decades ago, some of which used primarily hydrogenated coconut oils, a powerful ‘anti-saturated fat movement’ began. Hydrogenated oils are oils with trans-fatty acids, which have been altered from their original chemical composition and have been shown to raise cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease and other health problems. You should not consume hydrogenated oils, whether it is coconut or another vegetable oil. Fortunately, the benefits of un-adulterated coconut oil are beginning to gain some positive media exposure, as researchers realise its health-promoting qualities.

How it works

Coconut oil’s saturated fat is of the medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) variety. These MCFAs are digested more easily and utilised differently by the body than other fats. Whereas other fats are stored in the body’s cells, the MCFAs in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. So when you eat coconut oil, the body uses it immediately to make energy rather than store it as body fat. Because this quick and easy absorption puts less strain on the pancreas, liver and digestive system, coconut oil “heats up” the metabolic system and is outstanding for those with thyroid problems. For those with Crohn’s and IBS, the anti-inflammatory and healing effects of coconut oil have been shown to play a role in soothing inflammation and healing injury in the digestive tract. Interestingly, researchers have demonstrated the benefits of coconut oil on patients with digestive problems, including, Crohn’s disease since the 1980s. Its anti-microbial properties also promote intestinal health by killing troublesome micro-organisms that may cause chronic inflammation. Coconut oil supports the immune system by ridding the body of harmful micro-organisms, thus relieving stress on the body. With fewer harmful organisms taxing the body’s energy, the immune system can function better.

For women with Endometriosis, this oil can be incorporated into your diet in many ways – as cooking oil, added to salads in a dressing, as a spread in place of butter, or added to your baking. And don’t forget that you can use it straight on your skin as a moisturiser.