5 Health Myths about Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil continues to be marketed for its health benefits, both as a food ingredient and a beauty product. This can be extracted both from dry and fresh coconut meat and is available in solid or liquid form. And both have great benefits whether they are ingested or applied on the skin.

While there are a few myths about this product, let’s go over the five most prominent ones and see if they are true or not.

  1. Coconut oil hasharmful fats

There are two main types of cholesterol. The harmful ones are the longer chain fatty acids in vegetable oils, while the beneficial ones are called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which includecaproic, caprylic, and capric acids. The difference between the two is that the latter is absorbed faster by the body and does not leave any harmful residue as opposed to polyunsaturated fats.

In fact, these MCT’s found in virgin coconut oil are directly absorbed by the liver and metabolized as energy quickly. Giving you a quick boost of energy and suppressing your hunger longer. This makes it ideal for those who need something to keep them full longer.

  1. It adds body weight

This myth is related to the first one. One main problem with long-chain fats is that they become stored in the body. Virgin coconut oil’s MCT’s on the other hand are directly absorbed by the body. This means that no residue is left after digestion.

As an added health benefit, coconut oil also helps in faster metabolism of energy. This effectively reduces your hunger pangs and keeps you full longer, making you want to eat less as a side effect. Additionally, you can try adding virgin coconut oil the next time you want to bake desserts to help lower bad cholesterol and your body weight.

  1. It’s a skin irritant

This may stem from claims that unrefined coconut oil may contain dust particles or unwanted substances. But in fact, virgin coconut oil has a lot of uses even as a beauty product for the skin and hair. For one thing, it makes for a great skin moisturizer to prevent it from being dehydrated during the summer months. As it contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, you can apply it as a cleanser as well. Women can even use it as a makeup remover to clean their faces after a long day.

  1. Coconut oil is not good for diabetics

One form of diabetes is the Type 2, which mostly involves insulin resistance. There is some evidence that suggests that the MCTs found in virgin coconut oil can help prevent obesity and fight insulin resistance. In 2009, a study on mice fed with coconut oil had less insulin resistance. This is due to the fact that the oil does not contain glucose, making it a viable alternative as a cooking ingredient.

  1. It can’t prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

Despite the claim that there is insufficient evidence of coconut oil preventing Alzheimer’s disease, certain studies suggested that the fatty acids coconut oil helps protect neurons from degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. The reason for this is the fact that virgin coconut oil is turned into ketones when processed by the liver. This provides an alternative energy source for the brain, especially those with dementia.

These myths are just some of the ones preventing the full use of coconut oil’s benefits. Whether it’s from the claims that coconut oil has saturated fats, or because it has harmful cholesterol, these facts can prove that there are more benefits than drawbacks. Try including coconut oil in your diet today to see the benefits for yourself.