Learn about the benefits of coconut oil and how they can help you both to improve the quality of your recipes, and to improve health in a considerable way, in addition to having other uses that you may not have known about.
The coconut oil is becoming basic cooking oil in many homes. Manufacturers are using it in favor of other oils in packaged products, and there are claims that it can do everything from supporting weight loss to slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Nutritional value of coconut oil
This oil is made up of 100% fat. However, the structure of the fat it possesses differs from traditional saturated fat often found in animal products (mainly made up of long chain fatty acids).
The second type, refined coconut oil, is extracted from the pulp of chemically bleached and deodorized coconut. Virgin coconut oil, on the other hand, is extracted from the fruit of fresh ripe coconuts without using high temperatures or chemicals, is considered unrefined and can paint a totally different story for our health.
Coconut oil benefits
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, virgin coconut oil has potential antioxidant properties due to certain compounds in the fruit called phenolic acids.
Cardiovascular disease
In a randomized clinical trial, 40 participants received 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or 2 tablespoons of soybean oil once a day for 12 weeks. The soybean oil group had low levels of good cholesterol and elevated bad cholesterol, both of which are indicators of increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The group of people who used this oil did not experience a significant change in their cholesterol levels, but they were more likely to have a higher HDL level. one
Diabetes
Diets rich in oils like coconut have been shown to improve glucose tolerance and reduce the accumulation of body fat. Coconut oil can also improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics.
The researchers observed that study participants who followed a diet in which 40% of calories came from coconut oil showed better insulin metabolism.
Weightloss
In the study where participants in one group consumed coconut oil and the other soybean oil, both groups lost weight however, only the group that consumed coconut oil saw a decrease in waist size.
When compared to other fats, coconut oil contains 2.6% fewer calories. Keep in mind though that all high-fat foods and oils are high in calories and simply adding more calorically dense foods to an already calorie-dense diet is not likely to result in weight loss.
Infusing diet with vitamins and minerals will provide your body with the natural building blocks it needs to stay healthy and help protect your vision. Vitamins A, C and E, along with the mineral Zinc, help to prevent your eyes from developing a condition where the macula (the part of your eye that controls central vision) deteriorates. You can find these vitamins and minerals in foods like carrots, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, sweet potato, citrus fruits, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon. These vitamins and minerals, along with a healthy consumption of antioxidants, will also help to protect your retinas (the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of your eyes).