Pure coconut oil can be used to prevent and treat a number of illnesses from more common ailments such as poor digestion and high blood pressure to serious illnesses such as heart disease, HIV and cancer. Pure coconut oil also promotes good all round health as the properties in the oil can help to care for teeth, bones and skin as well as helping to relieve stress. Below we take a look at the coconut oil health benefits and what makes it such an important substance to include in your diet.
Coconut oil properties
Virgin coconut oil has so many health benefits because of the fatty acids of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which are found in the oil. These properties all help to strengthen the immune system and fight infection. Caprylic acid is so effective at fighting harmful bacteria that it is used as a cleaning product for food surfaces and equipment in places such as breweries and dairies. Lauric acid is the main fatty acid in pure coconut oil and it is converted in the body into monolaurin which is an antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial property which the human body uses to destroy viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza and many more. Virgin coconut oil is made up of approximately 50% lauric acid and this high volume of lauric acid is not found naturally in any other substance other than breast milk. Lauric acid is found in goats' milk and cows' milk but at much lower levels than in pure coconut oil (around 2% - 5%).
Coconut oil swine flu prevention
There have been various flu health scares in the past such as the bird flu pandemic of 2005 2006 and the most recent variation of the illness was the swine flu pandemic of 2009. Unfortunately recent newspaper reports show that there could be another outbreak of swine flu this winter. Virgin coconut oil offers a natural protection against swine flu due to the large amount of lauric acid which can strengthen the immune system, making your body more resistant to viruses such as swine flu.
How to protect your body with pure coconut oil
Using the oil as natural protection against swine flu is simple as it can be eaten in a variety of ways from stir fries and soups to muffins and cakes. It also provides an excellent base for creamy curries such as kormas and it can be used as an ingredient in deliciously thick drinks such as smoothies and lattes. The beneficial nature of coconut oil properties also makes the oil suitable for use in skincare and hair products. As the substance contains antifungal properties this means it can be used to treat skin conditions such as dandruff and psoriasis.
If you would like to boost your immune system and see the benefits of the oil for yourself then try Coconoil's Coconut Oil which is a certified virgin coconut oil and is available to buy online.