13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil

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By  Sayer Ji

Contributing Writer for  Wake Up World

While coconut oil has dragged itself out of the muck of vast misrepresentation over the past few years, it still rarely gets the appreciation it truly deserves.   Not just a “good” saturated fat, coconut oil is an exceptional healing agent as well, with loads of useful health applications.

Some examples of “good” saturated fat include

1. Fat-burning

Ironic, isn’t it? A saturated fat which can accelerate the loss of midsection fat (the most dangerous kind). Well, there are now two solid, human studies showing just two tablespoons a day (30 ml), in both men and women, is capable of  reducing belly fat  within 1-3 months.

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2. Brain-Boosting

A now famous study, published in 2006 in the journal  Neurobiology of Aging, showed that the administration of medium chain triglycerides (most plentifully found in coconut oil) in 20 subjects with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, resulted in significant increases in ketone bodies (within only 90 minutes after treatment) associated with measurable cognitive improvement in those with less severe cognitive dysfunction.[i]

3. Clearing Head Lice

When combined with anise spray, coconut oil was found to be superior to the insecticide permethrin (.43%).[ii]

4. Healing Wounds

Coconut has been used for wound healing  since time immemorial. Three of the identified mechanisms behind these healing effects are its ability to accelerate re-epithelialization, improve antioxidant enzyme activity, and stimulate higher collagen cross-linking within the tissue being repaired.[iii]   Coconut oil has even been shown to work synergistically with traditional treatments, such as silver sulphadizine, to speed burn wound recovery.[iv]

5. NSAID Alternative

Coconut oil has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and fever-reducing properties.[v]

6. Anti-Ulcer Activity

Interestingly, coconut milk (which includes coconut oil components), has been shown to be as effective as the conventional drug sucralfate as an NSAID-associated anti-ulcer agent.  [vi]

7. Anti-Fungal

In 2004, 52 isolates of Candida species were exposed to coconut oil. The most notorious form, Candida albicans, was found to have the highest susceptibility. Researchers remarked: “Coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections in view of emerging drug-resistant Candida species.”  [vii]

8. Testosterone-Booster

Coconut oil was found to reduce oxidative stress in the testes of rats, resulting in significantly higher levels of testosterone.  [viii]

9. Reducing Swollen Prostate

Coconut oil has been found to reduce testosterone-induced benign prostate growth in rats.  [ix]

10. Improving Blood Lipids

Coconut oil consistently  improves the LDL:HDL ratio  in the blood of those who consume it. Given this effect, coconut oil can nolonger be dismissed for being ‘that saturated fat which clogs the arteries.’

11. Fat-Soluble Nutrient Absorption

Coconut oil was recently found to be superior to safflower oil in enhancing tomato carotenoid absorption.  [x]

12. Bone Health

Coconut oil has been shown to reduce oxidative stress within the bone, which may prevent structural damage in osteoporotic bone.  [xi]  [Note:  Osteoporosis is a Myth, as presently defined by the T-Score]

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13. Sunscreen

Coconut oil has been shown to block out UV rays by 30%. Keep in mind that this is good, insofar as UVA rays are damaging to the skin, whereas UVB rays are highly beneficial (when exposure is moderate).  [i]   Make sure to check this list of other  sun-blocking oils.

Of course, when speaking about coconut oil, we are only looking at one part of the amazing coconut palm.  Each component, including  coconut hull fiber,  coconut protein  and  coconut water  has experimentally confirmed therapeutic applications.

Article Sources

[i]  Mark A Reger, Samuel T Henderson, Cathy Hale, Brenna Cholerton, Laura D Baker, G S Watson, Karen Hyde, Darla Chapman, Suzanne Craft . Effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in  memory-impaired adults.  Neurobiol Aging.  2004 Mar;25(3):311-4. PMID:  15123336

  • [iii]  K G Nevin, T Rajamohan . Effect of topical application of virgin  coconut oil on skincomponents and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats.  Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2010 ;23(6):290-7. Epub 2010 Jun 3. PMID:  20523108
  • [xi]  Mouna Abdelrahman Abujazia, Norliza Muhammad, Ahmad Nazrun Shuid, Ima Nirwana Soelaiman. The Effects of  Virgin Coconut Oil on Bone  Oxidative Status in Ovariectomised Rat.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012 ;2012:525079. Epub 2012 Aug 15. PMID:  2292787

About the author:

Sayer Ji1 Lime Juice Could Save 100s of Thousands of Lives Each Year

Sayer Ji is an author, educator, Steering Committee Member of the Global GMO-Free Coalition (GGFC), advisory board member of the National Health Federation, and the founder of GreenMedInfo.com – an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. His writings have been published and referenced widely in print and online, including Truthout, Mercola.com, The Journal of Gluten Sensitivity, New York Times and The Well Being Journal.

In 1995 Sayer received a BA degree in Philosophy from Rutgers University, where he studied under the American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire, with a focus on the philosophy of science. In 1996, following residency at the Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York, he embarked on a 5 year journey of service as a counsellor-teacher and wilderness therapy specialist for various organizations that serve underprivileged and/or adjudicated populations. Since 2003, Sayer has served as a patient advocate and an educator and consultant for the natural health and wellness field.

Visit GreenMedInfo online and on Facebook, or sign up for GreenMedInfo’s e-Newsletter.

 

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