The Incredible Benefits of Coconut Oil

Overall Benefits

Coconut oil has an astounding number of beneficial properties and has been the subject of intense medical and scientific study. In fact, more than 2,000 peer-reviewed studies have been conducted on the health benefits of coconut oil¹; the ones we’ve cited below are just a few of them. This shouldn’t come as any surprise, though. Cultures that incorporate coconuts as a significant part of their diets, such as the Tokelauans² and Kitavans³, display a number of health benefits. One of the most apparent is a drastically lower rate of heart disease compared to other populations with similar demographics.

A primary reason for this is that coconut oil raises levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol (the good kind) in your body^4,5. High levels of HDL drastically reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease by removing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from your bloodstream as well as maintaining the strength of the inner walls of blood vessels.

Apply It Topically

Coconut oil also contains antioxidants called polyphenols, which help relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, including swelling and inflammation⁶. Studies have shown that the effects of polyphenols can be seen when the oil is applied topically to wounds, cuts, and scrapes, making them heal faster^7,8,9,10 while reducing oxidative stress^11,12. You don’t have to wait until you’re hurt: regularly applying coconut to your body relieves skin irritation and eczema just as well as mineral oil and other conventional moisturizers^13,14,15. In one study of children with eczema, regular application of coconut oil caused significant improvements in 47 percent of the study participants.

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Eat It

Consuming coconut oil is even better than directly applying it. Approximately half of the fatty acids in coconut are comprised of 12-carbon lauric acid. When ingested, this acid forms a substance called monolaurin, which kills harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi¹⁶. It also destroys the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (a very dangerous pathogen¹⁷)and the yeast Candida albicans¹⁸, a common source of yeast infections in humans. Its antibacterial properties don’t stop there: monolaurin attacks the growth of the intestinal bacteria Clostridium difficile, commonly known as “C. diff,” which causes severe diarrhea¹⁹.

Using coconut oil as an ingredient is good for the entire body. Not only is it good for liver health, protecting it from damage due to alcohol and other toxins^20,21, it actively reduces the presence of free radicals, improving bone health²². During a six-week animal study, rats receiving 8 percent of their calories from coconut oil had substantially more bone volume and improved bone structure by the end of the trial²³.

Get Energy & Lose Weight

One of the reasons why this oil is so nutritious is because it is an excellent source of medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs. These are a great source of energy: they go straight to the energy and fuel the body quickly. Diabetics should take note because this energy source doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. The increased activity is seen at a cellular level and enhances the body’s ability to burn fat²⁴, using an additional 120 calories per day, or approximately 5 percent of your daily intake²⁵. Not only does it burn fat, but it also decreases hunger²⁶ by lowering the production of ghrelin, commonly known as the “growth hormone.” In one study, men who added coconut oil to their diet consumed an average of 256 calories less than their peers per day.

You’re not limited to adding coconut oil as an ingredient, however. You can also use it as a healthy, highly-effective cooking medium. It’s better than traditional cooking oils because coconut retains its structure when heated, unlike oils such as corn and safflower which are converted into toxic compounds when heated²⁷.

It’s Pretty Amazing

While we don’t believe in “magic foods” or “super foods,” coconut oil is about as close as you can get to that reality. You can rub it on your skin, use it as an ingredient, or cook with it. It benefits your body internally and externally in both the short and long term. It reinforces your health at the cellular level while attacking and removing harmful substances. You get increased energy, lowered hunger levels, and all the benefits MCTs bring to the table. All of this can be gained through a completely natural substance that isn’t modified from how nature delivers it. Do you see why we’re such big fans?

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Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.

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Joshua Burnett

Josh is a freelance writer and editor based in the Corvallis, Oregon area. He has a diverse and varied background as an Air Force officer, structural firefighter, professor, construction worker, retail manager, investigator, and author. He is an expert on the keto diet. When he isn't writing, he's normally reading or hanging out with his kids.

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