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No matter what your ailment, lately it seems that we are met with the same enthusiastically-offered solution: you should try coconut oil for that.
And how has it become such a recommended cure-all? Is it word of mouth? Actual science? Gwyneth Paltrow?
It seems that many of us are susceptible to this trend. Even I have tried coconut oil for oil pulling…at…well…Gwyneth Paltrow’s urging (shakes head sheepishly). According to Paltrow and some lesser known researchers, the benefits of oil pulling with coconut oil are numerous: reduced tooth sensitivity, whiter teeth, improved breath, and strengthened gums, just to name a few.
Coconut oil has been touted as a treatment for all things under the sun: psoriasis, dandruff, burns, wrinkle reduction, improved digestion, balanced hormones, reduced cellulite, balanced blood sugar, improved energy, increased HDL and decreased LDL cholesterols. It can be used as furniture polish, laundry detergent, rust reducer, and conditioner. It boosts immunity, fights inflammation, it’s an acne fighter, a sleep aid, and it allegedly defends against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, HIV, and…it promotes world peace.
While some of the benefits of the topical use of coconut oil seem logical (i.e., smoother hair, smoother skin), some of the alleged benefits of ingesting coconut oil are less visible.
The scientific data is just starting to unfold concerning coconut oil use and disease management. According to researchers, ketones, which are produced by ingesting coconut oil, can help boost brain function in Alzheimer’s patients. Coconut oil also has an anti-carcinogenic effect, which, according to research, helps in the fight against cancer. The antimicrobial properties found in coconut oil effectively prevent the spread of cancer cells and boost the immune system.
Initial trials have found that using coconut oil might aid in the fight against HIV because coconut oil has anti-viral properties. Coconut oil is also gaining a reputation for fighting heart disease by lowering “bad” cholesterols and increasing the “good” cholesterols.
And if it seems that we live in a world that is being healed exclusively by coconut oil, the reason might be as simple as economics. Coconut oil is readily available and pretty affordable when stacked against other treatments. Another benefit is that coconut oil is non-toxic. Instead of ingesting harmful chemicals or using them topically, we can feel better about what we are putting in and on our bodies. So while claims about coconut oil come from incomplete studies, most experts agree on one thing: using coconut oil “can’t hurt.”
Have you used coconut oil for any ailments? As a cleaning product? A beauty aid?
Image credit:
Veganbaking.net / CC BY-SA 2.0
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