Top Coconut Oil Health Hacks

I am sure you’ve seen the latest reports that coconut oil is unhealthy and full of saturated fats, and that too much of it can be bad for you.

And yes, this is true. It does contain saturated fats and too much can be bad for you, but what about when you consume it as part of a balanced diet in moderate amounts?

In this blog post, you’ll see…

• The latest advice for coconut oil by the American Heart Association
• 4 benefits of coconut oil you don’t want to miss out on
• Life hacks everyone needs for coconut oil
• How to not eat too much coconut oil

This latest report from the American Heart Association (AHA) has everyone questioning whether what we’ve thought about coconut oil is wrong and whether we should stay away from it.

But if you take a look at the study it shows a correlation between the overconsumption of coconut oil, higher levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) and cardiovascular disease, rather than it being a direct cause.

This report also recommends using soy or canola oil as a replacement, both of which we know are not healthy alternatives [1].

In fact, a 2013 cohort study found that when you replace your saturated fats, such as coconut oil, with vegetable oils, as recommended by the AHA, the death from cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease actually increased [2].

The biggest problem that I have with this report that was conducted by the AHA is that it is largely funded by AG Canada and Canola Oil Council. This could be why the report is trying to get you to replace your coconut oil with vegetable oil, even though studies have shown it leads to higher death rates… You know what they say, “Follow the money.” You can see this for yourself on page 18 of the American Heart Association’s publication.

Whatever you may think of coconut oil, there are definitely some beneficial benefits that shouldn’t be ignored and this is why we can still include it in your Custom Meal Plan.

TOP 4 BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL 

However, you may feel about the recent claims on coconut oil, the fact of the matter is that it still has some major health benefits that can’t be ignored, especially if you are trying to lose weight, which will greatly contribute to your overall health.

• Helps Burn More Fat – Compared to other oils, coconut oil affects our bodies more positively. This is because of the medium chain triglycerides that are found in this oil, which can actually help burn more calories and thus burn more fat when consumed in moderation. Remember, coconut oil, no matter how healthy it is, still has about 130 calories per tablespoon [3, 4, 5].

• Reduces Hunger – Another way that coconut oil helps to fight fat is by reducing hunger, thus reducing calorie intake. Research suggests that this could be due to the way the fatty acids are metabolized within the body [6].

• Anti-Inflammatory – In animal studies, coconut oil in comparison to other oils may be the best to improve inflammation. One study on rats given virgin coconut oil showed an improvement in antioxidant status and prevented oxidative stress [8].

• Protects Your Liver – Coconut oil can help to protect and support the function of your liver by helping to protect the liver from incoming toxins [9].

HOW MUCH COCONUT OIL SHOULD YOU EAT EVERY DAY?

When determining how much coconut oil you are consuming every day, it is important to remember how many other fats (even healthy ones) you are consuming every day. Just because coconut oil is still considered to be a healthy fat, doesn’t mean that you can eat all you want and it should be strictly limited. Just as with most things, especially fats, moderation is key.

Depending on your needs, and whether you are including other healthy fats in your diet, you can eat about 1-2 tablespoons per day. However, this differs for everyone so if you are on a Custom Meal Plan your nutritionist should be able to add the appropriate amount of coconut oil to your meal plan. If you aren’t on a custom meal plan, be sure you sign up for one to make sure you are getting enough coconut oil to reap the benefits, yet you aren’t overdoing it.

How does coconut oil compare to other fats? There are so many different types of fat and not all of them affect us the same way. This is why we have bad fats and good fats, and good fats are essential for keeping our body healthy.

3 Coconut Oil Life Hacks

The great thing about coconut oil is that it is good for your whole body and not just when you consume it. There are so many different uses for coconut oil, it is no wonder that it is quickly becoming a staple in everyone’s kitchen and bathroom!

Here are some great hacks that you can use coconut oil for:

Hair – Did you know coconut oil is great for your hair? All you have to do is simply apply coconut oil to your hair before washing, letting sit for about 20 minutes. You can even add a bit of oil to your hair after washing. If you choose to do it after washing, keep in mind that too much can make your hair look greasy and oily.

We put our hair through a lot, as many of us wash it daily, blow dry it, style it, and even dye it with harmful chemicals. All of this can cause a lot of damage to our hair, dry it out, and even lose some of its protein. Fortunately, coconut oil can help to repair and reverse some of this damage as it is absorbed into the hair and can protect it from protein loss [10].

While this can be a great treatment for your hair it is important to not overdo it as it can cause a buildup of oil to form on your hair.

Skin – Coconut oil is a great, natural alternative to lotion. It hydrates your skin and gives it a really nice glow while also providing nutrients. It is able to not only hydrate your skin, but it also helps to kill bacteria that may be present and promote the production of collagen [11, 12]. It may even help reduce the appearance of acne scars [13].

If you already have oily skin, I would recommend that you avoid using coconut oil as this can make your skin more oily.

Because coconut oil is so good for your skin, another great use for it is as a makeup remover. This hydrating oil will take everything off, even long-lasting makeup. Just rub a little bit onto your face and wipe it off with a clean cloth.

Teeth – Have you heard of oil pulling? This is where you swish a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes and is considered to be very healthy for your teeth. When you use coconut oil on your teeth it can help reduce plaque, fight gum disease, and  [14, 15, 16].

It is because of these benefits that many people use coconut oil to make their own, all natural toothpaste consisting of coconut oil, baking soda, and peppermint essential oil.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT EATING TOO MUCH COCONUT OIL

If you are using coconut oil for the hacks provided here, then you don’t have to worry about using too much. If you are consuming it for one of the many benefits, and are after a specific goal, this is completely different as a small amount can end up making a huge impact.

The best way to make sure you are you are getting the right amount of coconut oil without sabotaging any goals that you have is to sign up for a Custom Meal Plan and let a nutritionist figure it out for you. Everyone is different and so everyone would need a different amount of coconut oil, or healthy fats in general, in order to reach any specific goal that you have.