10 Health Benefits of Ginger

using Ginger

Ginger has an extremely robust flavor which makes consuming it a little bit tricky. It might be too strong to ingest on its own, but as I mentioned, it mixes incredibly well into tea or juice, it can also be a great ingredient in a recipe.    

1.Promotes Healthy Blood Pressure

Thai medical practitioners have traditionally used herbs such as ginger to support healthy blood pressure. Extracts from ginger and other herbs used in Thai therapeutic recipes were evaluated for their effectiveness against hypertension. The ginger extract was the most effective. 

2. Supports Stable Blood Sugar

Ginger has repeatedly demonstrated powerful blood sugar balancing effects. It acts on insulin release and sensitivity, and supports the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. ^[8] In one study, insulin levels noticeably lowered with ginger supplementation. ^[9] In addition to its effectiveness as a blood sugar stabilizer, ginger has also demonstrated powerful protective effects against diabetic kidney, eye and liver complications.
 

3. Migraine Relief

In a clinical trial, 100 patients received ginger powder or a drug given to migraine sufferers. The results showed the ginger powder helped reduce migraine related discomfort… without side effects.

4. Brain Health

Ginger contains compounds that have demonstrated protective effects for the brain. One of them, known as 6-Shogaol, inhibited the release and expression of redness-causing chemicals known to cause damage to neurons in both in vitro and in vivo models.  The other, 10-gingerol, when sourced from fresh ginger, similarly impacted production of nitric oxide and other chemicals that lead to redness and swelling in the brain. 

5.Protection from UV Rays

Research data has shown ginger possesses UV absorbing capabilities that protect against DNA damage related to UVB (ultraviolet-B) light. Extracts from ginger stimulated antioxidant production, suggesting protective effects against potentially damaging UV light

6. Digestive Tract Protection

Ginger has also been historically used for flatulence, constipation, bloating, and other digestive complaints. In addition to these gastro-protective effects, researchers have found ginger to be effective for stress related ulcers

7.Helps Calm Nausea and Vomiting

Clinical studies have proven ginger’s effectiveness at calming nausea and vomiting. ^[1] Research has also confirmed its potential against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The majority of studies found a positive effect against this side effect of aggressive therapies. ^[2] Ginger may be a powerful option for those suffering from toxic medical procedures like these.

8. Helps with Muscle Aches and Discomfort

A recent 2013 study has evaluated ginger for use in relieving muscle discomfort in female athletes. Over the course of this 6-week trial, participants taking ginger reported a significant decrease in muscle soreness as compared to the placebo

9. May Benefit Cardiovascular Function

One of the active compounds in ginger, 6-gingerol, has been isolated, tested and determined an active factor in regulating blood pressure and supporting cardiovascular health. Based on the results, researchers are exploring the potentials of ginger as a remedy for cardiovascular problems.

10.May Benefit Osteoarthritis

A recent in vitro study tested ginger against drugs used for osteoarthritis — the ginger extract was demonstrated to be as effective.  Another study involving 43 osteoarthritis patients found ginger to be as effective and more safe than the NSAIDs
 

The Health Benefits of Bananas

Banana fruit nutrition facts

Enjoy banana fruit; nature's own energy-rich food that comes with a safety envelope! Fresh, creamy, and delicious dessert bananas are one of the cheapest and readily available fruits year around.
Botanically, it belongs to the family of Musaceae. Commercially, it is one of the widely cultivated crops in the tropical and subtropical zones. Scientific name: Musa acuminata colla.  
Banana is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from the underground rhizome. It flourishes well under tropical, moisture-rich, humid, low-lying farmlands.
Banana has unique growth characteristics. In fact, the whole plant is a false stem (pseudostem). This pseudostem is consisting of broad leaves, together with their long petioles, overlapping each other in a disc-like fashion. The whole plant may reach upto 2 to 6 meters tall from the ground surface depending upon the cultivar types. At maturity, the rhizome gives rise to a flower (inflorescence) which is carried up along true core stem (smooth un-branched stem) which pass through the centre of pseudostem. The flower finally emerges out at the top in-between leaf clusters. The inflorescence subsequently develops to a huge hanging bunch, consisting of 3 to 20 hands (tiers), with each hand carrying at least 5-10 fingers (fruits).
 

Health benefits of banana fruit

• Banana is one of the high calorie, tropical fruits. 100 grams of fruit carry 90 calories. Besides, it contains good amount of health benefiting anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins.
  
• Banana fruit is composed of soft, easily digestible flesh made up of simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that upon consumption instantly replenishes energy and revitalizes the body. Thus, for these qualities, bananas are being used by athletes to get instant energy and as supplement food in the treatment plan for underweight children.
  
• The fruit holds a good amount of soluble dietary fiber (7% of DRA per 100 g) that helps normal bowel movements; thereby reducing constipation problems.
  
• It contains health promoting flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin, ß and a-carotenes, albeit, in small amounts. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
  
• Banana is good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine); provides about 28% of daily-recommended allowance. Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has beneficial role for the treatment of neuritis, and anemia. Further, it helps decrease homocystine (one of the triggering factor in coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke
  
  • episodes) levels within the human body.
    
  • The fruit is also a moderate source of vitamin-C (about 8.7 mg per 100g). Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
    
  • Fresh bananas provide adequate levels of minerals like copper, magnesium, and manganese. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well. Manganese is utilized as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells.
    
  • Fresh banana is a very rich source of potassium. 100 g fruit provides 358 mg potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering bad effects of sodium.
    

                        so enjoy your bananas stay fit stay strong and stay healthy

Best Home Remedies For Diabetes 1

Guava:

Guava contains Vitamin C and fiber in it, with is more important for the people suffering from diabetes. Standard blood glucose level can be maintained eating guava everyday by peeling the skin off. Excess intake of guava is not suggested.

Mango leaves:

Soaking few mango leaves that are delicate and tender in water for a whole night and consuming it in the morning with empty stomach helps you stay away from diabetes. Powdering these leaves by drying them and taking half a teaspoon twice a day also controls diabetes.

Cinnamon:

Four teaspoons of cinnamon powder should be mixed with water and should be boiled in a low flame. Consuming this extract as a routine helps you maintain the blood glucose levels. Pinch of cinnamon with warm water also helps in curing diabetes.

Aloevera:

Mixing gel that is extracted from aloe vera, bay leaf and turmeric powder in equal ratios and consuming the obtained solution daily before your meal helps you control the blood sugar level which in turn kepps you free from diabetes.

Water:

Water helps in mobilizing the sugar contents that are present in the body which controls cause of diabetes and also helps in maintaining glucose levels. Consuming 2.5 litres of water daily shows best results in people suffering from diabetes.

Sunlight:

Sunlight produces Vitamin D which helps in the production of insulin helping in maintaining the blood glucose levels. Enjoy exposing to sunlight for few minutes early in the morning which helps in gaining Vitamin D and keeps you healthy.                                            

Onion

Onion is a very powerful and effective home remedy for diabetes mellitus. It contains quercetin and sulfur compounds. On the one hand, sulfur compounds are strong anti-microbial compounds. On the other hand, quercetin is a strong flavanoid that reduces every kind of inflammation. These two ingredients in onion make it an effective home remedy against type 2 diabetes.

The insulin production is triggered in the pancreas by sulfur compounds and quercetin reduces inflammation in the intestines. Reduced inflammation helps the blood in using insulin for the purpose of glucose breakdown. This process decreases the un-necessary accumulation of glucose in the blood. Hence, onion juice forms one of the best home remedies for diabetes mellitus. However, people suffering from type 1 diabetes should not use this home remedy.

- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.ZGjOnQyr.dpuf

Onion

Onion is a very powerful and effective home remedy for diabetes mellitus. It contains quercetin and sulfur compounds. On the one hand, sulfur compounds are strong anti-microbial compounds. On the other hand, quercetin is a strong flavanoid that reduces every kind of inflammation. These two ingredients in onion make it an effective home remedy against type 2 diabetes.

The insulin production is triggered in the pancreas by sulfur compounds and quercetin reduces inflammation in the intestines. Reduced inflammation helps the blood in using insulin for the purpose of glucose breakdown. This process decreases the un-necessary accumulation of glucose in the blood. Hence, onion juice forms one of the best home remedies for diabetes mellitus. However, people suffering from type 1 diabetes should not use this home remedy.

- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.ZGjOnQyr.dpuf

Onion

Onion is a very powerful and effective home remedy for diabetes mellitus. It contains quercetin and sulfur compounds. On the one hand, sulfur compounds are strong anti-microbial compounds. On the other hand, quercetin is a strong flavanoid that reduces every kind of inflammation. These two ingredients in onion make it an effective home remedy against type 2 diabetes.

The insulin production is triggered in the pancreas by sulfur compounds and quercetin reduces inflammation in the intestines. Reduced inflammation helps the blood in using insulin for the purpose of glucose breakdown. This process decreases the un-necessary accumulation of glucose in the blood. Hence, onion juice forms one of the best home remedies for diabetes mellitus. However, people suffering from type 1 diabetes should not use this home remedy.

- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.ZGjOnQyr.dpuf

 

Onion

Onion is a very powerful and effective home remedy for diabetes mellitus. It contains quercetin and sulfur compounds. On the one hand, sulfur compounds are strong anti-microbial compounds. On the other hand, quercetin is a strong flavanoid that reduces every kind of inflammation. These two ingredients in onion make it an effective home remedy against type 2 diabetes.

The insulin production is triggered in the pancreas by sulfur compounds and quercetin reduces inflammation in the intestines. Reduced inflammation helps the blood in using insulin for the purpose of glucose breakdown. This process decreases the un-necessary accumulation of glucose in the blood. Hence, onion juice forms one of the best home remedies for diabetes mellitus. However, people suffering from type 1 diabetes should not use this home remedy.

- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.ZGjOnQyr.dpuf

Garlic

Garlic is yet another powerful home remedy for the people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Garlic contains such ingredients that boost the immune system of the body. It is for this reason that garlic helps ease the problems faced by suffering from diabetes. The blood sugar level comes under control, since garlic contains allicin. Allicin is a sulfur compound that helps the pancreas in producing insulin. Additionally, it also maintains the insulin level by restricting it to the desired amount. This helps in the breakdown of blood glucose. Hence, the blood sugar level stays under control.
- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.6QkgTf3O.dpuf

 

Garlic

Garlic is yet another powerful home remedy for the people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Garlic contains such ingredients that boost the immune system of the body. It is for this reason that garlic helps ease the problems faced by suffering from diabetes. The blood sugar level comes under control, since garlic contains allicin. Allicin is a sulfur compound that helps the pancreas in producing insulin. Additionally, it also maintains the insulin level by restricting it to the desired amount. This helps in the breakdown of blood glucose. Hence, the blood sugar level stays under control.
- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.6QkgTf3O.dpuf

Onion

Onion is a very powerful and effective home remedy for diabetes mellitus. It contains quercetin and sulfur compounds. On the one hand, sulfur compounds are strong anti-microbial compounds. On the other hand, quercetin is a strong flavanoid that reduces every kind of inflammation. These two ingredients in onion make it an effective home remedy against type 2 diabetes.

The insulin production is triggered in the pancreas by sulfur compounds and quercetin reduces inflammation in the intestines. Reduced inflammation helps the blood in using insulin for the purpose of glucose breakdown. This process decreases the un-necessary accumulation of glucose in the blood. Hence, onion juice forms one of the best home remedies for diabetes mellitus. However, people suffering from type 1 diabetes should not use this home remedy.

- See more at: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-diabetes/#sthash.ZGjOnQyr.dpuf

                                                                            

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes—the most common form of diabetes—is caused by a combination of factors, including insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s muscle, fat, and liver cells do not use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can no longer produce enough insulin to compensate for the impaired ability to use insulin. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may develop gradually and can be subtle; some people with type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed for years.
Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older people who are also overweight or obese. The disease, once rare in youth, is becoming more common in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Scientists think genetic susceptibility and environmental factors are the most likely triggers of type 2 diabetes.

Genetic Susceptibility

Genes play a significant part in susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Having certain genes or combinations of genes may increase or decrease a person’s risk for developing the disease. The role of genes is suggested by the high rate of type 2 diabetes in families and identical twins and wide variations in diabetes prevalence by ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes occurs more frequently in African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanics/Latinos, and some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander Americans than it does in non-Hispanic whites.
Recent studies have combined genetic data from large numbers of people, accelerating the pace of gene discovery. Though scientists have now identified many gene variants that increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, the majority have yet to be discovered. The known genes appear to affect insulin production rather than insulin resistance. Researchers are working to  identify additional gene variants and to learn how they interact with one another and with environmental factors to cause diabetes 
Studies have shown that variants of the TCF7L2 gene increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. For people who inherit two copies of the variants, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is about 80 percent higher than for those who do not carry the gene variant.¹ However, even in those with the variant, diet and physical activity leading to weight loss help delay diabetes, according to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a major clinical trial involving people at high risk.
Genes can also increase the risk of diabetes by increasing a person’s tendency to become overweight or obese. One theory, known as the “thrifty gene” hypothesis, suggests certain genes increase the efficiency of metabolism to extract energy from food and store the energy for later use. This survival trait was advantageous for populations whose food supplies were scarcer unpredictable and could help keep people alive during famine. In modern times, however, when high-calorie foods are plentiful, such a trait can promote obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity and Physical Inactivity

Physical inactivity and obesity are strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. People who are genetically susceptible to type 2 diabetes are more vulnerable when these risk factors are present.
An imbalance between caloric intake and physical activity can lead to obesity, which causes insulin resistance and is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Central obesity, in which a person has excess abdominal fat, is a major risk factor not only for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes but also for heart and blood vessel disease, also called cardiovascular disease (CVD). This excess “belly fat” produces hormones and other substances that can cause harmful, chronic effects in the body such as damage to blood vessels.
The DPP and other studies show that millions of people can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes by making lifestyle changes and losing weight. The DPP proved that people with prediabetes—at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes—could sharply lower their risk by losing weight through regular physical activity and a diet low in fat and calories. In 2009, a follow-up study of DPP participants—the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS)—showed that the benefits of weight loss lasted for at least 10 years after the original study began.²

What causes type 1 diabetes?

type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. In type 1 diabetes—an autoimmune disease—the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells. Normally, the immune system protects the body from infection by identifying and destroying bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful foreign substances. But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. In type 1 diabetes, beta cell destruction may take place over several years, but symptoms of the disease usually develop over a short period of time.
Type 1 diabetes typically occurs in children and young adults, though it can appear at any age. In the past, type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) may be a slowly developing kind of type 1 diabetes. Diagnosis usually occurs after age 30. In LADA, as in type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells. At the time of diagnosis, people with LADA may still produce their own insulin, but eventually most will need insulin shots or an insulin pump to control blood glucose levels.

Genetic Susceptibility

Heredity plays an important part in determining who is likely to develop type 1 diabetes. Genes are passed down from biological parent to child. Genes carry instructions for making proteins that are needed for the body’s cells to function. Many genes, as well as interactions among genes, are thought to influence susceptibility to and protection from type 1 diabetes. The key genes may vary in different population groups. Variations in genes that affect more than 1 percent of a population group are called gene variants. Certain gene variants that carry instructions for making proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) on white blood cells are linked to the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The proteins produced by HLA genes help determine whether the immune system recognizes a cell as part of the body or as foreign material. Some combinations of HLA gene variants predict that a person will be at higher risk for type 1 diabetes, while other combinations are protective or have no effect on risk.
While HLA genes are the major risk genes for type 1 diabetes, many additional risk genes or gene regions have been found. Not only can these genes help identify people at risk for type 1 diabetes, but they also provide important clues to help scientists better understand how the disease develops and identify potential targets for therapy and prevention.
Genetic testing can show what types of HLA genes a person carries and can reveal other genes linked to diabetes. However, most genetic testing is done in a research setting and is not yet available to individuals. Scientists are studying how the results of genetic testing can be used to improve type 1 diabetes prevention or treatment.

Autoimmune Destruction of Beta Cells

In type 1 diabetes, white blood cells called T cells attack and destroy beta cells. The process begins well before diabetes symptoms appear and continues after diagnosis. Often, type 1 diabetes is not diagnosed until most beta cells have already een destroyed. At this point, a person needs daily insulin treatment to survive. Finding ways to modify or stop this autoimmune process and preserve beta cell function is a major focus of current scientific research. Recent research suggests insulin itself may be a key trigger of the immune attack on beta cells. The immune systems of people who are susceptible to developing type 1 diabetes respond to insulin as if it were a foreign substance, or antigen. To combat antigens, the body makes proteins called antibodies. Antibodies to insulin and other proteins produced by beta cells are found in people with type 1 diabetes. Researchers test for these antibodies to help identify people at increased risk of developing the disease. Testing the types and levels of antibodies in the blood can help determine whether a person has type 1 diabetes, LADA, or another type of diabetes.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors, such as foods, viruses, and toxins, may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes, but the exact nature of their role has not been determined. Some theories suggest that environmental factors trigger the autoimmune destruction of beta cells in people with a genetic susceptibility to diabetes. Other theories suggest that environmental factors play an ongoing role in diabetes, even after diagnosis.                                                 
Viruses and infections. A virus cannot cause diabetes on its own, but people are sometimes diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during or after a viral infection, suggesting a link between the two. Also, the onset of type 1 diabetes occurs more frequently during the winter when viral infections are more common. Viruses possibly associated with type 1 diabetes include coxsackievirus B, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, rubella, and mumps. Scientists have described several ways these viruses may damage or destroy beta cells or possibly trigger an autoimmune response in susceptible people. For example, anti-islet antibodies have been found in patients with congenital rubella syndrome, and cytomegalovirus has been associated with significant beta cell damage and acute pancreatitis––inflammation of the pancreas. Scientists are trying to identify a virus that can cause type 1 diabetes so that a vaccine might be developed to prevent the disease.
   Infant feeding practices. Some studies have suggested that dietary factors may raise or lower the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. For example, breastfed infants and infants receiving vitamin D supplements may have a reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes, while early exposure to cow’s milk and cereal proteins may increase risk. More research is needed to clarify how infant nutrition affects the risk for type 1 diabetes.                                                                          

Causes of Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a complex group of diseases with a variety of causes. People with diabetes have high blood glucose, also called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for energy. The digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates—sugars and starches found in many foods—into glucose, a form of sugar that enters the bloodstream. With the help of the hormone insulin, cells throughout the body absorb glucose and use it for energy. Diabetes develops when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or is not able to use insulin effectively, or both.

Insulin is made in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas contains clusters of cells called islets. Beta cells within the islets make insulin and release it into the blood.

If beta cells don’t produce enough insulin, or the body doesn’t respond to the insulin that is present, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by cells in the body, leading to prediabetes or diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels or A1C levels—which reflect average blood glucose levels—are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In diabetes, the body’s cells are starved of energy despite high blood glucose levels.

Over time, high blood glucose damages nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, dental disease, and amputations. Other complications of diabetes may include increased susceptibility to other diseases, loss of mobility with aging, depression, and pregnancy problems. No one is certain what starts the processes that cause diabetes, but scientists believe genes and environmental factors interact to cause diabetes in most cases.

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A third type, gestational diabetes, develops only during pregnancy. Other types of diabetes are caused by defects in specific genes, diseases of the pancreas, certain drugs or chemicals, infections, and other conditions. Some people show signs of both type  1 and type 2 diabetes.

10 Proven Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

  

1.The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil Can Kill Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi, Helping to Stave Off Infections When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin  

Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi
For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humansThe fatty acids and breakdown products in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, potentially helping to prevent infections.                                                                                                                                                            

2. Coconut Oil Can Kill Your Hunger, Making You Eat Less     Without Even Trying     

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.                                                                       
This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect
In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.
The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average
Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch
These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.
 The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

3. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Are Turned into Ketones, Which Can Reduce Seizures

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currrently being studied to treat various disorders.
The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children
This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.
For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.
Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet
The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

4. Coconut Oil Can Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels and May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.
Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtyp 
In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil
There are also rat studies showing that coconut oil reduces triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL and improves blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status 

This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term. Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.

5. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair Against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreem

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.
Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin
Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath

Coconut oil can be applied topically as well, studies showing it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen and as mouthwash.

6. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.
In Alzheimer’ patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.
Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s
In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides led to immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s
Other studies support these findings and medium chain triglycerides are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s diseas
 Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms.

7. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Fat, Especially The Dangerous Fat in Your Abdominal Cavity

Given that coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it can also help you lose weight.
Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs.
This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many Western diseases.
Waist circumference is easily measured and is a great marker for the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.
A study in 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks

8.Populations That Eat a LOT of Coconut Are Among The Healthiest People on The Planet      

Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.
However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.
The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.
They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.
These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease
Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans
Plenty of populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating massive amounts of coconut.                                                                                                                                                       

9.Coconut Oil Contains a Unique Combination of Fatty Acids With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated
However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth
Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.
No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.
Most of the fatty acids in the diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.Coconut oil contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently and can have therapeutic effects on several brain disorders.

Coconut Oil Can Increase Your Energy Expenditure, Helping You Burn More Fat Obesity is currently one of the biggest healthproblems in the world.

While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.
It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats
One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day
   The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

                    

  hope you found this article very helpful