Coconut Oil and Your Health

Coconut Oil During Pregnancy and Infancy

A daily dose of coconut oil is beneficial during pregnancy, as the natural fats help your unborn baby grow and absorb all the essential nutrients. It will also boost your calcium intake by improving your absorption.

You can use coconut oil topically on your stomach to prevent stretch marks. To prepare for labor, you can massage the oil into the perineum—this will strengthen the delicate tissues so they will stretch more easily during child birth.

Afer the birth, coconut oil on the perineum will help you heal faster. Continue taking a daily dose of three or four tablespoons of coconut oil to increase your milk supply, and you can also massage it into your nipples to prevent cracking.

If your newborn baby suffers from cradle cap, gently massage a small amount of coconut oil into the scalp, then after a few minutes wash the oil off with warm water. You can also use coconut oil as a gentle and natural remedy for diaper rash.

Coconut Oil and Thrush

The high content of lauric acid and caprylic acid make coconut oil an excellent treatment for fungal infections such as thrush or Candida. Both these acids have antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, making them ideal for fighting fungal overgrowth while balancing your bacteria level and fighting infection.

Taking coconut oil treats the cause of Candida rather than simply treating the symptoms, so you can balance your system in the long term and eliminate the distressing side effects of a Candida infection, such as fatigue, mood swings, and abdominal pain. Start by taking one tablespoon a day, and then gradually increase the dose to up to three tablespoons a day. For fungal infections such as athlete's foot, apply coconut oil directly to the afflicted area.

Coconut Oil for Colds and Flu

The antiviral properties of coconut oil mean it is an excellent natural treatment for colds and related conditions. Consume between one and three tablespoons a day to boost your immunity.

If you are feeling congested, try combining solid coconut oil with a few drops of essential oil and apply the mixture to your chest. When you have a headache or feel feverish, try massaging plain coconut oil into your temples. A dollop of coconut oil in a cup of hot tea will soothe and heal a sore throat.

A daily dose of coconut oil is also soothing and beneficial for a cough as the oil will destroy the bacteria causing the cough. Try stirring the coconut oil into a cup of hot tea for soothing and therapeutic refreshment.

Coconut Oil and Alzheimer's Disease

One of the indications of Alzheimer's disease is that some sections of the brain stop processing glucose. For this reason, people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, as they already have problems processing sugars. Researchers have figured out that, by supplying more energy to the brain, they could find a solution to the downward spiral of Alzheimer's.

The brain uses an energy source called ketones. The liver converts medium-chain triglycerides into ketones, and coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides. Many researchers of small-scale studies have found that daily doses of coconut oil have helped slow the development of Alzheimer's and it is believed this is because the medium-chain triglycerides are providing the necessary energy to keep the brain cells from deteriorating.

Coconut Oil and Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease causes major ulcerations along the digestive system, preventing patients from absorbing nutrients and fluids, so they become dehydrated and/or malnourished. Coconut oil works in two ways to ease the symptoms and after-effects of Crohn's disease. First, it helps to heal the ulcerated sections of the digestive tract, and second, it works to increase the absorption of essential nutrients such as calcium and magnesium Crohn's patients can also benefit from drinking coconut water, as it is rich in electrolytes, which is lost through malabsorption.
 

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