1. It contains antioxidants that can decrease oxidative stress.
Virgin coconut oils in the diet are rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which have many potential heart-health benefits. When the heart and blood vessels are exposed to a process called oxidative stress, plaques can develop in arteries, which can lead to heart attacks. Blood vessels can stiffen and cause high blood pressure; and heart failure can develop. Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in the body and lower inflammation.
Polyphenols reduce blood pressure in elderly people with high blood pressure, studies find. Polyphenols have also been shown to reduce the growth of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries in animal studies. Also, in animal studies, researchers have found that polyphenols can help blood vessels relax and become less stiff , preventing the early first steps in the development of high blood pressure.
2. It can reduce total and bad cholesterol.
Virgin coconut oil contains both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are healthy fats that can lower cholesterol, in particular, our triglyceride levels. Virgin coconut oils also increase enzymes, such as lipoprotein lipase, that help break down fat. In addition, virgin coconut oil increases the production of bile, which aids in our body’s digestion of and removal of fats. In animals, this leads to a lowering of the bad cholesterols (LDL, VLDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol count.
3. It helps weight loss through increased calorie burning.
Virgin coconut oil contains about 60 percent to 63 percent medium-chain fatty acids, which our bodies use as efficient energy sources. Consumption of medium-chain fatty acids increases calorie burning and thus can promote weight loss. In a study of 20 obese men, those who consumed 30 milliliters of virgin coconut oil per week decreased their waist circumference on average 2.86 cm. This was a small study, but one that suggests we need a larger one to examine the best dose and find out if the early benefits of using virgin coconut oil are retained.
Source/Author: Thomas Jared Bunch, MD
Dr. Bunch is a native of Logan, Utah and graduated from the University of Utah School of Medicine with alpha omega alpha honors. He completed internal medicine residency and fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and electrophysiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. He received the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award for clinical care of patients and the Donald C. Balfour Award for meritorious research. He served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic from 2003-2007, before joining his current partners at Intermountain Heart Rhythm Specialists. He currently directs heart rhythm research at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute and is the medical director for heart rhythm services for the Intermountain Healthcare network. He received the 2014 researcher of the year award from Intermountain Healthcare.