Coconut Oil is now one of the hottest trends in the natural health world and with good reason. For too long the coconut was stigmatised and many people were advised to avoid eating them as they were considered to be “too high in saturated fats”.

However, in the past few years the coconut has been reconsidered by many of America’s health doctors who now believe that coconuts and coconut oil should be included as part of a really healthy diet. Below are just some of the best health reasons as to why you should consider including more coconuts and coconut oil in your lifestyle…

Supports brain health. Coconut juice has been found to significantly reduce the buildup of proteins within the brain that have come to be associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, according to a study from the British Journal of Nutrition. While another published study found similar results. It was found that the coconut oil provided protective qualities against the brain-destroying effects of any amyloid proteins that may have built up within the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. A new study from Spain has shown that Alzheimer’s is caused by fungus on the brain. Strong evidence for fungal infection was found in Alzheimer’s patients while the fungal DNA and proteins were also found in the frozen brain tissue from AD patients, but not the control patient tissue itself. Almost 50% of the fatty acids within coconut oil contain lauric acid which when enzymatically digested forms a monoglyceride known as monolaurin. This is a powerful virus and bacteria destroyer and is one of the key reasons you should consider including more coconut oil in your diet.

Promotes heart health. Studies have shown that coconut oil is heart healthy and 72 analysed studies from within the Annals of Internal Medicine couldn’t find a link between saturated fats and heart disease or stroke. One 5 year Sri Lankan study found that coconut oil was heart healthy, containing phenolic antioxidants that can reduce the risk of CVry heart disease. Another randomized clinical Brazilian trial found that 40 women given 2 teaspoons of coconut oil or soybean oil daily were shown to have increased their levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol, while decreasing their levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol compared to the group consuming soybean oil. In comparison, the soybean oil group saw significant increases in cholesterol – with an increase in LDL and a decrease in HDL.

Reduces visceral fat. Heart health benefits were found from consuming coconut oil, according to the same Brazilian trial. Results showed that it reduced the deep abdominal fat that’s associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, the female participants also experienced a marked reduction in their body mass index (BMI) and their waist circumference. Coconut oil has also been associated with reduced hunger perhaps cause to changing the way fats are metabolized and this includes medium chain fatty acids like coconut oil within the diet.

Reduces epileptic seizures. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are transformed into ketones within the body, according to a randomized and controlled trial published in the Lancet Neurology. A ketogenic diet  (low carb, high fat) can help to reduce seizures within children who may be drug-resistant and it can also reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children who may be resistant to anti-seizure drugs.

Kills bacteria and viruses. About 50% of the saturated fats in coconut oil is from lauric acid and this has been shown to kill common bacteria like the staphylococcus aureus and the candida albicans yeast. A technique known as oil pulling is recommended by some health experts who claim it can reduce bad breath, dental plaque and more. Oil pulling consists of swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil around the mouth for 5 minutes every morning and then spitting the oil out, along with the bacteria. When the coconut oil is swallowed, a compound known as monolaurin is formed and this can kill bacteria in the body.

For best results, Robert Redfern of Naturally Healthy News recommends trying Virgin Coconut Oil and this can be purchased from Good Health Naturally. Alternatively, try the BrainPower™ supplement as this is a blend of Coconut Oil with Curcumin and DHA to help support the prevention and delay of mental decline related to conditions such as Senility, Alzheimer’s and age-related memory loss.