What is not said about coconut oil: that it is "pure poison", and that the quality is like lard, and can cause cancer. Many believe that the era of this product is over. But researchers at Harvard University warn against jumping to conclusions. They believe that many lovers of this product made one mistake: they regularly used coconut oil for everything.
Why is everyone talking about coconut oil?
Not so long ago, Professor Karin Michels from the Harvard Institute of Health gave a talk on nutritional errors, in which she also mentioned coconut oil.
She said that this product is a source of saturated fat, which means it is no different from regular lard. Information about this immediately spread over the Internet - more than 1 million people watched the video of the professor's speech alone.
As a result, many have concluded that this product is one of the most harmful and fatty, is a source of bad cholesterol. But is it really so?
3 truthful facts about coconut oil
Yes, this product is not the most useful, nevertheless, almost demonic properties are often attributed to it. Some of the existing myths are better dispelled.
Benefits for the skin
One of the studies carried out by scientists has proven that this product nourishes and moisturizes the skin. Also, experts have found that this oil also has a sunscreen effect, since it blocks on average up to 20% of UV rays.
But for protection, it is still worth choosing sesame oil, which blocks over 30%.
Hair protection
Scientists have also found out that when using oil-based formulations, the agent penetrates the hair structure, strengthening the curls.
Improving oral health
Not so long ago, scientists researching the effect of the product on the oral cavity found out that the product successfully fights plaque on the teeth, and also improves gum health. The effect was achieved in just 7 days of observation.
3 myths about this product: what you definitely shouldn't believe
Reducing the risk of developing heart disease
Today, you can find many articles that say that coconut oil, due to the saturated fats in its composition, increases the level of good cholesterol in the blood. And this, naturally, has a positive effect on the state of the cardiovascular system.
But at best, this product will not affect the heart in any way. At worst, health problems will appear as a result of its use.
But according to experts from the University of California at Berkeley, it depends on which product the oil will replace in your diet. For example, if you use it instead of regular butter, there will be no negative effect. But if you use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, which contains polyunsaturated fats necessary for the health of blood vessels, the level of “bad” cholesterol can rise significantly.
Helps to lose weight
For some reason, many are sure that this product will help you lose weight. This is explained by the presence of triglycides in the composition. The body spends a lot of calories on their breakdown.
But there are a number of nuances here. For example, you cannot just use such a product, because the oil is quite fat. And as a result: not the loss of extra pounds, but their acquisition.
Help Fight Alzheimer's Symptoms
This myth is not based on the fact that coconut oil helps in the production of ketones. And these substances improve the functioning of brain cells, which has a positive effect on the body during the development of Alzheimer's disease.
This conclusion is based on the only case that happened to the neonatologist, Mary Newport, whose husband was ill.
According to her, she was able to cure the disease by giving him only this product. Thus, there is no scientific evidence on the benefits of oil in this case.
Truth without proof
Some proponents of this product argue that the healthiest nation eats coconut oil, consumes a lot and often. We are talking about the inhabitants of Polynesia and Sri Lanka.
Indeed, this product is present in their diet every day, because they cook everything on it. However, they do not have any heart problems. But the fact is that the diet of the inhabitants of these countries is also rich in other useful products: fish, fruits, nuts.
Daily training and genetics also play an important role.
So what's the bottom line?
Coconut oil is not a miracle panacea for everything. But there is no particular harm from this product if you use it correctly and in a reasonable amount.
Yes, it will not protect against diseases, will not cause dramatic weight loss, but coconut oil can still be used as an effective cosmetic product to replace some animal oils.
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