Coconut oil: benefit and harm
The inhabitants of Thailand, Indonesia, India and other countries in South-East Asia coconut oil is popular for a long time due to its medicinal properties, known since Cleopatra and used in traditional Indian medicine.
Methods for producing coconut oil and its species
There is no doubt that oil called coconut, derived from the fruit of the coconut palm.For this, take a copra( white flesh) located under a solid coconut shell.It is dried in the sun, crushed and pressed to obtain oil.Pressing can be hot, and then the yield of oil from 1 kg of raw material is at least 300 g. With cold pressing, oil is much less( only 10% of the possible volume), but its value is much higher, like the cost.
The coconut oil melts, becoming transparent, yellowish at 25-27 degrees of heat, and at a lower temperature it hardens, turning into an oily granular mass.Due to the nature of the chemical composition, it does not oxidize for a long time and retains all its properties.
Coconut oil is produced unrefined( unpurified, with a pleasant sweetish aroma) and refined( purified under high pressure).The latter differs in its transparency and lack of smell.What is coconut oil made of?
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Nutritional value:
- Calories: 899 kcal
- Fat: 99.9 grams
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- Water: 0.1 g
- saturated fatty acids: 90 g
- unsaturated fatty acids: 1.8 g
Macronutrients:
- Calcium: 2 mg
- Phosphorus: 2 mg
Vitamins:
- Vitamin E( TE): 0, 7 mg
The most significant component of coconut oil Ilyayutsya saturated fatty acids.They determine its useful properties.
a result of chemical analysis found in coconut oil following substances:
- lauric acid, the content of which more than 50%.Turning in the human body into monolaurin, it becomes active against bacteria, fungi, viruses.Accelerates the healing of wounds on the skin;
- myristic acid - about 20%.Positively affects the work of the immune system, improves the penetration of cosmetic products into the skin;
- palmitic acid - approximately 9%;
- oleic acid - about 6%.Reduces the content of cholesterol in the blood, improves the protective functions of the epidermis and normalizes the moisture content in the skin, "burns" fat accumulation;
- Caprylic acid - more than 5%.It shows antifungal activity, restores acid-base balance in skin cells, promotes saturation with oxygen;
- capric acid is more than 5%.Acts as an antibiotic and immunomodulator;
- stearic acid - approximately 3%;
- linoleic and linolenic acids - up to 1%.They are essential fatty acids, providing normal vital activity of the body.
- caproic acid - about 0.5%;
- vitamins E, A, C, K, PP, H group B;
- macro and microelements( calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, selenium, manganese, etc.).
What is the use of coconut oil for humans?
Coconut oil is due to its unique properties, is widely used in medicine, household, veterinary medicine, cooking, soap, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.It is included in the formulation of many traditional medicine.
Regular use of coconut oil is indicated in the complex therapy of the following diseases:
- infectious diseases of the skin, respiratory and genitourinary systems, liver, having a viral, fungal or bacterial origin;
- heart and vascular disease: IHD, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, etc.;
- pathology of endocrine glands( thyroid, pancreatic);
- diseases of the digestive system: peptic ulcer, Crohn's disease, gastritis and gastroduodenitis, ulcerative colitis;
- type II diabetes mellitus;
- diseases of the osteoarticular apparatus: osteoarthritis, arthritis, polyarthritis, osteochondrosis, etc.;
- urine and cholelithiasis, fatty liver disease;
- immunodeficiency states;
- persistent stress and chronic fatigue;
- pathology of the nervous system( Alzheimer's disease, convulsions);
- oncological diseases.
How can coconut oil harm the human body ?
100 grams of coconut oil - it's almost 900 calories!Agree that a lot.This should be taken into account first of all by those who closely monitor their weight.To exceed the recommended daily intake of coconut oil( up to 2 tablespoons) should not be, otherwise the calories will turn into extra pounds.
Coconut oil should be carefully "tested" on yourself with an allergy-prone people, as there is the possibility of individual intolerance to this product.It is not recommended to give it to young children, especially if they have manifestations of diathesis.Women during pregnancy should not start taking coconut oil unless they previously did not to provoke the development of an allergic reaction to an unfamiliar product.