In a word, coconut oil is a body-friendly foodstuff that is heart-healthy, great for oral health, and other health benefits. Structurally, coconut oil is taken from coconut kernels. It’s tasteless and colorless, and is available for consumer usage in refined and unrefined coconut oil.

Advocates call the coconut a “superfood”, but the evidence doesn’t completely support that name tag – at least not yet.

Composite-wise, coconut oil contains a cornucopia of fatty acids and proteins that hold antioxidants and provide myriad health benefits. It’s rich in so-called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA’s), which are, in great part, comprised of Caprylic acid, Lauric acid and Capric acid.

Approximately 60% of all coconut oils are comprised of the above three fatty acids, while 90% of coconut oil fats is comprised of heart-healthy saturated fats. The latter figure is a high one, and not one that is recommendable to many doctors. For example, 14% of olive oil calories come from saturated fat, and 63% of butter’s calories come from saturated fat.

As a rule, nutritionists love MCFA’s, noting that, among other advantages, they’re easily digestible and since they’re processed by the liver, MCFA’s are more effectively and quickly converted to energy, and not fat, inside the body.

Coconut Oil Nutritional Facts
Here is how coconut oil is broken down, nutritionally (based on one tablespoon of coconut oil.)

120 calories.
0 grams of protein
14 grams of fat (12 = saturated fat; 1 = monounsaturated fat; and 0.5 grams of polyunsaturated fats.)
0 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol
It’s worth noting that, component-wise, coconut oils often differ in their make-up, and differ in their health benefits.

For example, partially hydrogenated coconut oil isn’t deemed as healthy by nutritionists – it’s similar as other processed oils that hold trans fats. Yet so-called “virgin” coconut oil comes from fruit component of coconuts, and is extracted without the use of chemicals or other foreign agents. Thus, nutritionists look more favorably on virgin coconut oil.
10 Benefits of Coconut Oil
There is a growing body of evidence that coconut oil offers some health benefits, both internally and externally.
1. A Boost in Good Cholesterol
Coconut oil is said to modestly hike one’s level of good cholesterol.

2. Good for Blood Sugar and Diabetes
Coconut oil can aid in lowering obesity levels in the body and also battles insulin resistance – issues that often lead to type two diabetes.

3. Helps Fight Back Against Alzheimer’s Disease
The MCFA component in coconut oil – especially its generation of ketones by the liver – aids in mending brain function in Alzheimer patients.

4. Helps Stop Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Since coconut oil is so high in saturated fats, that helps boost HDL (or “good”) cholesterol to ward off heart disease and lowering high triglycerides. Additionally, coconut oil also performs a rather remarkable and heart-healthy feat – it helps turn bad cholesterol into good cholesterol.

5. Aids in Liver Health
Coconut oil also guards against any damage to the liver, and also aids in curing urinary tract infections.

6. Boosts Energy
Unrefined coconut oil also hikes energy and endurance, primarily by its MCFA’s shooting directly into the liver, which enables to be converted into energy.

7. Aids with Digestion
Another benefit of coconut oil – it helps with food digestion by aid the body take in fat-soluble components like vitamins and magnesium. It also eliminates toxic bacteria and candida, which fights poor digestion and stomach inflammation. That helps prevent stomach ulcers.

8. Acts as a Salve for Wounds and Burns
Coconut is good for the skin, especially in the treatment of wounds, burns, and dermatitis. It also acts as sunblock, and as a moisturizer for the skin, thanks to the two primary fatty acids in unrefined coconut oil, caprylic and lauric, and to its antioxidant component, which team up to reduce inflammation under the skin and promote better healing.

9. Acts as an Anti-aging Component
Rich with antioxidants, coconut oil is known to slow the aging process, generally by curbing any undue stress on the liver.

10. Helps With Weight Loss
Coconut oil also can help with weight loss, as it acts as a fat burner and a calorie burner, especially with doses of unrefined coconut oil. It also acts as an appetite suppressant. One study shows that the capric acid in coconut oil helps boost thyroid performance, which in turn reduces a body’s resting heart rate and aids in burning fat for an increased energy boost.