Coconuts And Coconut Oil Specifically Are Part Of The Most Talked About Food Purported To Have Health Benefits These Days So Can Coconut Oil Reduce Pain
Coconut oil comes from pressing the dried meat of mature coconuts, harvested from coconut palm, to extract the oil. This oil has been shown to provide a multitude of health benefits including reducing inflammation, fighting germs and supporting almost all processes of the body. The evidence is not definitive, although much is being written about the benefits of coconut oil. However, many reputable sources, including WebMD, Dr. Oz and Livestrong have all covered the subject extensively on their websites.
Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Dogs With Arthritis
Many pet owners prefer not to treat a dogs arthritis pain with prescription drugs for fear of common side effects or worsening symptoms. Instead, there are a number of natural or holistic treatments available, with one being coconut oil. In recent years, coconut oil has had a surge in popularity for multiple reasons. In particular, coconut oil has been found to help relieve joint pain among canine arthritis sufferers, which is welcome news for many pet owners.
What is coconut oil?Coconut oil is produced from fresh coconut meat that has been dried and pressed. Unlike other dietary oils, such as olive or canola, coconut oil is approximately 90% saturated fat. Although saturated fat typically is considered bad, the saturated fat in coconut oil has a different makeup than most other bad fats. Coconut oil consists mostly of medium-chain triglycerides, which have been touted for their important health benefits. In comparison to long chain fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides have been suggested to improve metabolism, support the immune system, and boost collagen production.
What are the benefits of coconut oil for dogs with arthritis?Feeding your arthritic dog coconut oil daily can improve his or her mobility and lessen pain. The medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil include caprylic, decanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids. Some of these acids have been suggested to help reverse damage that aggravates arthritis symptoms.
Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Arthritis
Benefits of coconut oil in arthritis can be due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, analgesic and anti-oxidant properties. Coconut oil is generally safe to be taken orally and applied on to the skin. It contains lauric acid that helps in reducing the inflammation. It can also improve the blood circulation in the joints by its excellent lubricating effects. Although, there needs to be some strong evidence by some trials in humans to establish the effects of coconut oil in arthritis.
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Is Coconut Good For Arthritis
If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, then you know that there are a lot of fats and oils that you have to steer clear of. So, is coconut oil one of these?
Well, you dont have to cut coconut oil or coconut out of your diet completely. Instead, it is important to enjoy it in moderation. Always consume smaller amounts and avoiding eating it to regularly. Having a treat with coconut or coconut every once in a while will not do you any harm.
It Promotes Heart Health
Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. That may not sound like a positive but the saturated fats in coconuts work in a different way than those found in animal-derived foods like butter, cream, cheese, and meat. According to an Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine study, coconut oil increases the healthy cholesterol in your body. By increasing the HDL in the body and changing the ratio of HDL to LDL, the saturated fat in coconut oil helps promote heart health and lower the risk of heart disease.
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Turns Out Coconut Oil Has Another Health Benefit You Never Knew About
Scientists are constantly studying the links between diet and disease, and it seems like nowadays everything you eat has some connection to an ailment. However, this research is very beneficial to our health, as it gives us valuable information on how to adjust our intake based on our wellness concerns.
A new study, published today in Scientific Reports and conducted by professor Yin Xiao and a team at Queensland University of Technologys Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, focuses on the relationship between osteoarthritis and a high-fat, high-carb diet. The fats they studied in particular: butter, coconut oil, palm oil and animal fat.
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Findings suggest theres a direct association between the two may weaken joints , resulting in osteoarthritis, which affects more than 30 million American adults according to the CDC. It most often occurs in the hips, knees and hands and can cause pain, stiffness and swelling.
However, this outcome only occurred in the participants who ate animal-based fats. Whats really compelling, is that when it came time to study the saturated fatty acid found in coconut oil and its effect on the joints, the opposite result was observed.
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Relieve Skin Irritation And Eczema
Research shows that coconut oil improves dermatitis and other skin disorders at least as well as mineral oil and other conventional moisturizers (
Commercial mayonnaise often contains soybean oil and added sugar.
However, its easy to make your own mayo with coconut oil or olive oil.
The second recipe on this list uses coconut oil as one of the fats for a healthy homemade mayonnaise.
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Coconut Oil And Rheumatoid Arthritis
In this article well cover the following:
Conventional medicine and autoimmune diseases arent the same cut of the cloth. Theyre the North and South Pole. Coffee and Tea. Always in the same room but arent a good or perfect match.
Conventional medicine is a system where medical practitioners treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Its also referred to as allopathic medicine, biomedicine, mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine, or western medicine.
Autoimmune diseases happen when a misguided immune system attacks the bodys healthy cells and organs instead of the pathogens. These attacks create chronic inflammation that will lead to disabling diseases not caused by pathogens. One of these autoimmune diseases is rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be painful or even crippling. It affects the joints, most commonly the hands and fingers, sometimes making them unusable for normal function.
While conventional medicine has modernized, there are other areas that it cant reach. These medical practices still mishandle autoimmune diseases maybe because of medical and political issues. Mainstream medical doctors dont consider and believe that dietary solutions may be useful. One of these alternative solutions is by using coconut oils.
It Can Treat Inflammation & Arthritis
An Indian study published in International Immunopharmacology showed that the high levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil reduced inflammation and healing arthritis more effectively than leading medications. Another study demonstrated that coconut oil harvested with medium heat was found to suppress inflammatory cells. It worked as both an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory.
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Most Underrated Benefits Of Coconut Oil
You’ve no doubt noticed that coconut oil is on everyone’s lips lately. Quite literally, too, as people are using it in place of Chapstick. You may also be aware that it’s in their frying pans, their smoothies, their hair, and in a little jar on their nightstand. What underlies this oil’s recent adoption by the masses is the sheer benefits of coconut oil for the mind, body, and soul that it promises.
And it’s not a marketing spin a growing body of research shows that adding coconut oil to your diet and your person could be one of the easiest ways to improve your health, well-being, appearance, and even your sex life. Read on to learn about some of the coconut oil benefits and how to incorporate it more in your diet with these 20 Coconut Oil Recipes That Will Shrink Your Waist.
Coconut Oil Is An Excellent Lubricating Agent
Coconut oil has been used for a long time in pain relief balms as a carrier or base and this is due to its lubricating properties.
Coconut oil can be applied on to the joints and massaged which will help in better blood circulation to the joints and provide relaxation to the ailing joints.
What does this mean? Coconut oil can be used in the painful joint and massaged for it lubricating properties which can improve blood circulation in the joints.
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It Is An Amazing Lubricating Agent
Gout, a type of arthritis can cause severe pain in the joint sometimes that you can alleviate by massaging the joints.
Coconut oil has lubricating properties, meaning that you can use it as a long-term pain relief balm as a base or as a carrier oil. The oil also gives moisturizing effects on the skin.
Just apply the oil to the joint and gently massage to improve the blood circulation of your joints and get some relaxation from the pain.
Energy Metabolism In The Brain
In neurological illnesses, such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and multiple sclerosis, it has been shown that areas of the brain are energy deficient. Metabolic defects prevent glucose from entering the neurons, and certain parts of the brain become starved for fuel.
Ketone bodies, however, made by the liver from coconut oil, bypass the metabolic defects of the neurons and deliver fuel to energy-starved parts of the brain. MCT oil derived from coconut oil, or coconut oil itself, is being studied as a treatment for these diseases.
Dr. Mary Newport, MD, researched MCT oil and coconut oil on behalf of her husbands dementia her research appears on her website CoconutKetones.com. Her article What If There Was a Cure for Alzheimers Disease and No One Knew? simply and directly describes her discoveries and her husbands improvement using coconut oil.
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Study: Natural Compound With Coconut Oil Shows Promise For Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers
A recent study on a new anti-inflammatory antioxidant natural remedy, with the main ingredient being coconut oil, shows positive signs of being the go-to remedy for those who want relief from rheumatoid arthritis without the side effects of pharmaceuticals that are not so effective.
The 2016 study, Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of Kerabala: a value added ayurvedic formulation from virgin coconut oil inhibits pathogenesis in adjuvant-induced arthritis is the title of a study performed in India with adult male wistar lab rats for 30 days. They were injected with carageenan to induce edema in one paw and simulate joint inflammation.
The natural compound Kerabalas symptom results were compared with the results from indomethacine, a pharmaceutical NSAID , by thoroughly examining and measuring many markers from skin, serum, and synovial joint fluids.
The researchers mixed and remixed Kerabalas components according to Ayurvedic procedures over a period of 101 days.
Here are the CB ingredients: 3 percent Sida cordifolia Bark, a weed plant flower thats common in India 43.5 percent S. cordifolia root decoction of cordifolia roots 10 percent sesame oil and 43.5 percent coconut milk.
The researchers customarily conservative conclusion:
However, its main constituent is coconut oil. And there is strong evidence of coconut oils efficacy for similar autoimmune maladies.
Proven Coconut Oil Benefits
According to medical research and the USDA nutrient database, coconut oil benefits the body in the following ways:
1. Proven Alzheimers Disease Natural Treatment
The digestion of MCFAs by the liver creates ketones that are readily accessible by the brain for energy. Ketones supply energy to the brain without the need for insulin to process glucose into energy.
Recent research has shown that the brain actually creates its own insulin to process glucose and power brain cells. As the brain of an Alzheimers patientloses the ability to create its own insulin, the ketones from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function.
2. Prevents Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol in your body, but also help convert the LDL bad cholesterol into good cholesterols. A randomized crossover trial published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that daily consumption of 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil in young, healthy adults, significantly increased HDL cholesterol. Plus, no major safety issues of taking virgin coconut oil daily for eight weeks were reported.
By increasing the HDL in the body, it helps promote heart health and lower the risk of heart disease. Coconut oil also benefits the heart by lowering high triglycerides.
3. Treats UTI and Kidney Infection and Protects the Liver
4. Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis
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What About The Study
The Indian study reported that virgin coconut oil has even more disease-fighting anti-oxidant potential if it is broken down with heat.This newly discovered mechanism increases the anti-inflammatory potency of virgin coconut oil, and is being touted as a treatment for systemic inflammation.
Researchers found that heating the virgin coconut oil in water broke down the protein bonds that hold the antioxidants in place, allowing more of them to be absorbed into the coconut oil.The Wet-milling process provided an extra 20% boost to the anti-oxidant potential of the newly created oil!The oil was then used to treat rats suffering from a form of induced inflammation and measurements were taken to determine if there was any benefit in using the oil in the fight against inflammation.
Coconut Oil Reduces Inflammation
A study conducted by Lisa Norman proved the anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil supplementation in healthy volunteers. This effect was achieved by the reduction of inflammation-causing chemicals in the body.
Animal studies have also proven the inflammation reducing properties of coconut oil.
Lauric Acid present in coconut oil could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory action. This effect could also be attributed to the Vitamin E content present in coconut oil.
Ayurvedic therapy for arthritis also makes use of the coconut oil massages for the treatment of arthritis symptoms.
It is also used in certain oral formulations which exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, clinical trials in arthritis patients are lacking. These trials are necessary to provide strong evidence on the anti-inflammatory activity of coconut oil in arthritis patients.
What does this mean? Coconut oil contains lauric acid that can impart anti-inflammatory properties and reduce inflammation in arthritis.
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Precautions With Coconut Oil
Pure coconut oil is rarely known to cause any allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
Coconut oil contains components that can increase cholesterol levels in the body. There should be only moderate use for these benefits. The increased amount can lead to high cholesterol levels.
It is better to take advice from your health care professional before taking coconut oil internally along with your regular medication.
Mypsoriasisteam Members On Coconut Oil For Psoriasis
Many MyPsoriasisTeam members have shared their experiences using coconut oil to soothe and manage their psoriasis symptoms. As one member wrote, Coconut oil works well as a lotion because of my very dry skin. They found that using coconut oil in combination with vitamin D was the most effective. Another member wrote, Coconut oil and vitamin C are really helping my elbows.
Other members have shared their praises for coconut oil. As one member wrote, I must recommend coconut oil. Not only is it a pure moisturizer, but it also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Another similarly appreciated coconut oils moisturizing benefits, writing, Ive been using coconut oil on my skin. My body is as soft as a babys bottom. Yet another member found that coconut oil, along with sunlight, helped improve dryness on their arms.
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Coconut Oils Effect On Cholesterol
But theres no evidence that consuming coconut oil can lower the risk of heart disease, according to an article in the April 2016 Nutrition Reviews. The study, titled Coconut Oil Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Humans, reviewed findings from 21 studies, most of which examined the effects of coconut oil or coconut products on cholesterol levels. Eight were clinical trials, in which volunteers consumed different types of fats, including coconut oil, butter, and unsaturated vegetable oils for short periods of time. Compared with the unsaturated oils, coconut oil raised total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels, although not as much as butter did.
These findings jibe with results from a study by Dr. Sun and colleagues in the Nov. 23, 2016, issue of The BMJ, which examined the links between different types of saturated fatty acids and heart disease. Compared with other saturated fats , lauric acid didnt appear to raise heart risk quite as much. But thats likely because American diets typically dont include very much lauric acid, so its harder to detect any effect, Dr. Sun notes.
Protect Your Skin From Uv Rays
When applied to your skin, coconut oil may protect it from the suns ultraviolet rays, which raise your risk of skin cancer and cause wrinkling and brown spots.
In fact, one study found that coconut oil blocks about 20% of the suns UV rays .
However, keep in mind that it doesnt provide the same protection as conventional sunscreen, which blocks about 90% of UV rays.
Another study estimated that coconut oil has a sun protection factor of 7, which is still lower than the minimum recommendation in some countries .
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