Discover the properties of coconut oil inside and outside the kitchen

Coconut oil may not be familiar to many people yet, but it has so many properties and benefits that it is considered a superfood.Popular in diets such as the keto or paleo, knowing what organic coconut oil is good for will be very helpful for having options in the kitchen and even in beauty matters.Coconut oil is 100 percent fat, and between 80 to 90 percent of it is saturated fats. This fat is made up of smaller molecules called fatty acids, of which coconut oil contains several types of saturated fatty acids. The predominant type is lauric acid.The coconut oil contains no cholesterol or fiber, and has only small traces of vitamins, minerals, and plant sterols, which have a chemical structure that mimics cholesterol in the blood and may help block cholesterol absorption in the body. However, it is important to note that the amount found in a few tablespoons of coconut oil is too small to produce a beneficial effect.Benefits and properties of coconut oil1. Contains healthy fatty acidsCoconut oil is rich in certain saturated fats. These fats have different effects on the body compared to most other dietary fats.Most dietary fats are classified as long-chain triglycerides (LCT), while coconut oil contains some medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which are shorter chains of fatty acids.When you eat MCT, they tend to go directly to the liver, where the body uses them as a quick source of energy or converts them into ketones, which may have powerful benefits for the brain and are used in treatment studies for epilepsy, for example.2. May promote fat burningA study found that consuming 15 to 30 grams of MCT per day increased 24-hour energy expenditure by 5 percent. However, these studies did not specifically analyze the effects of coconut oil.3. May have antimicrobial effectsLauric acid constitutes approximately 50 percent of the fatty acids in coconut oil, and when the body digests this acid, it forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. However, there is still no evidence that coconut oil reduces the risk of the common cold or other internal infections.4. May reduce hungerA characteristic of MCT is that they can reduce hunger. This may be related to the way the body metabolizes fats, as ketones can reduce a person's appetite.It is important to know that although coconut oil is one of the richest natural sources of MCT, there is no evidence that coconut oil intake reduces appetite more than other oils.5. May protect your skin, hair, and teethCoconut oil has many uses outside the kitchen, especially, it can be used for cosmetic purposes for skin and hair appearance.Some studies have shown that coconut oil can improve moisture content in dry skin, while another study showed that it can act as a weak sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays and protecting hair from them.To make the most of it, be sure to choose organic and virgin coconut oil instead of refined versions.