Naturally occurring saturated fats have been given a bad rap for decades by well-meaning but misguided health care providers who mistakenly linked them to heart disease. Ironically, the misinformation led Americans to abandon meat, egg yolks and butter, and shift to carbohydrates and artificially hydrogenated vegetable fats, known as trans fats. We now know that trans fats and refined vegetable oils used in baking, deep frying and margarine, along with refined sugar and flour, are the real culprits behind heart disease.
Coconut oil was once caught in the crosshairs of the debate on saturated fat, since it is solid at room temperature, at least in the cooler months. However, coconut oil has recently made a comeback as a superfood that has myriad health benefits.
1. Improves Brain Function
Coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that boost cognitive function and memory, and ward off anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Helps in Weight Management
Food cravings and hunger pangs are quickly put to rest with a tablespoon of coconut oil, making it easier to stick to your weight loss plan. They also reduce anxiety and boost your mood to keep you from emotional eating.
3. Increases Energy and Speeds Up Metabolism
Coconut oil is quickly converted to energy that lasts, giving you a metabolic boost without caffeine or sugar. A quicker metabolism means you burn more calories throughout the day.
4. Improves Digestion and Reduces Constipation
Coconut oil is a source of antioxidants that reduces inflammation in your digestive tract and throughout your body. It assists in the absorption of nutrients and facilitates the removal of waste.
5. Boosts Immune Function
The lauric acid found in coconut oil has been shown to fight infections by killing viruses and bacteria. A tablespoon of coconut oil a day may be a proactive defense against sickness and infectious disease.
6. Promotes Hormonal and Emotional Balance
Hormones play a number of critical roles in your body, affecting reproductive health, emotions and metabolic balance. Coconut oil has been shown to help regulate hormonal balance, leading to better overall health, improved emotional wellbeing, elevated mood and reduced depression.
Resources
Healthy nutrition goes hand-in-hand with physical fitness. As the saying goes, “You can’t out-train a bad diet.” Whether you want to learn the basics or keep up with the latest, W.I.T.S. has course offerings to meet your needs. Bite into the basics with Certified Personal Trainer or Lifestyle Fitness Coaching. Take a stab at Nutrition Concepts or Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Dig into Pregnancy Fitness or Older Adult Fitness Foundations. Feed your brain with continuing education from any of our awesome CEC bundles!