Coconut oil is incredibly popular and It offers many health benefits, has a delicate taste, and is widely available.
It’s also an extremely versatile oil with a number of uses you may not be aware of.
1. Protect Your Skin From UV Rays
When applied to your skin, coconut oil may protect it from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) 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 sun’s UV rays.
2. Increase Your Metabolism
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides. These are fatty acids that are quickly absorbed and can increase the number of calories you burn.
Controlled studies have shown that MCTs can significantly — at least temporarily.
One study found that 15–30 grams of MCTs increased the number of calories burned by an average of 120 over a 24-hour period.
3. Cook Safely at High Temperatures
Coconut oil has a very high content. In fact, about 87% of its fat is saturated.
This feature makes it one of the best fats for high-heat cooking, including .
Saturated fats retain their structure when heated to high temperatures, unlike the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils.
Oils such as corn and safflower are converted into toxic compounds when heated. These may have harmful effects on health.
Therefore, coconut oil is a safer alternative for cooking at high temperatures.
4. Improve Your Dental Health
Coconut oil can be a powerful weapon against bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria in your mouth that causes dental plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease.
In one study, swishing with coconut oil for 10 minutes — known as — reduced these bacteria as effectively as rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash.
In another study, swishing daily with coconut oil significantly reduced inflammation and plaque in teenagers with gingivitis (inflamed gums).
5. 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.
In a study in children with eczema, 47% of those treated with coconut oil noticed major improvements.
6. Improve Brain Function
The MCTs in coconut oil are broken down by your liver and turned into ketones, which can act as an alternative energy source .
Several studies have found MCTs to have impressive benefits for brain disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
Some researchers recommend using coconut oil as a source of MCTs to increase the production of .
7. Make Healthy Mayonnaise
Commercial mayonnaise often contains soybean oil and .
However, it’s easy to make your own mayo with coconut oil or .
The second recipe on uses coconut oil as one of the fats for a healthy homemade mayonnaise.
8. Moisturize Your Skin
Coconut oil makes a wonderful moisturizer for your legs, arms, and elbows.
You can use it on your face as well — though this isn’t recommended for those with very oily skin.
It can also help repair cracked heels. Simply apply a thin coat to your heels at bedtime, put on socks, and continue on a nightly basis until your heels are smooth.
9. May Help Fight Infections
Virgin coconut oil has antibacterial properties that can help treat infections.
One test-tube study found that it stopped the growth of the intestinal bacteria Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff, which causes severe diarrhea.
It also appears to fight yeasts — an effect generally attributed to lauric acid, the main fatty acid in coconut oil.
However, no studies have proven that coconut oil is effective at treating infections when eaten or applied to the skin.
10. Increase Your ‘Good’ HDL Cholesterol
Coconut oil has been shown to raise cholesterol levels in some people.
However, its strongest and most consistent effect is an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol.
One study in women with found that HDL increased in a group consuming coconut oil, whereas it decreased in those consuming soybean oil.
11. Make Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate
Homemade is a delicious way to get coconut oil’s health benefits.
Just remember to store it in the refrigerator or freezer, since coconut oil melts at 76°F (24°C).
12. May Reduce Belly Fat
In one study, overweight or obese people taking 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of coconut oil per day for 4 weeks lost an average of 1.1 inches (2.87 cm) from their waists.
What’s more, the participants lost this weight without deliberately restricting calories or increasing physical activity.
Coconut oil may — also known as visceral fat — which is linked to increased health risks, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
In one study, obese men lost 1 inch (2.54 cm) from their waist fat by adding 2 tablespoons (1 ounce or 30 ml) of coconut oil to their diet.
In another study, obese women took 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of coconut or soybean oil while on a calorie-restricted diet. Their waist sizes decreased and HDL cholesterol increased, while the control group had the opposite response .
In studies, coconut oil has benefits when given at fixed dosages or as a percentage of total calorie intake.
