The benefits of coconut oil seem limitless from hair masks and lotion to edible coffee creamers. However, what has us at beWELL intrigued are the benefits related to weight loss, cravings and a boost in metabolism. The scary part is many of us don’t even realize when we have Candida overgrowth. (Candida albicans is yeast or fungus that normally inhabits our digestive system. aka bad bacteria)
In healthy people, candida is kept in check by beneficial microorganisms, or probiotics. This “good” bacteria, however, can be easily destroyed by antibiotics, prescription medications, birth control pills, poor diet and daily stress, allowing Candida yeast to grow out of control and produce infections. Thought to affect more than 40 million Americans, Candida can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as vaginitis, weight retention, bowel disorders, ear and sinus irritation.
Fortunately for us, Caprylic acid is one of the fatty acids found in coconut oil that has been used for quite some time in fighting candida yeast infections. The author of The Yeast Connection, William Crook, M.D., reports that many physicians have used caprylic acid successfully for yeast infections and in the regulation of yeast throughout our bowels.
Besides caprylic acid, two other medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil have been found to kill Candida albicans. A study done at the University of Iceland showed “capric acid, a 10-carbon saturated fatty acid, causes the fastest and most effective killing of all three strains of Candida albicans tested, leaving the cytoplasm disorganized and shrunken because of a disrupted or disintegrated plasma membrane.”
Here is the kicker, since yeast feeds on sugar and carbohydrates an overgrowth can actually have you craving a sprinkles cupcake ASAP, and a wine or froyo binge can actually feed these cells like a buffet in vegas. Thus perpetuating the problem leaving you feeling foggy brained, heavy and lethargic. The good news; to maintain proper gut balance incorporate coconut oil into cooking or take a spoonful daily to promote die off and always take your refrigerated probiotic. (a post on probitoics is coming soon)
A quick test to determine if you need to up probiotics (good bacteria) and coconut oil (to regulate bad bacteria) is easy. Take a spoonful of coconut oil with a glass of water first thing in the morning and check your urine post consumption. If you see an unusual murky film or cloudy yellow in the bowl that is yeast overgrowth dying off in the presence of coconut oil.
A spoonful of coconut oil daily should be your goal!
