Coconut oil for balancing hormones? Yes, it works! Let’s see how to balance hormones with coconut oil in this article.
Coconut Oil – What’s Makes it Good for Balancing Hormones?
How does coconut oil help in balancing hormones? Let’s look at some of the benefits of coconut oil in hormone regulation below:
- This tropical oil is a healthy fat. Our bodies need various types of fats, including saturated fat and cholesterol to produce hormones. These essential fats are fundamental building blocks for the production of hormones, fighting inflammation and promoting weight loss as well.
- Coconut oil has the ability to regulate the thyroid’s function by promoting the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It is the precursor/kick starter of production of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, estrogen and other hormones.
- Coconut oil heals the gut. How does this help balance hormones, you ask? Well, coconut oil is high in lauric acid. In fact, 50% of the Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs) in coconut oil is composed of lauric acid. Lauric acid inactivates harmful microbes in the gut that can lead to hormonal imbalance! Coconut oil also repairs gut tissue and encourages growth of good bacteria in the gut.
- It supports thyroid health. As we know, the thyroid holds the thyroid glands that play a part in producing thyroid hormones. The MCFAs in coconut oil increase metabolism and promote weight loss, which helps maintain healthy thyroid function. Coconut oil also helps increase low basal body temperatures, which is important for women with low thyroid function.
- Coconut oil supports weight loss. Many studies such as this 2008 study show that the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil help in weight management. Excess weight gain or obesity disrupts hormones in the body, which brings reproductive problems such as PCOS.
How to Balance Hormones with Coconut Oil
Adding coconut oil to your diet is the only way to get it into your body to help balance your hormones.
Some people actually take coconut oil directly from a spoon – but it’s easier and much more delicious to incorporate it into any recipe!
It has a mild coconutty flavor that can add taste to anything you decide to add it in. You can use coconut oil to fry eggs, to sauté vegetables. Check out some of the ways on how to balance hormones with coconut oil by adding it to your diet:
1. Swap Refined Cooking Oils for Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a healthy fat, containing beneficial saturated fats. It has medium chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which are rare in nature and provide benefits including boosting the immune system and more.
Meanwhile refined oils contain polyunsaturated fats. This type of fat is of lower quality – it is less stable and easily oxidizes within in the body. Oxidative stress causes inflammation in the skin, arteries and reproductive system as well. This causes problems like bad skin, clogged arteries and hormonal imbalance issues such as PCOS and infertility.
Swap your refined cooking oil for coconut oil to benefit from its health benefits! Keep in mind coconut oil has a high smoking point of 350 degrees F. This means it’s best not to use it for high temperature cooking. But other than that, don’t worry – the beneficial fats will not be compromised by heat!
2. Add Coconut Oil to Your Morning Coffee
When it comes to balancing hormones, it is important to limit your caffeine intake. We all known coffee has caffeine.
Many people find themselves addicted to coffee, or specifically the caffeine in coffee. Too much caffeine is actually bad for you.
But one cup of coffee daily can do you good! So, instead of indulging in several mugs of coffee, sodas and teas daily, try drinking just one mug of coffee every day in the morning.
Blend 1 tsp of coconut oil in your coffee to make a delicious latte with added hormone-balancing benefits!
3. Fry your Eggs in Coconut Oil
If you have PCOS and you are trying to balance hormones, eggs are a good food. They especially help in boosting fertility with PCOS! Read more here: 10 Best Foods to Get Pregnant with PCOS.
Frying your eggs in coconut oil is a wonderful way of balancing hormones and promoting fertility. Simply add a little coconut oil in a pan, let it heat up then crack an egg or two, let it cook then enjoy!
4. A Teaspoon of Coconut Oil in Your Smoothie
You can also add coconut oil in your smoothies! Just a teaspoon or even ½ tsp will do. Coconut oil will lubricate your entire system and promote hormone balance. It gives a hint of a coconut oil taste and aroma. You can start by adding ½ tsp then work it up to 1 tsp.
To your smoothie, you can add other hormone-balancing foods/superfoods such as maca powder, flaxseeds and more!
How Much Coconut Oil for Hormones Balance?
You can take 2-3 tbsp of coconut oil daily for hormone balance and other benefits. If you’re new to coconut oil, start by taking a teaspoon a day – in your coffee, as a cooking oil or to sauté your veggies.
Where to Get Coconut Oil
Always purchase 100% pure organic unrefined coconut oil. I recommend Nature’s Way Pure Unrefined Cold Pressed Coconut Oil.
I hope you have learned some of the ways on how to balance hormones with coconut oil! Please add this creamy tropical oil into your diet and see wonders in your hormonal health!
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