Health gurus will tell you to bring home a big jar of coconut oil. You can use it on your skin, in your hair and even in your food, but there’s one thing you should know: Organic coconut oil does more than add a pleasant taste to your food or aroma to your meals.

Check out these eight surprising benefits of organic coconut oil. Add it to your diet and lifestyle to experience the life-changing effects for yourself.

1. It Improves Your Heart Health

Although you may have never tried coconut oil before, much of the world depends on it in their diet. People have eaten coconuts for centuries, but only recent research discovered how it directly improves your heart health.

When you replace butter with organic coconut oil, it reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease because the body digests the saturated fats differently. As long as you don’t exceed the recommended daily limit of 16 to 22 grams of saturated fat, you’ll maintain a healthy diet.

2. It Provides Fatty Acids

You may have seen people talk about MCT oil online. MCT oil — otherwise known as medium-chain triglycerides — contains shorter fatty acid chains that go right to the liver. Pure fatty acids can minimize the risk of premature birth and aid in lowering cholesterol levels. Drizzle a few teaspoons of coconut oil over your salads to nourish your body with pure fatty acids.

3. It Fights Harmful Microbes

Coconut oil has many components, like lauric acid. This acid contains monolaurin, which is a chemical that fights harmful microbes and bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.

It purifies your gut when digested and cleanses your skin if applied topically. It’s not as powerful as washing your hands or using hand sanitizer, but it’s another way to take care of your body with this multi-use oil.

4. It Burns Body Fat Faster

Many people wish they could reach their goal weight. Weight loss is one of the most significant benefits of organic coconut oil. Instead of potentially turning fatty acids from coconut oil into excess body fat, the liver immediately burns through them and turns the MCT oil into ketones.

The fast metabolic rate makes coconut oil a powerful tool for anyone looking to lose weight. If you’re worried about your cholesterol and blood pressure, coconut oil triggers healthy weight loss without spiking lipid profiles.

5. It Can Reduce Seizures

Some researchers believe a keto diet focused on coconut oil can ease some chronic health conditions. One study conducted randomized controlled trials and found it improved epilepsy symptoms in children and teens. A future without fear of seizures means more kids can look forward to going anywhere and doing anything with their lives.

Coconut oil can also help you age. People add it to their diet to maintain their health in later years by using it in place of butter and other oils. When it heals your heart health and stabilizes your weight, you’ll avoid common diagnoses that come with unhealthy aging.

6. It Manages Cravings

It can feel good to give in to occasional cravings for ice cream or a cheeseburger, but it hurts you in the long run. Binging processed carbs and sugar may result in health conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• Mood disorders
• Hyperactivity

Organic coconut oil helps manage cravings. After the liver turns it into ketones, the ketones reduce your appetite fluctuations while they burn more calories. The next time it’s late at night and all you can think about is dipping pretzels into a can of icing, eat a healthy snack that will help your body instead. Coconut oil fat bombs or homemade granola bars drizzled in chocolate and MCT oil could support your health and curb your cravings.

7. It Reduces Eczema Symptoms

Dry, itchy skin ruins your day. When it happens all the time on your hands, legs or ears, it’s likely eczema. Skip the expensive lotions and use organic coconut oil to soothe your skin instead. A recent study found that coconut oil has phytochemicals that scavenge free radicals and reduce inflammation, leading to less frequent and intense eczema episodes.

Virgin or organic is the most natural way to find these phytochemicals and find immediate skincare relief.

8. It Relieves Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that limits your brain’s ability to transform glucose into energy. When you ingest MCTs, it improves cognitive outcomes and insulin infusion by sustaining normal brain functions even when the body fights it with lowered plasma glucose.

There’s no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s yet, so patients focus on mitigating the symptoms. People with these diseases can add unrefined coconut oil to their diet and potentially enhance their cognitive functionality.

Talk With Your Doctor

If you have any health concerns, talk with your doctor about these eight surprising health benefits. Topical or oral applications could make your daily life more enjoyable by fighting aging, health conditions and even weight gain.