Old age comes with health problems due to various reasons.
Osteoporosis is one such health condition caused by a significant decrease in the bone density among the elderly. This makes the bones fragile and increases their susceptibility to fractures.
This condition is more likely to affect women than men, mainly after menopause.
Osteoporosis commonly affects bones of the hip, spine, knee, ribs, and wrists.
These bones have high chances of damage and injury.
A person suffering from this condition experiences a lot of pain and discomfort during movement of the body. Osteoporosis is diagnosed through x rays and other lab tests.
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6 Proven Benefits Of Coconut Oil In Osteoporosis
Coconut oil contains antioxidants and fatty acids that help maintain bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
1. Antioxidant property of coconut oil protects bone from osteoporosis
Bones consist of two types of cells – osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Out of these, osteoblasts are responsible for creating new bone cells while osteoclasts break down bone cells for the purpose of repair and maintenance of bones.
Osteoclasts produce reactive oxygen species which act as free radicals. These oxygen molecules are highly unstable and can damage bones. They destroy the tissue by causing the death of the bone cells.
Although this process is used for the remodeling of bones, it may accelerate bone density loss.
Studies have found that coconut oil contains antioxidant properties. In an animal study, it was observed that coconut oil improved the bone structure and prevented further bone loss.
It can be used as an effective method of treatment of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.
What does this mean?
Coconut oil contains antioxidants which eliminate the free radicals. These radicals are produced by osteoclasts and play a major role in degeneration of bones.
2. Coconut oil reduces obesity and protects bone health
Obese people are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and fracturing their bones. This is because studies have reported that fat mass is inversely related to the bone mass. It means that the higher the fat mass is, the lower would be the bone density.
People suffering from obesity are prone to damaging their knee, ankle and hip joints. The whole body weight falls on these joints, and due to the decreasing bone density, they can easily break.
Coconut oil has been found to be beneficial in lowering the fat levels of the body.
It reduces bad cholesterol, which is chiefly responsible for causing heart diseases and increasing blood pressure. Coconut oil has this lipid-lowering ability due to its polyphenols.
What does this mean?
Obesity increases the risk of fractures among those suffering from obesity. Consuming a small amount of coconut oil regularly helps in weight loss and lowers the cholesterol levels.
3. The anti-inflammatory property of coconut oil can benefit in osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can cause inflammation of the bones, especially at the joints, leading to bone disorders such as arthritis.
This is painful and can hinder the movement of limbs. It causes discomfort and interferes with daily tasks such as walking.
Coconut oil can be used to massage the areas affected by osteoporosis. This is extremely helpful as coconut oil soothes the body and provides pain relief.
The oil also improves the symptoms of arthritis, mainly inflammation because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
What does this mean?
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of coconut oil help in providing pain relief and reduce the swelling of affected bones.
4. Coconut oil prevents bone loss in women
Hormones play a major role in regulating bone density.
Once women attain menopause, the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone from their ovaries decreases substantially.
This decreases the bone density and makes them more likely to suffer from osteoporosis.
An animal study observed the effects of coconut oil on bone density. Postmenopausal osteoporosis was also found to be linked with an increase in the oxidative stress.
Coconut oil helped in improving this condition. It acts as an antioxidant and eliminates the oxidative stress, leading to restoration of the bone density.
In addition to this, phenolic acids present in coconut oil may initiate estrogen release from the body by regulating the metabolic pathways responsible for it.
What does this mean?
Some hormones such as estrogen regulate the bone mineral density. After menopause, the lower production of these hormones may reduce the bone density in women. This can be prevented by regular use of coconut oil.
5. Coconut oil helps to absorb minerals essential for bone health
Calcium is a very significant mineral for generation of bones.
Bones are mostly made of calcium itself. One way of treating osteoporosis would be to supply as much as calcium as one can to the body in order to restore the lost bone density.
Some studies have suggested that coconut oil containing products such as ice creams can help in the absorption of calcium.
This was experimented with a small number of people and showed positive results.
The medium chain triglycerides of coconut oil are highly efficient in absorbing calcium and magnesium.
However, it needs to be vitamin D is important for calcium absorption to take place by the bones. A sufficient amount of vitamin D should also be included in the diet along with this for effective results.
What does this mean?
The bone is primarily made up of calcium. Just increasing the calcium intake is not enough. It needs to be absorbed the body to achieve the desired results on bones. Coconut oil helps in absorbing this calcium and providing it to the bones.
6. Plant polyphenols present in coconut oil can prevent bone loss
Polyphenols are naturally present chemical compounds in many plant species. It is because of these polyphenols that coconut oil shows all the health benefits.
There are over 8,000 identified polyphenols in plants and their products. They are most common in cocoa, tea, wine, fruits, vegetables etc.
Various studies have found that polyphenols can help in the treatment of bone loss. A study on effects of green tea polyphenols on the bone density of female rats showed that polyphenols protect the bones due to their antioxidant properties.
They reduce the oxidative stress which decreases any further damage to the bones.
Another study reported that polyphenols from fruits and vegetables can be used to treat osteoporosis.
This is mainly because the phenolic compounds increase the production of osteoblasts which are responsible for increasing the bone density by forming new bone cells.
Coconut oil contains polyphenols which show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This is helpful in the prevention of bone-related disorders such as osteoporosis and arthritis.
What does this mean?
Plant polyphenols have a number of health benefits, mainly because of their antioxidant properties. Coconut oil treats osteoporosis mainly because of the polyphenols present in it.
Word of Caution
Coconut oil should not be replaced with any other nutrient supplement. Every substance has its own benefit and coconut oil may not provide the body with some important minerals and nutrients present in other oils.
Individuals on medications for other health conditions should be careful while using coconut oil, as it can interfere with drug action.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women and children should consult a doctor before using coconut oil.
Before topical application of coconut oil on the skin, patch test on a small skin area is recommended to check for possible allergies.
It is better to use pure and organic coconut oil from a good brand which is free from additives and contaminations included to prolong shelf life.
Virgin coconut oil is preferred as it is unrefined and the nutrients in it are preserved as it is not subjected to chemical treatment.
Summary
Coconut oil can be used for curing the symptoms of osteoporosis and preventing the risk of this disease in the future.
The polyphenols of coconut oil show antioxidant property which stabilises the free radicals in bones produced by the osteoclasts. This prevents any further bone degeneration.
Including coconut oil in the daily diet and applying it externally on the areas affected by osteoporosis provides immediate pain relief and reduces the inflammation.