Can Virgin Coconut Oil Be an Antioxidant Agent?

By Mary Anne R. Sep 11 2020, 02:45 AM EDT

Numerous studies have shown that virgin coconut oil can do several wonders to one's health.

Some of these benefits include boosting heart health and being used as a substance to enhance the beauty and promote healthy hair and skin.

Another emerging benefit of virgin coconut oil is its use as a health supplement because it contains medium-chain fatty acids such as lauric, myristic, palmitic, capric, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids that are easily digestible.

The use of virgin coconut oil as a health supplement is being further promoted with its vitamins, MCFA content, amino acids, antiseptic compounds, and antioxidants.

Chilling and fermentation can produce the antioxidant properties of virgin coconut oil.

"The virgin coconut oil produced through the fermentation method had the strongest scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and the highest antioxidant activity based on the β-carotene-linoleate bleaching method," the study said.

The major phenolic acids that were discovered were ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid. Studies claim that the beneficial effects of the phenolic antioxidants and their content in virgin coconut oil or VCO make it to be one of the edible oils rich in phenolic compounds.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances that can protect your cells against free radicals, which can contribute to heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

Free radicals are molecules that are produced when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.

There are many kinds of antioxidants. These are vitamins C, vitamins E, and carotenoids. Other antioxidants naturally occur, such as flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and lignans.

One study suggested the potential value of virgin coconut oil as an anti-stress functional oil. It appeared to reduce stress, which results from exercise and chronic cold.

The virgin coconut oil could also be useful in treating some kinds of depression, as researchers believe.

Antioxidants Source

Aside from virgin coconut oil, many plant-based foods contain antioxidants. Blueberries are rich in nutrients without the dreadful high calories.

A 2017 study suggested that blueberries contain a large number of antioxidants. Studies also claim that antioxidants found in blueberries have medicinal uses for neurological conditions, which can be related to aging.

Anthocyanins were also found to occur naturally in blueberries. Dark chocolate can be rich in antioxidants, too.

Researchers have connected dark chocolate to several possible health benefits such as lowering the risk of heart disease and reducing inflammation and high blood sugar levels. Dark chocolate can also promote good cholesterol.

Red cabbage does not only add color to your salad. It also contains many nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and K, and antioxidants.

Just like blueberries, it also contains anthocyanins. It gives vegetables its red color while promoting heart health, preventing cancer, and reducing inflammation.

One study suggests that anthocyanins can have potential health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, diabetes maintenance and management, weight control, and heart disease prevention.

Beans can also be a source of antioxidants. It is a rich source of protein and dietary fiber.

Pinto beans are high in antioxidants. It contains a flavonoid called kaempferol, which can help prevent cancer cell growth and reduce inflammation.