Using Coconut Oil for
Thyroid Health
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If you suffer from Grave's Disease or Hashimoto's Disease, you may be looking for alternative natural treatments that may help balance your metabolism and optimize thyroid function.
One of the most popular Wive's Tale is the connection between Graves Disease and coconut oil; proponents believe this tropical oil can be used to treat various thyroid conditions, including Hashimotos Thyroiditis.
You'll soon see there's a growing debate between natural health advocates and mainstream medicine on this practise.
Why is Thyroid Health Important?
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Your thyroid is an important gland that produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for life and have many effects on your body's metabolism, development and growth.
The thyroid hormones may increase or decrease your body temperature and also play a role in calcium absorption.
The 2 main causes of thyroid disease are Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism:
- 1. Hyperthyroidism
Your body produces too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms can include weight loss, muscle weakness, fast heart rate, trembling hands, and hair loss.
The most common condition of hyperthyroidism is Graves' Disease, a condition where an antibody causes your thyroid to produce too much hormone.
- 2. Hypothyroidism
Your body isn't producing enough thyroid hormones. Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, abnormal menstrual cycles, decrease libido, and the inability to tolerate cold environments.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is one of the most common conditions of hypothyroidism. It occurs when a build-up of white blood cells and inflammation destroys your thyroid cells, leading to decreased thyroid production.
Can Coconut Oil cure Thyroid Disease?
Is Coconut Oil good |
When we look at natural cures for thyroid conditions, there are some experts who believe coconut oil helps thyroid function and is beneficial for treating hypo-thyroidism. Dr. Bruce Fife is a one of the more outspoken proponents on the benefits of coconut oil.
Dr. Fife is a Naturopathic Doctor and director of The Coconut Research Center. He believes there are many benefits from using coconut oil for thyroid health.
He has written many books on the subject, including The Coconut Oil Miracle
Dr. Fife points to a study in the Journal of Nutrition showing fats found in coconut oil (medium chain fatty acids) can stimulate your metabolism, give you more energy, and promote weight loss.
He's reported that people have lost up to 60 pounds of fat while on a coconut oil diet. He also states that people using coconut oil for thyroid conditions have reduced their thyroid medications, or stopped taking them all together.
Is coconut oil a cure for specific thyroid conditions?
Dr. Fife doesn't believe it's a cure by itself; but he thinks coconut oil can help stimulate the metabolism in people with low thyroid function.
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Dr. Ken Woliner, a board-certified Family Physician that specializes in the primary treatment of common conditions (including thyroid conditions) with natural means, doesn't agree with the use of coconut oil for thyroid health.
He's published an article on Coconut Oil and Thyroid Cures at Thyroid-Info.com pointing to a number of discrepancies in the use of coconut oil for treating thyroid conditions, including the lack of case studies in any peer-reviewed medical literature.
Dr. Woliner believes unpublished case histories and testimonials of patients losing up to 60 pounds of fat with coconut oil are an unreliable source of evidence and therefore, can't be trusted until proven.
Editor's Comments on using Coconut Oil for Thyroid Health
While there's little published evidence in medical journals, some people have had positive experiences using coconut oil for hypothyroidism; including an increase in energy and weight loss.
If you decide to try using coconut oil, remember to consult with your physician, especially if you're taking thyroid medication. Please don't discontinue taking any medication without the approval of your doctor.
Have You Used Coconut Oil for Thyroid Health?
Please Share Your Story Here.
Have you used coconut oil for thyroid health? What brand of coconut oil did you use and what were your results? Why not share your experience here with us? Your contribution is greatly appreciated and other people may be helped by your experience.
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Alpha Health Coconut Oil Testimonial
It's been 3 weeks or so since I have been on Alpha Health's brand of virgin coconut oil and I have seen my life change. No more dry dull skin, less fatigue,...
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