Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for Yeast Infections

Studio shot of a coconut with flowers.

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Dealing with yeast infections can be challenging, with organisms like Candida albicans proving resistant to a range of interventions. While the dietary restriction of carbohydrates remains crucial to the success of any anti-candida plan, coconut oil may play a useful role in eradicating the pathogenic yeasts. You will find a variety of coconut oils available in shops.

Yeast Infections

Although yeast infections can refer to incidences of thrush, where yeast organisms colonize areas like the mouth or the vagina, or to systemic infections; in these cases, the yeast population move into the bloodstream and can take residence in any organ across the body. A whole host of different symptoms can result; poor concentration, low-energy levels and carbohydrate cravings appear common among sufferers.

Coconut Oil

Found growing in tropical locations across the globe, the coconut contains a highly different nutritional profile to most foods. The oil, which accounts for 60 percent of the edible portion of the fruit, stands out as the best source of medium chain fatty acids. These acids, in particular caprylic acid, demonstrate a strong effect against yeast organisms and can help eradicate them from the body. About three-fourths of the oil comes in the form of medium-chain fatty acids.

Different Types of Oil

Coconut oil has gained popularity due to its health benefits, but some confusion remains over the different types of oil available. "Virgin" refers to oils that have only undergone extraction through mechanical means and not with chemicals, bleaches or deodorants. Virgin oils retain their flavor and polyphenol content, which gives them improved antioxidant effects. Unlike in the olive oil industry, an extra virgin label on the coconut oil does not have any official meaning. The use of the word "extra" remains a marketing practice, rather than useful information for consumers. Any products labeled "organic" has been grown without the use of synthetic pesticides. While virgin oils remain nutritionally superior overall, the medium-chain fatty acid content remains similar; as a result, all types work just as effectively against yeast infections.

Evidence

In 2007, Nigerian scientists looked into the effectiveness of coconut oil against a range of Candida species. Using 52 strains of the organism, a common infectious agent in humans, they exposed the yeasts to coconut oil in their laboratories in the University College Hospital in Ibadan. They found that the coconut oil proved effective against 100 percent of the Candida strains. They published their results in the “Journal of Medicinal Food."