During pregnancy, most women prefer to go as natural as possible. Naturally-derived products have played a crucial role in maintaining our health for generations. Coconuts are one such natural product that has a wide range of applications. The sun-dried or fresh meat of the coconut may be pressed into coconut oil but the question is how safe is coconut oil during pregnancy?
Foods made with coconut oil are very popular. It is also useful for moisturizing the skin and strengthening the hair when applied topically. We have already talked about benefits of drinking coconut water during pregnancy. However, can coconut oil be used while being pregnant? Find out 9 proven benefits of using coconut oil during pregnancy.
Is Coconut Oil Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes, coconut oil can be safely consumed and also can be used topically during pregnancy. Lauric acids are long-chain medium-length fatty acids found in coconut oil, which are antimicrobial. This fat has positive effects on regulating cholesterol levels. Coconut oil also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Consuming coconut oil moderately is the key to reaping its benefits. Consuming coconut oil moderately during pregnancy ensures that your body can absorb fat-soluble vitamins, which may be beneficial to both you and your unborn baby.
Related Reading: Coconut Milk For Babies – Nutritional Value, Benefits, And Risks
9 Proven Benefits Of Coconut Oil During Pregnancy
Coconut oil is a great superfood for pregnant women. As a healthy fat, coconut oil can benefit your body from the inside out during pregnancy. Coconut contains 50 percent lauric acid. Lauric acid is converted by the body into monolaurin, a substance that can combat a variety of pathogens and viruses1. Coconut oil massage during pregnancy is very beneficial. It helps to increase blood circulation and alleviate leg cramps during pregnancy. Also, there are many benefits of massaging baby with coconut oil.
The healthy fats in coconut oil may also help fuel the growth of the placenta and the organs of your unborn baby. You can use coconut oil in place of butter and other oils to cook with. You can also apply it over the skin to reap many benefits.
Following are 9 proven benefits of coconut oil during pregnancy:
1. Strengthens the immune system
Lauric acid and caprylic acid are two compounds in coconut that make it an excellent immunity booster2. These compounds give coconut oil its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. In addition to fighting yeast infections (candida), both these compounds can effectively combat bacterial infections. Due to its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, coconut oil can help prevent colds and the flu.
It is especially useful for pregnant women who do not want to take over-the-counter medicines. You can boost your immune system during pregnancy by including one tablespoon of coconut oil in your drinks and meals. You can also substitute coconut oil for other ingredients in cooking.
2. Helps to prevent hypertension
In order to avoid any complications during pregnancy, it is very important to maintain optimal blood pressure levels. Combining coconut oil with exercise can successfully reduce hypertension3. Virgin coconut oil is beneficial to preventing blood pressure elevation. Consuming virgin coconut oil also prevents the deactivation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is critical for the regulation of blood flow and vascular tone. Thus, consuming coconut oil during pregnancy helps to improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of pregnancy hypertension.
3. Coconut oil helps to enhance oral health
Pregnancy increases the risk of certain dental concerns, like gingivitis or tooth decay. Oil pulling is an ancient ayurvedic practice that helps maintain oral hygiene. The practice involves taking a mouthful of coconut oil and swishing it around in the mouth4. This procedure is usually performed in the early morning before breakfast on an empty stomach for approximately 20 minutes. After completing the procedure, rinse your mouth with saltwater or brush your teeth.
You can benefit from coconut oil pulling in the following ways:
- Improve your breath
- Maintain your dental health by reducing plaque
- Avoid cavities
- Work on strengthening the muscles of your mouth
Related Reading: 9 Side Effects Of Coconut Water During Pregnancy
4. Helps to maintain blood sugar level
Pure coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar and improves the secretion of insulin. This is one of the important benefits of eating coconut oil during pregnancy. Muscle and fat are protected against insulin resistance by a diet rich in coconut oil. The diet also prevents fat accumulation in the body caused by other high-fat diets of similar calorie content5. Thus by promoting the effective utilization of blood glucose, coconut oil during pregnancy helps in preventing and managing diabetes.
5. Coconut oil helps to reduce stretch marks
Pregnant women often experience stretch marks as a result of the cutaneous change. Many women use coconut oil as a moisturizer during pregnancy. There are a number of products available on the market that claim to prevent or reduce stretch marks during pregnancy. The third to the ninth month of pregnancy is the best time for pregnant women to apply coconut oil to reduce stretch marks. This is a relatively inexpensive and effective method. Its moisturizing properties and Vitamin E content help reduce stretch marks6. Coconut oil can also stimulate collagen synthesis in the skin, which keeps it healthy and elastic. Thus, expecting mothers can effectively use coconut oil as one of the home remedies to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Where there are stretch marks on your body, you should apply coconut oil liberally. In order to achieve the best results, repeat applying coconut oil on the belly during pregnancy twice or thrice a day throughout the entire pregnancy.
6. Coconut oil for perineal massaging
Regular massage with virgin coconut oil may help prevent perineal tearing. The perineum is the area between the anus and the vulva. The perineum stretches during vaginal birth. A laceration is therefore more likely. Massage of the perineum reduces maternal complications like episiotomy as well as bleeding caused by perineal laceration. Virgin coconut oil absorbs easily into the skin. Coconut oil could be used to improve the elasticity of the perineum skin and boost blood circulation. This allows the perineum to follow the dilation process completely during the process of delivery, thereby reducing the risk of perineum rupture7.
7. Good for skin health
The skin of pregnant women is prone to rashes, acne, excessive oiliness, and dryness. A surge of pregnancy hormones, among other factors, can cause a variety of skin problems during pregnancy. All types of skin, including dry skin, will benefit from coconut oil’s moisturizing properties. Coconut oil’s hydrating properties help to prevent further irritation or drying out of the skin. Coconut oil is great for soothing dry, itchy skin patches. Coconut oil‘s antimicrobial properties helps to treat rashes and other skin issues, including pregnancy acne. Coconut oil does not pose any adverse effects on the skin and is one of the essential ingredients for a naturally glowing skin during pregnancy.
8. Coconut oil for hemorrhoids during pregnancy
It is common to experience hemorrhoids during pregnancy and after childbirth. Hemorrhoids result from swollen varicose veins that occur either inside or outside of the anus and rectum. Researchers found that applying coconut oil twice daily for 2 weeks eased hemorrhoids symptoms (pain, itching, etc.) among pregnant women. In addition to using coconut oil, they also ate low-fiber foods, drank water, and exercised regularly8. No adverse reactions have been reported as a result of using coconut oil for hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
9. Other benefits
Other benefits9 of coconut oil during pregnancy are:
- Minerals are more easily absorbed by the body when we consume coconut oil. Among them are calcium and magnesium, which are key components for the healthy progression of pregnancy
- The soothing properties of coconut oil help to reduce stress. Head massage with coconut oil may help to get rid of stress and anxiety to some extent
- Consuming coconut oil can help you get rid of morning sickness and nausea
- Vaginal dryness, a common issue during pregnancy, can be eased by applying coconut oil to the area
- Helps to deal with eczema
- Constipation, heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux, (four common problems during pregnancy), can be relieved by coconut oil use during pregnancy. Possible reasons for this include its anti-inflammatory and laxative properties
- Coconut oil provides benefits to the digestive system, thereby preventing irritable bowel syndrome and other stomach-related issues
Conclusion
Aside from being easy-to-digest, as explained above, coconut oil also aids with the absorption of nutrients from your diet. So, the baby in the womb will receive more nutrition and protection when the mother includes coconut oil in her pregnancy diet. Coconut oil during pregnancy also helps with breastfeeding. Do you know how? During pregnancy, a pregnant woman stores fat to ensure she can breastfeed successfully after delivery. The lauric acid and capric acid in coconut oil help in the development of adipose tissue, which later becomes the milk storage tissue.
FAQs
Because about 90% of coconut oil is saturated fat, coconut oil used to be considered unhealthy. Several studies have shown that this is not true.
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). In contrast to long-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids are mainly metabolized in the liver, making them an important source of energy. Since they are quickly oxidized by the liver, they are less likely to cause weight gain10.
The practice of applying coconut oil to the navel has been around for thousands of years in Ayurveda. According to the ayurvedic concept, if applied regularly on the belly button, coconut oil promotes healthy internal organs and reduces bloating.
Coconut oil can therefore provide some benefits to pregnant women if applied to their belly button. Never overdo it though.