Can coconut oil help treat lupus?

Can coconut oil help treat lupus?

The symptoms of lupus come and go, meaning they don't occur all the time. When symptoms flare up, you feel sick. Some people resort to home remedies in such situations, and coconut oil is one of the most popular remedies.

Benefits of Coconut Oil for Lupus Treatment

If you are suffering from lupus symptoms, you should try coconut oil as it has some proven benefits. A common symptom of lupus is extreme fatigue. You may feel tired even if you get enough sleep. Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides, which serve as a quick source of energy. When you consume long-chain triglycerides, the molecules travel through the blood to the tissues that need them.

Medium-chain triglycerides, on the other hand, reach the liver. From there, they become a quick source of energy for the rest of the body, similar to carbohydrates. MCTs are so effective at providing rapid energy to the body that they have been used in sports nutrition products for years.

Skin health

People with lupus may be sensitive to light. This condition is called photosensitivity. If you have this lupus symptom, you may develop skin rashes due to light exposure. Studies have shown that coconut oil is good for skin health. It protects the skin from dehydration and other external factors such as allergens and chemicals.

A study has also shown that coconut oil can reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, a skin condition in which the skin becomes inflamed. So coconut oil could also have the same soothing effect on lupus-related skin rashes.

How do you use coconut oil for lupus?

There are different ways to use coconut oil for lupus, depending on what symptoms you want to relieve. If you want to use it as a source of energy, add a few drops to your drinks. You can also use it for cooking.

If you want to get rashes under control, put a few drops of coconut oil on your palm and rub it onto the skin in a circular motion.

There is currently not enough research to determine how much coconut oil you should use to relieve lupus symptoms. Since coconut oil is a saturated fat, you should follow the USDA's guidelines for consuming coconut oil.

According to these guidelines, saturated fats should make up no more than 10% of total daily calories. If you're on a 2,000 calorie diet, that would be 200 calories. 100 grams of coconut oil has 833 calories and 99.1 grams of fat.

When using coconut oil to treat lupus, you should follow the nutritional guidelines. If you have specific questions about managing lupus, talk to your doctor.