Coconut Oil and Bladder Infections
Revered around the globe as a delicious food source, the coconut also possesses some proven medicinal value. It’s been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including abscesses, asthma, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dysentery, flu, skin infections, sore throat, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach and wounds. Coconut oil has also demonstrated the ability to treat bladder infections.
Facts
Bladder infections, also known as cystitis, develop when bacteria enter the urinary system. These bacteria, typically Escherichia coli (E. coli), take hold and multiply, leading to infection. If left untreated, bladder infections can spread into the kidneys and become far more serious, possibly leading to permanent kidney damage.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a bladder infection include a persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation while urinating, passing small amounts of urine, blood in the urine, passing cloudy or foul-smelling urine, discomfort in the pelvis, pressure in the lower abdomen and low-grade fever.
Treatment
Coconut oil is able to treat bladder infections because of its unique fat content. Fats are often classified as saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, but they can also be sorted by the size of the fat molecule or the length of the fatty acid’s carbon chain. In this system, fats can be short-chain, medium-chain, or long-chain fatty acids. Coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid.
This is significant because medium-chain fatty acids have antibacterial properties. They destroy bacteria. Ingesting coconut oil introduces the medium-chain fatty acids to the urinary system, turning them loose to fight the bacteria and cure the bladder infection. Coconut oil has even been shown to dissolve kidney stones.
Coconut juice is a natural diuretic, meaning it increases the rate of urination. This helps flush bacteria and other waste products from the system, helping to further treat infection.
Taking one tbsp. of coconut oil three times a day should be enough to clear up a pesky bladder infection without the need for antibiotics and other expensive medications. For even greater benefit, accompany the coconut oil with a few glasses of coconut water throughout the day.
Benefits
Coconut oil has no dangerous side effects. It’s natural and non-toxic. When heated for cooking purposes, coconut oil doesn’t produce harmful byproducts like other vegetable oils.
Misconceptions
Coconut oil is sometimes considered unhealthy due to its high saturated fat content. But coconut oil’s unique medium-chain fatty acids actually make it beneficial to good health, protecting against heart disease and having negative effects on bad cholesterol.
