Ok, so you didn’t follow our advice on how NOT to overeat. That’s fine, we understand. Piles and piles and piles of chocolate covered popcorn and cake and delicious appetizers can be tempting. But, I bet you’re paying for it with a little, let’s just say, discomfort.

Coconut oil may help break down bacteria in your gut to ease digestive discomfort.

Do not fear, there are plenty of home remedies for putting your body back on track, and ready for the next buffet. Just kidding!

You can start by incorporating fiber into your diet. Adding foods like bananas and pears, whole grains, almonds and broccoli can all provide your body with tons of fiber, according to the Mayo Clinic. But if you can’t seem to put one more bite of food in your belly, what are you to do? Grab some coconut oil, of course!

Often times, it’s a buildup of bacteria in our colon that causes inflammation and discomfort. As Hybrid Rasta Mama explains, because coconut oil is anti-bacterial, it may be able to help break down some of the buildup and get things, um, moving again. In the case of I-just-ate-too-much, taking some coconut oil may also help break down food faster which makes it easier to pass.

If the digestion issue is chronic, like in Crohn’s Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), coconut oil may still help elevate some discomfort. For some people, diet may inflame the conditions; so avoiding dairy, for example, may help keep flare ups under control. Substituting coconut oil for butter will help eliminate dairy and provide the same anti-microbial properties to help keep a healthy intestinal tract.

The Winton Price Foundation also suggests using coconut oil as a way to keep your body in order.

“Certain fats have anti-microbial properties. People with digestive disorders often suffer from candida (yeast), fungi, parasites, viruses and other unfriendly microorganism invasions as a result of damaged digestive terrain. Anti-microbial saturated fats help to combat these; the two best sources are coconut oil and butter from grass-fed dairy cattle. Coconut oil is anti-viral, and contains lauric, capric and caprylic acids–recommended to combat candida. Coconut oil is so beneficial for digestive health that years ago a person suffering from Crohn’s disease wrote to “Dear Abby” insisting that eating macaroons eliminated symptoms of the disease. The macaroons contained sugar, white flour, bad oils and guess what. . . 6 to 8 grams of fats from coconut! Even amidst the bad ingredients, the fatty acids in coconut oil helped this person with Crohn’s!”

Because every body is different, it’s important to start slowly incorporating coconut oil into your diet for digestive health reasons. Even a serving as small as teaspoon can have an impact on your body.

Cheers to better health!

-Michelle

The statements found throughout this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. If you have a health condition or concern, consult a physician or your alternative health care provider. Always consult a medical doctor before modifying your diet, using any new product, drug, supplement, or doing new exercises.