The symptoms of lupus come and go, which means you will not have them consistently. When you have symptom flare-ups, you will feel ill. Some people resort to using home remedies in these situations, and coconut oil is among the most popular ones.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Lupus Management
If you have lupus symptoms flares, you might want to try coconut oil since it has some evidence-backed benefits.
Energy Source
A common symptom of lupus is extreme fatigue. You might feel tired even if you get enough sleep.
Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides that act as a quick energy source. When you consume long-chain triglycerides, the molecules go to the tissues that require them through your blood.
On the other hand, medium-chain triglycerides go to your liver. From there, they become a rapid energy source for the rest of the body, much like carbs. MCTs are so effective at quickly energizing the body that they have been used in sports nutrition products for years.
Skin Health
People with lupus may be sensitive to light. The condition is called photosensitivity. If you experience this symptom of lupus, you may develop rashes on your skin due to light exposure.
Studies have found that coconut oil is good for skin health. It protects the skin from dehydration and other external factors, like allergens and chemicals.
A study also showed that coconut oil helped soothe the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, a skin condition in which the skin becomes inflamed. Thus, coconut oil may have the same soothing effect in lupus-induced rashes too.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Lupus?
There are different ways to use coconut oil for lupus, depending on the symptom you want to relieve. If you're going to use it as an energy source, add a few drops to your beverages. You can also use it for cooking.
If you want to manage rashes, put a few drops of coconut oil on your palm and rub them on your skin in circular motions.
At the moment, there is not enough research to determine how much coconut oil you should use to manage the symptoms of lupus. Since coconut oil is saturated fat, you should follow the USDA's guidelines for consuming it.
According to these guidelines, saturated fat should account for 10% or less of your total daily calories. If you follow a 2,000-calorie diet, this would be 200 calories. A 100 grams of coconut oil has 833 calories and 99.1 grams of fat.
When using coconut oil for lupus management, make sure you keep the dietary guidelines into consideration. If you have any specific questions about managing lupus, talk to your doctor.
