The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight management, boosted immune system, proper digestion, energy and regulated metabolism. It also may provide support to improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which is supposedly helpful in dealing with viruses and bacteria that cause diseases such as herpes and influenza. 

Coconut oil has been used for skin and hair care, and applying coconut oil to skin and hair leaves it well moisturised, soft and shiny. It also assists with dryness associated with psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and dandruff, and may even support hair and scalp to be free from lice and lice eggs.

Coconut oil is therefore used as hair care oil and is used in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. There is growing support for 'coconut oil pulling' to help oral health and fight against infections. Oral pulling is swishing coconut oil in the mouth for up to 20 minutes a day. The antibacterial properties of coconut oil is supposed to support the fight against oral infections like gingivitis and halitosis (bad breath).