IT’S EVERY A-lister’s food of the moment, but virgin coconut oil is also gaining a reputation as an athlete’s key cooking ingredient thanks to a series of small studies showing it reduces swelling and inflammation in a similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen.
Nut oil: shown to reduce muscle swelling and inflammation
In the latest trial, published in the journal Human Experimental Toxicology, laboratory animals with inflamed paws that were fed coconut oil had a significant reduction in inflammation, potentially accelerating recovery rate from training and injury. Add it to your shopping list.