COCONUTS

Moisturizer: √

Make-up Remover: √

Natural SPF 8: √

Hair Mask: √

Promotes Hair Growth: √

Strengthens Hair: √

Stimulates Collagen Production: √

Quickens Wound Healing: √

Prevents Formation of Scars: √

Increases Metabolism: √

Promotes Weight Loss: √

Stimulates the Thyroid:√

Increases Energy: √

Detoxifies: √

Lowers Blood Pressure: √

Lowers Cholesterol: √

Strengthens the Immune System: √

Anti-Microbial: √

Anti-Inflammatory: √

What is it that this magical tropical fruit cannot do? Part superfood, part medicine, part skincare superhero, the versatile coconut has quite an impressive list of benefits. 

While modern day science may just be discovering the coconut’s incredible properties, they have been known by cultures around the world for thousands of years. The indigenous people of the Pacific Islands referred to the coconut as the “tree of life”. They used the fruit for everything from their primary food source to medicine to moisturizer. In fact British explorer, Captain James Cook, once wrote of the beauty of the people across these islands who used coconut as an integral part of their daily lives. In India, women have been applying coconut oil to their hair for centuries for its strengthening and moisturizing effects. The ancient Sanskrit texts of Ayurveda extol coconut oil as a moisturizer for improved complexion and elasticity as well as its hair growth and wound healing properties.

Today we seem to be rediscovering our ancient ancestors long lost knowledge. Coconut has become quite the craze in recent years. It’s in everything from our beauty products to our turmeric lattes. So what is it about this delectable fruit that makes some of us want to slather its oil all over our skin or dunk a dollop or two in our morning green tea?

Well, one of the coolest pieces of information I’ve read about the coconut comes from Anthony Williams, the Medical Medium. Williams says that “coconut enhances the power of anything it touches. When combined with any healing food, coconut gets in touch with those benefits and supercharges them. For example, if you add coconut water to a smoothie with parsley, that coconut water increases the parsley’s ability to remove unproductive acids from your body by 50 percent and dramatically improves the effects of parsley’s already beneficial trace minerals. Or if you add coconut meat to a salad, everything in that salad becomes more nutritious and life changing.”

When it comes to fat, the coconut is unique in that its fat is made up of mostly medium chain fatty acids or MCFA’s. The majority of the fats we consume are made up of long chain fatty acids or LCFA’s. LCFA’s are difficult for the body to break down; they require a 26 step process and are predominantly stored as fat. These rare MCFT’s break down almost immediately when they come into contact with saliva and gastric juices and are sent directly to the liver to be converted into energy instead of stored as fat (a simple 3 step process). Willams says that the MCFT’s actually “break loose other fats and aid in pushing them out of the body.” And because fat cells store toxins, this means toxins are flushed out of the body as well.

MCFA’s also boost the body’s metabolism and help it to use fat for energy. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, boosting your metabolic rate will improve your energy, accelerate healing and improve your overall immune function. In fact, in the 1940’s, farmers discovered this metabolic effect accidentally when they fed their livestock coconut oil in hopes of fattening them up. Instead the animals became very lean and active.

These MCFA’s are also rich in lauric acid which converts to monolaurin. Monolaurin is a very powerful antimicrobial that actually disrupts the lipid membrane of pathogens. It’s the compound found in breast milk that strengthens the baby’s immunity. According to Williams, “when coconut drops from the stomach to the intestinal tract it kills off any pathogen it touches.”

Coconut contains 17 amino acids out of the 21 needed for protein formation. It is especially high in threonine, an amino acid needed to protect the liver, central nervous system, cardiovascular system and to support the formation of collagen in the body. It also builds connective tissues, maintains elasticity, supports tooth enamel and speeds up healing from wounds or injuries throughout the body. Coconut is also a great source of iron, potassium, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6. 

Coconut water is the ultimate thirst quencher thanks to its cooling properties and abundance of trace minerals, electrolytes and glucose. It’s one of the highest known sources of electrolytes and contains the same balance of electrolytes that we have in our blood. It’s also identical to human plasma (plasma is what makes up 55% of our blood), which allows it to hydrate on a deep cellular level. The mineral salts and glucose are incredibly important for our neurotransmitter production and electrolytes critical for those with blood sugar disorders and adrenal issues. Anthony Williams says that these trace minerals and electrolytes nourish reproductive tissue and are very beneficial for those who struggle with infertility. And when it comes to anti-aging properties, coconut water does not disappoint! It contains a high level of cytokines which helps prevent the aging of skin cells, keeping skin youthful and supple.

Coconut oil when applied topically is incredible for the skin and hair. I personally love using coconut oil for makeup remover and lately, as a nighttime moisturizer. It leaves my skin so soft (unlike any other oil) and when I wake up in the morning my skin has such a nice glow and bright, even tone. This is due to coconut oil’s unique profile of fatty acids, its small molecules allow it to penetrate deep into the skin and deliver nutrients in a way that few other oils can. This along with its abundance of antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins make it one of the ultimate skin foods. It’s skin benefits include increased collagen production, increased elasticity, regeneration of skin cells, increased metabolism at the cellular level, prevents the formation of scars, reduces inflammation, assists in wound healing and can be very helpful for skin issues such as acne due to its antibacterial properties. Not to mention it leaves skin insanely moisturized, radiant and supple! 

Coconut oil’s effects on the hair are equally impressive. It’s able to penetrate the hair shaft very easily due to it’s low molecular weight and can replenish proteins that are lost in color treatments or bleaching. It strengthens, moisturizes, repairs and nourishes, leaving hair strong and shiny. It also has the incredible ability to stimulate new hair growth. And if you happen to be blonde, this clear oil wont affect your color like other more pigmented oils.

     Tips

• When applying coconut oil to your face: if you have sensitive skin and are worried about breaking out, test a small patch of skin on your face for a few days before applying to your entire face.

• When using coconut oil as a hair mask you can leave it in overnight and when you wash your hair in the morning, shampoo your hair well before you wet it to make sure all of the oil is removed.

• When purchasing coconut water, only buy coconut water that is clear or slightly tinged with pink. I’ve noticed some coconut water companies advertise their pink water as having extra antioxidants but this is not true. Pink coconut water is a sign that it’s rapidly oxidizing and going bad. Also, avoid coconut water that contains natural flavors, citric acid and added sweeteners. Of course, coconut water fresh from the coconut is always best!

• For the creme de la creme of coconut oils I highly recommend two brands, Radiant Life Company Organic True Virgin Raw Coconut Oil and Coconut Secret Extra-Virgin Raw Alive Coconut Oil.        

• Radiant Life Company extracts the oil by centrifuge, without using heat, solvents, bleaches or deodorizers. This retains all the nutrients and enzymes. While most coconut oils contain 46%-49% lauric acid, Radiant Life contains a whopping 57% lauric acid. It’s also higher in MCFA’s at 70%. 

• Coconut Secret also extracts by centrifuge and takes it a step further by activating the oil through a helical spinning motion and transforming it into an energized, bioactive, alive state. Inspired by Austrian scientist, Viktor Schauberger’s, research on living water; Coconut Secret found that the same principle of spiraling or structuring water could be applied to coconut oil. The natural spiraling motion applied through Coconut Secret's proprietary “Helix System”, enhances permeability and absorbability, making all the health benefits more readily accessible to your body, inside and out. In fact, Coconut Secret had Kirlian imaging done before and after their coconut oil was run through the helix equipment and the results show a significant increase in life force. The coconut oil is also packaged in cobalt blue (picked for its therapeutic and protective qualities) glass jars to preserve the living structure and energy of the helixed oil and protect against the damaging radiation from the sun and indoor lighting. And if you’re not a fan of the strong "coconutty" flavor of coconut oil, Coconut Secret coconut oil is very mild (it's made from fresh coconut rather than the dried coconut that most expeller and cold pressed oils are made from).