What is Coconut Oil?
In a word. Miraculous! Coconut oil is a healthy lush edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) which can be used to replace all processed oils, butters and margarines. It is also one of nature’s finest moisturisers too.
With this amazing natural resource, you can:
- Fry, Roast and Bake with it
- Moisturise your skin for reguvination
- massage (add a few drops of essental oil)
- Use as a Lip Balm, Cuticle Softener, Under-eye cream, Skin Highlighter, Friz buster & Make-up remover
A Healthy Fat
Although the flesh of a mature coconut contains mostly saturated fat as an MCT (medium chain triglyceride), it is broken down much faster than long chain fatty acids which is found in almost all other saturated fats. Studies have shown that MCT’s actually help to lower cholesterol levels while raising good (HDL) cholesterol.
Weight loss
An increase in coconut oil consumption has been associated with weight loss. The body uses this fat immediately instead of storing it for later use.
Key Differences between young and mature coconuts
- While the white/young coconut produces more water, the brown/mature coconut produces more meat
- The meat of the brown coconut is perfect for eating raw, shaving and dehydrating, toasting in the oven, etc.
- The meat of the young coconut can be frozen for later use. The meat of the old coconut should not be frozen.
- nearly all of the best young coconuts grow by the ocean and take in the natural salt and minirals from the air and ground
Nutritional Profile
One whole white coconut contains roughly 140 calories, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 3 grams fat, and 2 grams of protein.
Contains 50% of your Daily Recommended Allowance (DRA) of manganese, 15% of your DRA of potassium, and 6% DRA of magnesium.
One whole brown coconut contains roughly 1405 calories (no, that is NOT a typo!), 60 grams of carbohydrates, 36 grams of fiber, 133 grams of fat, and 13 grams of protein.
Keep in mind, it would be difficult to eat an entire raw coconut in one day! Contains 67% of your RDA of manganese (which helps metabolize both fat and protein).
High in potassium with minimal levels of folate, copper,and calcium. Contains negligible amounts of Vitamins C, E, K, B-6 and more.
As a Natural Beauty Product
Skin Care
Coconut oil is an excellent natural massage oil for the skin, It can be a very effective as a moisturiser on all types of skin including dry skin. We have seen great results from using coconut oil on the face before bed. Coconut oil often helps prevent dryness and flaking of skin and some believe that it dlays wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age.
Many people use coconut oil to treat various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin
infections.
Hair Care
Many hair products contain synthetic chemicals which can be absorbed into the scalp causing toxicity in the body. Coconut oil is natural nutrition for hair and with regular massage of the scalp will keep your hair follicles healthy without the absorption of unwanted chemicals. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent and the Philippines for hair care.
It is an excellent conditioner, in fact second to none in our opinion and provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. This is why it is used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.