Coconut oil is one food that definitely lives up to its hype as a ‘super food’. Coconuts are a tropical stone fruit originating from the south pacific in countries such as Fiji. It’s said that up to 20 billion coconuts are produced every year and used for many different purposes. For example, in world war one coconut water was used in IV drips to hydrate wounded soldiers as a substitute for blood plasma, as well as being used in gas masks due to its radiation filtering capabilities.

Coconut oil is made from the copra or meat of the coconut, which is then filtered and strained using various methods that create raw virgin coconut oil. Due to its high saturated fat content, coconut oil hasn’t always been celebrated, but considering recent research suggests that eating the right saturated fats can actually be very beneficial, coconut oil is ideal for consumption and usage within the body. So what are some of the benefits of coconut oil?

Great for skin
Coconut oil is a great moisturizer for the skin, helping alleviate dry and irritated skin and also delaying the onset of wrinkles. The oil also helps conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. This is the reason it is a base ingredient in many soaps and lotions.

Helps with fat loss
Due to coconut oil being a medium chain triglyceride it can be used very quickly in the body for fuel. This helps burn up fat stores within the body and also helps the function of the thyroid by increasing metabolic rate and improving the ability to burn fat. The digestive system is aided by coconut oil due to its antimicrobial properties that help fight bad bacteria and fungi in the digestive tract.

Kind to hair
When used on the hair coconut oil has been known to promote hair growth, moisturize and repair damaged hair and cure dry and irritated scalps. Coconut oil is easily melted at 25° in the shower and can be applied to wet hair in a similar way to a conditioner.

Improves immunity
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which converts to monolaurin in the body. This helps boost the body’s immune system, fighting bad bacteria that will cause infections within the body. The oil also helps decrease inflammation present in the digestive system that will impede absorption of nutrients.

Boosts brain health
Due to coconut oil being a medium chain triglyceride, it can be used effectively as brain fuel, helping the brain function better away from sugar, which can contribute to neurological problems. Eating coconut oil has been associated with improvements in alzheimer sufferers, aiding with memory function over time.

Adding coconut oil in
Coconut oil is easily added into the diet and into a daily grooming regime. Adding a spoon full of coconut oil to a daily coffee or smoothie and using it when baking or frying will improve taste and health. Having a jar of coconut oil in your bathroom is all you need to easily add it to your hair and skin before or after a busy day.