I began learning of the greatness of this staple from the helpful man who owns Mung Bean. I visited his Health Food Store to inquire of a natural oil I could use on my hair that would keep it moisturized and shiny. He spoke very highly of coconut oil; not only for hair but also for skin-care, and even to ingest for weight loss and other health benefits. Long story short, I purchased it and I've been a fan ever since.
Coconut oil is one of nature's best sources of nutrition for hair. It promotes healthy growth of hair. Regular massages of this oil on your scalp helps you remain dandruff-free and leaves hair shiny and manageable. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. There's an awesome product they use called Vatika Oil which is basically coconut oil infused with other Ayurveda goodness. Coconut Oil is an excellent conditioner, it provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.
There are tons of benefits for using organic coconut oil. Here are a few other applications for Coconut Oil that have made me HEART it even more:
- Skin Care: Coconut oil is an awesome massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer for especially dry skin (which is what I have) It also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis & eczema.
- Heart Disease: "People who traditionally consume large quantities of coconut oil as part of their ordinary diet have a very low incidence of heart disease and have normal blood cholesterol levels. This has been well supported by numerous population studies. The research shows that those people who consume large quantities of coconut oil have remarkably good cardiovascular health."By Bruce Fife, N.D.
- Weight Loss: Coconut Oil helps in enhancing the healthy functioning of the thyroid &enzymes systems. It increases your body's metabolism by removing stress on the pancreas. This helps you burn more energy and experience weight-loss. Coconut oil can also assist with boosting energy and stamina. When I first began ingesting a large teaspoon of this in the morning, I recall feeling a nervous jittery feeling. I felt like I could've scaled a building! =) I decreased the amount I was taking and learned to add it to foods & smoothies to eliminate that jittery "Red Bull" feeling.
- Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. (I use it to make my eggs over easy and asparagus for breakfast--yummo) Coconut oil may help with improving the digestive system and can prevent some digestion issues such as IBS. It is also said that Coconut oil can help with absorption of other nutrients such as minerals, amino acids and vitamins.
