Skin Superfood: Coconut
THE MAGICAL FRUIT
Everything is good in coconuts! It’s used for its water, milk, oil, and tasty meat. Coconuts have been grown in tropical regions for more than 4,500 years and continue to rock our health culinary and beauty world.
SKIN NUTRITION BENEFITS
Coconut is truly a magical oil. Rich in nourishing fatty acids, coconut oil is not only a great natural moisturizer because it increases skin elasticity, it is also rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin A &E, which means it can protect skin from free radical damage for anti-aging benefits. Additionally, coconut oil has lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties, so it can help fight acne-causing bacteria—especially if you mix it with baking soda to create a gentle exfoliating scrub.
Used for centuries for a multitude of things – skin, hair, nails, makeup, teeth, health, and wellness – the real question is, what can’t coconut oil do?
DIETARY BENEFITS
Unlike many other fruits that are high in carbs, coconuts has a high fat content, but the good type, must in the form of medium-chain fatty-acids (or MTCs). Your body metabolizes MCTs differently than other types of fats, digesting them easily and rapidly using them for energy instead of body fat, stimulating your metabolism. And you’ve probably heard that it’s bad to heat olive oil as it chemically breaks down and becomes toxic. You know what’s good to cook with? Coconut oil. It has a crazy-high smoke point and makes everything taste better.
Coconut also contain protein, key minerals (manganese, copper, iron, and selenium offering important antioxidant that protects your cells) and vitamin B.