| February 25th, 2016

Coconut Oil: The Healer of All Things

By: journeymagazine

Words By: Juliannah Muyiwa

With $10,  you can solve many of life’s problems and here’s the secret: coconut oil. It can change your life. The health benefits are endless. It can repair hair, stained teeth and dry skin. If you are a true believer, coconut oil could possibly save your GPA and relationships too.

Coconut oil is extracted from the dried meat of matured coconuts called copra. Virgin coconut oil is cold pressed and melts at temperatures above 76 degrees F (24 C). It has a high content of saturated fat, which allows the oil to be slow of spoiling when in its solidified state.

About 50 percent of coconut oil is composed of lauric acid. Lauric acid is considered a good fat that is anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial. Due to these properties, coconut oil can be used for basic hygienic needs. Many oils are suggested for moisturizing hair, but coconut oil aids in keeping the scalp clean, which promotes hair growth.

Egypt Walker, a senior at Tennessee State University, uses coconut oil on her scalp to retwist her locs. She says it is very helpful for her hair. If you deep condition with coconut oil, your baby hair will be swimming in joy.

“Vitamin E [within coconut oil] helps with dandruff and hair growth,” Walker said.

People are also use the coconut oil to obtain whiter teeth. Oil pulling is an ancient dental technique where one swishes oil in their mouth for 20 minutes without swallowing. During this process, Dr. Bruce Fife, CN, ND said  the constant moving of oil is pulling out toxins, which not only benefits oral health, but overall health as well.

“Bacteria are lipophilic, that is they are attracted to oils. While the oil is being swished in the mouth it acts kind of like a vacuum cleaner sucking out the bacteria. In essence it is “pulling” bacteria out from around the teeth and gums, places that are not easily accessible to a toothbrush. When you spit the oil out, you remove a great deal of potentially harmful bacteria,”  Fife said.

Be sure to note that a little oil goes a long way.

Anna Jones, RD is a registered dietitian in Tallahassee, Fla. She reported her research on coconut oil on her blog back in Feb. 2015. Some of her findings supported the notion that coconut oil aids in weight loss. She stated that about 60% of coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). The “medium” is referring to the length of fatty acids.

“MCTs are metabolized differently than other fats found in oils and are more likely to be burned as fuel rather than stored as fat … In several small studies, dieters who ate 1-2 Tablespoons of pure MCT oil a day for 3-4 months lost about 1 more pound a month than dieters who used other oils,” Jones said.

Now if where you live is experiencing bipolar weather due to global warming being real, then you could definitely benefit from coconut oil. Applying it right after bathing will make you feel like you can conquer the world. The vitamin-E in coconut oil nourishes the skin because it contains antioxidants. Skin needs a proper amount of moisture in bitter or harsh weather conditions. For daily use I suggest mixing coconut oil and a scented body oil or your favorite essential oil in a separate container; this mixture can be substituted for lotion.

Monica Souverin, owner of Moma’s Naturals, makes homemade hair and skincare products. Coconut oil is a key ingredient in her products. “It works great in all types of hair,” Souverin said.

You can also use coconut oil as a facial moisturizer or face mask. A great mixture can be coconut oil and honey for 15 minutes. The concoction leaves your face soothe and soften after a good exfoliation with coconut oil and sugar.

Coconut oil is the key to success, a major key. My melanin glistens, hair is healthier, and baby hair stays on tsunami.