Exploring the Endless Benefits of Coconut Oil

Updated: Aug 16

INCI: Cocos nucifera (Coconut) kernel oil

Extraction: Cold pressing the kernel (stone) and meat of the coconut.

Fatty Acid Profile: Lauric acid 47.5%, Myristic acid 18%, Palmitic acid 8-9%, Caprylic acid 8%, Capric acid 7%, Oleic acid 6%, Stearic acid 2%, linoleic acid 2%.

Quality & Absorption Rate: Light, velvety oil. Medium-slow absorption.

Skin Type: All skin types especially cracked, dehydrated, damaged, sensitive, chapped, irritated, inflamed, mature and fragile skin.

Melting point: 24 degrees C

Appearance: when solid, it’s white butter-like oil

Scent: Smells gorgeous like Pina Colada

Shelf Life: At least 3 years

Substitution: Babassu Oil

Coconut oil has many health benefits, so make sure you have plenty of coconut oil on hand at all times. It has many other thoughtful and practical applications, and you never know when you would need it.

Health Benefits from Coconut Oil

Here are a few important health benefits from Coconut-Oil.

Coconut Oil has some healthy and positive effects on the body due to high amounts of certain saturated fatty acids compared with most other dietary fats. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or healthy cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or poor cholesterol, are two cholesterol forms. HDL tends to help decrease LDL levels, and high HDL levels can help to improve cardiovascular health.

It encourages the body to exhaust fat and give strength to the body and brain. It also amplifies the level of HDL (good) cholesterol, which alleviate the risk of heart disease.

There are some medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil. They appear to go directly to your liver when you consume MCTs. Your body uses them as a fast energy source or changes them into ketones. It's not the case with most dietary fats that are known as long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). MCT can also help restore the sensitivity of insulin.

Ketones may have powerful brain benefits. Researchers are researching ketones for epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and other disorders as a cure. Coconut may boost heart health, which is why it is uncommon food for health-conscious people. In many parts of the world, it is a nutritional staple food filled with coconut oil on which people have lived for decades.

Some people assume coconut oil is very high in calories and can easily contribute to weight gain. It may be true to some extent, but only if eaten in large amounts. However, there is currently no clear evidence to suggest that consuming coconut oil itself will increase the number of calories you spend.

Since obesity is one of the most critical health issues the world is facing today, it's not only a matter of how many calories someone eats, but it is also essential to have the source of those calories. Various foods influence your body and hormones in various ways.

Beauty Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil can defend the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which gives rise to the risk of skin cancer and induces wrinkles and brown spots. The study found that coconut oil blocks around 20% of the sun's UV rays when used on the skin. However, it does not give the same protection as traditional sunscreens, which block approximately 90% of UV rays.
Coconut Oil hydrates the skin and makes your legs, arms, and elbows perfectly moisturized and helps patch broken heels. This oil may be used on the face by people with dehydrated skin, but this is not recommended for other skin types. The application of coconut extract to human skin can boost its protective barrier functions and may have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Coconut Oil may help your hair to remain healthy. Due to lauric acid's great structure, coconut oil's major fatty acid dramatically reduces the protein loss from hair. It penetrates the hair shaft in a manner that is not possible with most other fats. It can boost shine and safeguard it from damage. It can also penetrate deeper than mineral oils into the scalp.
Coconut Oil reduces inflammatory triggers and increases collagen development, a key component of the skin. The wounds heal much quicker as a result. To expedite the healing of minor cuts or bruises, apply a small amount of coconut oil straight to the wound.
It is a mild and efficient eye makeup remover. Apply and gently clean with a cotton pad until all traces of makeup are gone.
It makes a perfect natural lip balm. It soothes chapped lips for hours, leaving your lips moist, and also offers some protection from the sun.
Virgin Coconut Oil probably has antioxidant properties. It is known to be effective in treating certain forms of depression and reducing stress.

Types of Coconut Oil

All Coconut Oils are not the same, and according to form, the effect on health can vary. The less refined food is, the more likely it is to provide health benefits, and coconut oil is possibly the same thing.

There are two types of coconut oil: Refined and Unrefined or Virgin coconut oil.

From dried coconut comes refined coconut oil. Under high pressure, the oil is extracted and then passes through a process of bleaching and deodorizing. It has no scent of coconut—it has a neutral smell. You may use it for sautéing, stir-frying, and baking in the kitchen.

From fresh coconut fruit comes unrefined or Virgin coconut oil. High temperatures are not involved in the process, which is why you can see it called "cold-pressed." It has a milky appearance and is rendered by cold-pressing the liquid of coconut meat and then separating the oil from milk and water. It's completely raw, unbleached, and cold-pressed. Virgin coconut oil is renowned for various reasons, including its good fragrance, flavour, strong antioxidants, beneficial fatty acids, and key nutrients. The scent of Virgin coconut oil is that of coconuts. It can be used for baking and cooking in the same way as refined coconut oil; however, it's better for dishes prepared at lower temperatures.

Fractionated coconut is processed from standard coconut oil through a method known as fractionation. It primarily consists of medium-chain fatty acids, caprylic and capric acid. Fractionation is used to break various types of fats that are naturally present in certain oils, and it is possible if different fats have distinct melting points. In Coconut oil, fractionation is done by heating the oil past its melting point. Then, it is left to cool, separating the solid fraction of the oil from the liquid.

For example, the melting points for lauric acid and long-chain fatty acids are higher than caprylic and capric acid. Therefore, when cooled, they would become solid faster. It takes several hours to complete the whole process of fractionation.

People should always use fats and oil in moderation to obtain their essential nutrients. If you plan to use coconut oil, look for virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. Check the label before buying and refrain from oils that comprise partially hydrogenated coconut oil.