Virgin Coconut Oil

BASIC INFO

Virgin Coconut Oil

The haircare, skincare and beauty products of today have evolved from natural home remedies and traditional practices. Even with advanced technologies and scientific breakthroughs, our cosmetic products still have ingredients that are derived from the natural world. However, most cosmetic products have added chemicals and preservatives that are necessary to enhance their shelf life. People looking to avoid the use of chemicals are seeking natural alternatives and going back to the roots of cosmetic and health products. Virgin coconut oil is one such treasure that has been in use for centuries both topically and as a part of people’s diet. 

Common Skin Problems

Dry Skin: Dry skin is a problem that most of us have faced at some point in our lives. It is usually experienced as itchy, scaly or cracked skin. Even people with normal and oily skin can occasionally suffer from dry skin all over the body or in a localized region. It is most common to have dry skin on the legs, hands, and arms. Cracked lips are also a symptom of dry skin in the mouth area. Most times dry skin is treated with moisturizers applied to the problem area. If it is experienced all over the body it is advised to moisturize all over especially after bathing and avoid harsh soap or bath products as well as very hot water. One should also protect one’s skin from exposure to harsh environmental conditions.

Inflamed Skin: Skin that has been irritated or chafed either due to mechanical, environmental or other health issues is a very uncomfortable condition. Conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and diabetes also result in dry skin. The underlying condition is treated with medication and prescription creams and ointments are applied topically to control these conditions.

Loss Of Firmness And Elasticity: The cosmetic market has a slew of anti-aging beauty products that are aimed at keeping dreaded crow’s feet and wrinkles away. Most of the creams and lotions have ingredients that promise to retain firmness and elasticity. Creams that have collagen and vitamins added to them are very popular. 

Patchy Skin: Patchy skin is a problem that is treated with skin products to even the skin tone and lighten pigmentation. 

Skin Infections: Skin infections are a problem that is often treated with topical prescription creams and ointments that have steroids as well as antifungal and antibacterial properties. Some kinds of persistent acne are caused by infections. Yeast infections are another cause of much discomfort.

Hair Problems

Structural: Hair texture and breakage problems are caused by damage to the hair structure. Lack of nutrition, lack of moisture, lack of oil, rough treatment, chemical treatments, and harsh environmental exposure contribute to hair texture problems

Scalp: The health of the scalp directly affects the health of the hair. Infections or dryness of the scalp result in scalp and hair problems

Diet

The use of oils in cooking is a topic of much discussion. It is recommended to use oils that are high in good cholesterol for cooking. One is also advised to eat a diet that is rich in natural antioxidants. Portion control to avoid overeating is an important part of maintaining a healthy diet.

The Composition of Virgin Coconut Oil

Scientific studies have shown that 91% of the total fat present in virgin coconut oil is in the form of healthy saturated fat and 62% of the fat is of the type Medium Chain Fatty Acids or Triglycerides (MCFAs or MCT). This is one of the healthiest types of fat and they are very easily digestible. The three fats that make up the MCT content of coconuts are caproic acid, caprylic acid, and lauric acid. More than 60% of virgin coconut oil is composed of lauric acid. 

Coconut oil has Vitamin E which is essential to the good health of hair and skin amongst other things. It is also rich in proteins. This protein helps in repairing the damage to skin and hair and makes it a good addition to a healthy diet.

One should keep in mind that virgin coconut oil benefits apply to virgin, wet-milled, unrefined pure coconut oil. The refined coconut oil that has been chemically processed is devoid of much of the benefit of virgin coconut oil. People who are allergic to walnuts and hazelnuts might be sensitive to coconut oil and should avoid its use. 

Uses of Virgin Coconut Oil For Skin Care

Virgin coconut oil has been used topically for centuries as a part of traditional skincare regimes. Some people use a thin film of virgin coconut oil as a night cream or a nourishing face mask. It can also be used as a carrier for other essential oils or as a massage oil. Some people use it for makeup removal. One should take care to ensure that the use of virgin coconut oil topically is suitable for one’s skin type as it can block pores and cause acne flare-ups.

Hydration: Virgin coconut oil has the property of forming a barrier that keeps moisture trapped under it thereby keeping the skin hydrated

Anti-inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory properties of virgin coconut oil helps to soothe irritated or chafed skin

Anti-aging: Virgin coconut oil is rich in lauric acid that amongst other benefits also has the effect of boosting the production of collagen in the skin. This helps to keep the skin firm and delays the formation of wrinkles. Coconut oil has also been found to have antioxidant enhancing properties that make it a good anti-aging product. It is rich in vitamin E and proteins that contribute to skin health. It gives all the benefits of an anti-aging cream without the chemicals

Skin lightening: Virgin coconut oil is said to help lighten patches on the skin and is especially effective when combined with other natural skin lightening ingredients such as lemon juice

Infections: It has been found that the medium-chain fatty acids in virgin coconut oil are beneficial in the control of common skin infections such as inflammatory acne, yeast infections, athlete's foot, and cellulitis/folliculitis. Some people, however, find that the pore blocking properties of coconut oil can aggravate certain kinds of acne

Massage: Coconut oil has been used as a massage oil for relaxation and also because of its skin-friendly properties. Using virgin coconut oil for babies topically and for massage is popular as it is free of chemicals that are present in most baby massage formulations

Uses of Virgin Coconut Oil For Hair Care 

Warm virgin coconut oil has been used as a hair mask, hair conditioner, and head massage traditionally. It can be left overnight for added benefit. It is a great restorative for dry hair.

Hair Structure: Most cases of dry hair are because of protein deficiency in the hair structure. The chemical structure of coconut oil makes it easy for it to penetrate the inner structure of hair and restore it. The use of virgin coconut oil for hair makes hair feel soft and nourished. It is used to help restore softness to dry hair and to control frizziness. It is a natural hair conditioner. A thin film of coconut oil on the hair before a swim protects the hair from exposure and damage to chlorine in the water. Similarly, coconut oil applied on the hair is used to control the exposure of the hair surface to harsh environmental conditions.

Scalp: Virgin coconut oil is nourishing for the scalp. The traditional practice of massaging the scalp with warm coconut oil helps improve blood circulation to the area. The anti-bacterial and antifungal properties of virgin coconut oil also help in fighting scalp infections and dandruff.

Uses Of Virgin Coconut Oil In Diet

Coconut and its oil have long been an integral part of the diet of people in tropical countries. It has also been used topically and prescribed as a part of many schools of traditional medicine or as a home remedy. It is only recently that research into this oil has shown why it is so special. The fatty acids in virgin coconut oil get converted to energy directly and do not get stored as fat. So, they are easy on the metabolism and on the liver. Virgin Coconut oil is also traditionally believed to help in appetite control due to its MCT content. Pure coconut oil is a natural saturated fat that increases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body. 

Other Virgin Coconut Oil Uses

The traditional application of virgin coconut oil for dental care is called oil pulling. It involves swishing coconut oil in the mouth. Since pure coconut oil has a high saponification index it reacts with the alkalis in saliva and produces Sodium Laureth that is a soap-like substance. It cleanses the mouth and is said to reduce the adhesion of plaque. It is also found to denature the bacteria that gets washed away in the oil thereby removing harmful oral bacteria and improving oral health. 

Kerala Ayurveda Ltd.’s Virgin Coconut Oil

Kerala Ayurveda Ltd.’s Virgin Coconut Oil is extracted from healthy coconuts that are harvested in Kerala. The coconut oil is extracted using cold processing without the use of chemicals and retains all the goodness of the oil. The virgin coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides, antioxidants, and nutrients that make it an ideal addition to your health and beauty regime. It can be used topically or as part of your diet. Kerala coconut oil can be consumed straight from the jar or used in cooking and baking.