Coconut milk, coconut oil, and raw coconut meat all of it comes from the small, brown bowling ball looking fruit and provides a variety of health and beauty benefits. What are some of the benefits of eating coconut, cooking with coconut, and using coconut in your beauty routine?

Nutrition Benefits
Coconut oil is an excellent substitute for other types of oil because it has fewer calories and does not promote accumulation of fat in the arteries. It has a high heating point, making it a great option for cooking. Despite it being a fat, it is believed by many to be helpful for weight loss. The oil contains short and medium chain fatty acids, which has been linked to weight loss. There is also evidence coconut oil increases the metabolism, promoting weight loss even more. This means it boosts energy and enhances athletic performance.

Beauty Benefits
Coconut provides external benefits, as well as internal. It is a popular beauty item and can be used all over the body. Many find it one of the most effective natural hair and scalp conditioners available. In addition to smoothing and detangling hair, it reduces protein loss, keeping hair healthier and stronger. Coconut oil moisturizes the scalp making it an effective dandruff control treatment. It also lacks the dangerous chemicals found in many commercial hair products.

Coconut oil is also a great skin care product. The next time your skin is dry and in need of hydration, use coconut oil instead of commercial lotions and creams. It is possible to find mildly scented coconut oil, so you enjoy skin nourishing without sacrificing the perfumed fragrance found in many body products. You can make your own by adding a vanilla bean to a container of coconut oil. In addition to moisturizing, coconut oil is an effective treatment for eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and various skin infections.

Health Benefits
In general, coconut is one of the healthiest items you can incorporate into your diet and your beauty routine. Unfortunately, coconut has gotten a bad rap in the past because it contains a great deal of saturated fat. However, this fat is balanced by lauric acid, a naturally occurring ingredient that prevents high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure.

In addition to those listed above, some health professionals believe coconut provides a number of other health benefits. These include:

Antibacterial properties that might kill hepatitis C, herpes, influenza, throat infections, urinary tract infections, and gonorrhea
Kills fungus related to candida, athletes foot, and ringworm
Improves digestion of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
Helps manage diabetes by improving insulin secretion and the bodys utilization of glucose
Helps build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis by improving calcium absorption
Relieves symptoms of gallbladder disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, and ulcers
Eases discomfort of hemorrhoids
Reduces inflammation throughout the body
Supports healthy immunity
Provides antioxidant properties
Relieves symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
Dissolves kidney stones
Supports healthy thyroid function
Protects against ultraviolet radiation

Coconut is completely natural and non-toxic. It is one of the most versatile natural products available and it tastes great. If you are looking for a single product to bring into your home that offers all-purposes benefits for a reasonable cost, coconut in all of its forms is the answer.

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