sPOTLIGHT iNGREDIENT: cOCONUT

sPOTLIGHT iNGREDIENT: Coconut – rich in anti-oxidants, proteins, minerals, fiber, sugars, vitamins. Acts effectively in cleansing, moisturizing and repairing sun damaged skin. Great for skin hydration to cure the fine lines and wrinkles.

Coconut is a fruit which belongs to the Cocos nucifera palm. This mature nut is one of the most used ingredients in the kitchens of India. Hundreds of coconut species are found all over India and its taste vary according to its soil alkalinity. Its outer part is of green in colour which turns brown as it matures. Underneath the hard shell is the white edible meat. The freshly harvested coconut contains sweet water which is extremely beneficial for health. Coconut is a healthy nut that can be used safely as a food. It is mainly reaction free. The kernel is not only healthy but is also safe to be eaten during pregnancy.

We’re absolutely nuts for coconuts and love to use them in a wide array of our products. Many things can be made from the coconut palm and practically all of the plant is used in some way. In Sanskrit, the name given is ‘kalpa vriksha,’ which means, ‘tree that gives all that is necessary for living.’ The revitalizing properties of coconut are ideal for use on the skin, scalp and hair.

The Coconut is one of the Greatest Gifts of this planet! Want to know why we use coconut milk in almost every handcrafted bar of soap we make? It has so many wonderful benefits for the skin that gets overlooked! While coconut milk makes a great smoothie, we just love applying it to our skincare products..

Coconut Milk has calming properties that aide irritated skin by providing it with hydration it needs to repair itself. It is also widely used in facial masks! Many might not know that coconut milk can be key in helping with sun damaged/burned skin.

It can be applied topically or added to a bath to help soothe the skin & reduce redness! Coconut milk aides in eczema, psoriasis & dermatitis. It also contains key fatty acids that can remove bacteria without leaving the skin dry like products containing alcohol. It also helps prevent sagging skin and wrinkles!

Coconuts are a prehistoric plant which can survive many months afloat at Sea. The Coconut is a Natural Water Filter that takes almost 9 months to filter each liter of water. The water travels through many fibers being purified where it is stored away sterile in the nut itself! This Coconut Water is pure and clear & is one of the Highest sources of electrolytes known to man!

Coconut water is identical to human blood plasma which makes it the universal donor. Plasma makes up to 55% of the human blood. By drinking coconuts we give ourselves an instant blood transfusion. Many peoples lives have been saved in 3rd world countries by the coconut!

Coconuts in their young stage of growth are the most health enhancing. Drink at least one a day. Coconuts are a great blood purifier!

We use creamed coconut, coconut milk powder, fresh coconut milk, creamed coconut infusion, desiccated coconut, coconut water, coconut decoction, fresh coconut flesh and coconut oil, to name a few.

Coconut oil is famous throughout the world not only as an edible oil and hair tonic, but also as an excellent massage oil and smoother for the skin. In the tropical parts of the world where coconuts are readily available and used in many ways, natives commonly spread coconut oil on their skin, as they believe that it protects from the sun’s harmful rays. So this natural oil, without any chemical or additives, can protect the skin in some of the hottest and sunniest places on earth better than our processed and artificial sun creams?

The question is, what makes coconut oil so beneficial for the skin? Before we can understand how coconut oil achieves all of its impressive benefits that people around the world claim, let’s look into the constituents of coconut oil and their respective properties that might make them useful for maintaining skin health.
Coconut Oil- Composition

Saturated Fats: Predominantly, these saturated fats are medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides. When applied on the skin, they keep it smooth to the touch. Due to the presence of these fats, coconut oil also retains the moisture content of the skin, as the fats eliminate moisture loss through the pores on skin. When ingested through the regular consumption of coconut oil, these fats deposit under the skin, thus keeping it healthy and smooth, giving it an even tone and reducing the appearance of the pores.

Capric /Caprylic/Lauric acid: These are not very different from the medium chain fatty acids, but it is still important to mention them separately here, since they have their own contributions. These three fatty acids have strong disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. As a result, when applied on the skin, coconut oil protects from microbial infections that can get into open wounds or even enter the body through the pores. This microbial action can be experienced even if coconut oil is taken internally, as the fatty acids boost the immunity when converted to monocaprins and monolaurins.

Capric, caprylic, and lauric acids are easily broken down chains of fatty acids, meaning that they contribute to usable energy in a quick and efficient way. This can be a major boost to your energy levels before a workout, which is why these powerful acids have also been linked to weight loss and management. Losing weight is a good way to improve the quality of your skin by reducing excess fat, stretch marks, and folds in the skin which can be unattractive. Having a healthy, toned body means that the skin maintains its tight grip around the muscles and bones.

Vitamin-E: The contributions of vitamin-E towards skin care are well known. It is essential for healthy skin growth, repair of wear & tear on the skin, keeping skin smooth and protecting against cracking. Above all, it prevents premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, since it has good antioxidant properties. 100 grams of coconut oil has about 0.1 mg of vitamin E, thus enhancing it skin-nourishing properties.

Anti-Aging Cream: Traditionally, coconut oil has been praised and popularized for its anti-aging properties.

Proteins: Like coconuts themselves, coconut oil is rich in many proteins. These proteins keep skin healthy and rejuvenated, both internally and externally. Proteins also contribute to cellular health and tissue repair, along with a wide range of other essential activities within the body. For any damaged cells on or near the skin, a healthy of flow of proteins guarantees their replacement at a normal rate, whereas people with protein-deficient diets heal slower and often develop more obvious scars due to the extended healing time.

The best property of coconut oil that makes it so beneficial for skin is that it does not become rancid. When you apply it on the skin, it can work for a longer time, unlike many other oils, without it getting rancid. Due to these various beneficial properties of coconut oil, it is used as an important ingredient in several skin care creams.

COCONUT WATER BENEFITS:

Coconut water is one of the most naturally refreshing and soothing drinks that you can adhere to. There are innumerable benefits attached with coconut water where hair and skin are concerned. Along with drinking it, application of the same will give you wonderful outcomes for a glowing skin and healthy and voluminous hair. You will see visible results with regular consumption or application as face and hair masks.

How does Coconut Water for Hair Growth Help?

When we specifically talk about hair growth, coconut water has naturally hydrating properties that help in strengthening the roots as well as improving the blood circulation to the hair follicles. These help in triggering the hair growth in a perfect manner. It can be simply massaged into the hair or else consumed each day for maximum advantage.

It is also loaded with nutrients like vitamins and minerals that will help in keeping the hair healthy and free from any crises. This will in turn help in hair growth. It also has calcium and protein. The hair strands are made from protein and therefore coconut water will help in the growth process.

On the other hand, coconut water has anti- fungal as well as anti-bacterial properties that help in prevention of issues like dandruff, infections as well as itchiness that are responsible for hindering the growth.

Ways of Applying Coconut Water for Hair Growth

1. Drink a glass of fresh coconut water each day in the morning on an empty stomach for benefits of body, skin and hair.

2. Massage the fresh coconut water on the scalp and the hair strands each day. Keep this for about 20-25 minutes before washing off with plain water. This will give you just the desired results for hair growth.

3. Make a hair mask with coconut water and other beneficial products like apple cider vinegar or may be fruits like banana or avocados and apply it on the hair evenly. Keep the hair mask on the scalp for about 45 minutes covered with a shower cap. You can follow it with a mild shampoo and conditioning

Coconut water is higher in sugar and certain electrolytes, while coconut milk is higher in healthy saturated fatty acids. It can be consumed as is or as a substitute for milk. Coconut milk is highly recommended for patients who are lactose intolerant. And contrary to popular belief, coconut milk helps increase HDL levels (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL levels (bad cholesterol). It also improves blood pressure, and helps prevent cardiac arrhythmia due to its potassium content.

With its creamy texture and natural sweetness, coconut milk tastes like it should be bad for you. And yet, it’s anything but that. Coconut milk is often considered a ‘miracle liquid’ as “it may help protect the body from infections. And did you know: Coconut milk isn’t actually “milk” at all? It is a liquid that is naturally found inside mature coconuts, stored within the coconut ‘meat’. When you crack open a fresh coconut, the liquid that leaks out is coconut water. But when you blend the coconut ‘meat’ and strain it, the result is a thicker coconut ‘milk’. So, what’s the difference? As a coconut matures, more of the water inside is replaced with coconut meat. So mature coconuts tend to be better producers of coconut milk, while younger coconuts are the best producers of coconut water.

Coconut milk is packed with vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6 as well as iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Coconut milk contains good concentration of lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) which gets converted to monolaurin in the body, a compound with antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Lauric acid is also found in mother’s milk and is known to promote brain development, bone health and immunity. Coconut milk is the only thing on this planet that comes identically to mother’s milk.

Skin Benefits of Coconut:

Coconut is often used in the form of oil in the cosmetic industry to improve the health and appearance of the skin and hair.

Fights dryness: Coconut oil, if used on skin prevents dryness and flakiness and keeps it moisturised and supple. It also supports the skin and works to repair the damage it has acquired over time. It eases a common skin condition called neurosis, which is characterized by dry, rough and flaky skin. It also reduces the severity of atopic dermatitis which is prone to infections like Staphylococcus aurous.

Use of coconut cleanses and neutralizes the toxins, fungi and bacteria on the outer layers of the skin which not only detoxifies but also builds the skin’s natural immune system and protection.

Effective on dry hands: Can also be used to treat dry and parched hands. Regular dish washing often dries out the skin and makes them unsightly. Instead of using expensive chemical laden cosmetics, apply virgin coconut oil on the hands to get beautiful and smooth hands.

Prevents skin cancer: It improves the moisture and lipid content in the skin and prevents skin cancer by blocking 20% of harsh Ultra Violet rays. It can be used as a body and skin moisturiser as it hydrates the skin by replenishing the natural oils. Coconut oil can also be used to clean the face by rubbing it in circular motions.

Youthful skin: Coconut oil is excellent for keeping the skin young and beautiful. Its antioxidant property slows down the ageing process by protecting the body from harmful free radicals. Massage Lotion Bar into skin daily will keep it healthy and smooth. Apply it onto the skin before showering. This will open the pores while showering and will allow the oil to absorb through the skin more efficiently.

Clean skin: Eating coconut hydrates the skin and makes it youthful and supple. Take a teaspoon of raw, uncooked coconut oil and massage the skin with it. This will minimise the outbreaks of skin, rashes and irritations and will beautify the skin from inside when taken internally.

Promotes blood circulation: Eating coconut regularly boosts oxygen in the skin and promotes blood circulation. Our cells need adequate amount of oxygen which can only be made possible by proper circulation in the body that carries oxygen. This allows proper breathing of the skin and promotes healthy and flawless complexion.

Reverses effects of tanning: Coconut water can also help to reverse tanning. Mix fullers earth with coconut water and apply it all over the skin. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. Apply this face pack twice weekly to get a tan free skin.

Treats oily skin: Coconut water can also be used to treat oily skin. It washes away excess oil from the skin and keeps the skin tone more even. Coconut water is also very effective on acne, black spots and blemishes. Make a face pack by mixing half a teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder and coconut water. Apply it on the face thrice weekly to get clear and glowing skin.

Removes eye makeup: Coconut oil can also be used to remove eye makeup. Put a few drops of coconut oil on a cotton ball and wipe your eyes with it. It effectively removes the tough eye makeup by breaking down the ingredients in the eye makeup. It keeps the skin hydrated too.

Body scrub: Coconut can also be used as a body scrub. Mix some coconut oil and a cup of brown sugar and stir well. Finally scrape some coconut shell, add a few drops of essential oil and mix it. Your scrub is ready to use. You can also mix 1 tablespoon of coconut water and lentils to make a paste. Rub it gently on the face for 2 minutes and then wash off.

Hair Benefits of Coconut:

Coconut for hair helps to treat hair loss problems. Both coconut water and coconut oil can help to treat hair fall. Massage your hair with coconut water or coconut oil prior to bathing to manage unruly hair and prevent hair breakage. This will also make the hair soft, smooth and manageable.

Prevent scalp infections:

The antibacterial and antifungal properties of coconut protect the scalp from dandruff, lice and itchy scalp which often slows down the hair growth.
Healthy hair:

Coconut can also help you to get shiny and silky hair.

The Vitamin K and iron content in coconut maintain the health of the hair and impart shine to it.

Coconut water is very refreshing and contains simple sugars, electrolytes, minerals, acid phosphatise, catalase, dehydrogenise, peroxidise and polymerases. Not just the water, its oil is also classified as a super food. Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound effects on your health.

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