benefits of coconut oil

This week’s featured guest contributor is Brooke the Untrained Hair Mom.  Brooke is a mom to two wonderful girls and blogs about her family’s experiences making greener choices.

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Coconut Oil

We love Coconut oil in this family.  My grandpa was actually the one who introduced us to this oil and all of its benefits.  We use it on our foods,  when we cook,  and apply to our skin and hair.  Coconut oil is natural and perfectly safe,  with a number of benefits for the body inside and out.

Ingesting coconut oil,  which is a saturated fat,  is actually good for the body.  Unsaturated fats are the ones which deposit the fatty acids and clog arteries.  Coconut oil can reduce the risk of having heart disease.  It stimulates the metabolism aiding in weight loss.  It acts as an antioxidant, killing viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microbes.  The primary fatty acid in coconut oil is lauric acid, which is found in human breast milk.   Many brands of baby formula actually put coconut oil in their formula.   Coconut oil helps to stimulate and promote brain function and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s. I even add a little to my sons baby food when I am processing it.   We cook with it, put it in our oatmeal,  and on toast with jelly,  it is so good!

Coconut oil is also an awesome moisturizer for the skin and hair.  It keep skin healthy and younger looking.   It is what I use to moisturize my face, which has a tendency to be dry, and honestly,  for me,  it is the best moisturizer I have found and I have been through some expensive creams.  I mix coconut oil with a little chamomile essential oil for my 7 month old sons eczema.  I put it on my daughters curly hair to keep it hydrated and protected.  It is excellent for hair because it creates a barrier that seals and locks moisture and keeps any chemicals or environmental factors the hair may be exposed to from damaging it.

Cold pressed virgin coconut oil is the best for cooking and baking with and can be eaten naturally or used for your skin and hair.  It is an all natural product that has multiple uses and is very beneficial to overall health.

Are you already a member of team coconut oil?  What do you use it for?

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Thanks, Brooke, for sharing all of the benefits of coconut oil with my readers!

Untrained Hair Mom is a natural hair and skin care blog,  which features information,  children’s hair style how-to’s,  green living tips,  natural remedies,  product reviews,  giveaways,  and more!   You can find the Untrained Hair Mom on Twitter and Facebook.

If you’re interested in being a featured guest blogger, please contact me via email or leave a comment on this post.   I promise to follow up promptly.