Food For Beauty: Go Nuts For Coconuts
~ by Jodie Lea Cleaves
Is Coconut Oil Really all it’s Cracked up to Be?
Is all the hype and hoopla about coconut oil something we should be getting excited about? Is coconut oil truly worthy of our time, attention and money?
The great news is — YES!
Let’s take a look on the true benefits of coconut oil and clear up the confusion on why it’s been hailed both as a saint and as a sinner.
Coconuts are a staple food source in the Asian Pacific region of the world. Heart health studies in local communities in that region have identified that Filipinos’ death rate due to heart disease is the lowest in the world, even lower than Japan. It was found that the Bicol region in the Philippines, where they are renowned for their coconut-infused cuisine and eat around 26 grams of coconut oil daily, were found to have the lowest death rate of all.
So why has coconut oil been given such a bad wrap?
It has more to do with how the oil is produced rather than the oil itself.
Not so long ago, the only form of coconut oil we could buy outside of Asia Pacifica was a solid form of hydrogenated oil with 100% fat — at least 98% of which is saturated. It was used for baking and making sweet treats. One of the brands in Australia is called Copha and in Europe it’s called coconut fat.
These type of hydrogenated oils is produced using Hexane, a chemical used in large industrial situations to chemically extract coconut oil from copra, the low grade dried flesh of coconuts that have been harvested and stored for many months or sometimes years.
Copra oil then needs to be Refined, Bleached and Deodorized (RBD) to make it edible.
But due to the recent surge in popularity of coconuts, coconut water and coconut oil we are now able to purchase certified organic cold-pressed, non-GMO coconut oil. Yea!!!
The newer process for extracting the oil makes the end product quite a healthy food. The coconuts are harvested, processed and the oil is bottled within the hour via a micro-expelling method which ensures all the natural goodness and health-providing properties are locked in. This method produces an oil which is high in lauric acid (found in mother’s milk) and medium chain fatty acids which are essential cellular building blocks.
Processing the coconut oil in this manner enables it to stay stable and not oxidize at high-cooking temperatures. It gives it a long shelf life and is also full of flavour and free of contaminants.
[tweet_dis]When purchasing your coconut oil, look for brands that support fair trade and gender-neutral production techniques[/tweet_dis]. These companies hold the vision for a sustainable future empowering economic transformation for remote island communities. We can all feel good about that!
We use this beautiful oil in our Skin Renewal Solution for that very reason. It’s loaded with moisturizing properties that nourish and protect your skin. Along with coconut oil, it includes other anti-bacterial properties like Sea Buckthorn oil, Jojoba oil, and Tamanu oil. There isn’t a preservative in sight. Pure and natural — just the way we like it.
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Win Products:
Take a ‘Home Spa Selfie’ this week with one of our Hair Repair treatment and post it on our Body Enlightenment Facebook page (every Saturday we’ll choose a winner who will be gifted with one of our ‘be you’ Authentic Beauty products.)
Jodie Lea Cleave is our Authentic Beauty Director, inspiring women to step away from conventional, chemical-drenched notions of beauty and remember that the most beautiful thing you can be, is YOU!
She’ll be sharing regular recipes, interviews and inspiration to support your adventures in simple, natural and empowering self-care. She can’t wait to see your gorgeous face on the Facebook Page!