4 Underrated Health & Beauty Benefits of Coconuts

Coconuts … they taste great and their delightfully exotic scent will send your mind drifting off to tropical destinations. But are their health and beauty benefits really worth all the hype? We think so, and that’s why we’re sharing our top 4 uses for coconuts – from your kitchen to your medicine cabinet and back again!

1. A Hair & Skin Treatment:

Coconuts boast healthy fatty acids, antioxidants and high levels of calcium, magnesium and other anti-aging nutrients that make them a definite go-to for healthy skin and hair (BBC Good Food). According to Composure Magazine, “applying coconut oil to your face/body everyday can make your skin look firmer and healthier”.

If you’re looking to add coconuts to your beauty routine – we’ve got it covered! Go nutty with our product range which includes the Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer, Coconut Firming Body Lotion, Coconut Sugar Scrub, and our Coconut Milk Cleanser.

Here’s what the press says about a few of their favorites:

Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer:

“It contains a Natural Retinol Alternative made with chicory root and tara tree gum, so it’s made especially for dry and aging skin, but even if your skin is sprightly and dewy, you can use the moisturizer as an preventative anti-aging cream at night… But really — the smell! I’ve started inhaling it at my desk.” – Yahoo Beauty

Coconut Firming Body Lotion:

“I’m a moisturizer slacker, but this lotion has a pump (key for laziness) and smells like coconuts from a far-off land (so I comply).” – Health & Beauty Editor Katherine Flemming, Elle Canada

Coconut oil can also do wonders for your gorgeous mane. Not only does coconut oil bring extra shine and hydration to your hair, it’s also loaded with protective, free-radical fighting antioxidants that help protect your locks from sun damage (Composure Magazine).

2. A thirst quencher:

Instead of reaching for a high-sugar, artificially flavored sports drink after a workout, consider choosing coconut water instead. Coconut water is 94% H20, low in calories and contains natural carbohydrates and easily digestible electrolytes that make for a quick recovery post sweat-session. In addition to being intensely hydrating, this naturally tasty beverage also contains a hearty dose of vitamins (C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6) and minerals including iron, potassium, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. (BBC Good Health.com).

3. A kitchen staple:

In addition to the fact that coconuts add a sweet, irresistible flavor to some of your favorite recipes (coconut curry, anyone?), this tropical fruit (yes, it’s a fruit, not a nut) has plenty of other convenient uses in the kitchen. Due to its high smoking point, coconut oil is a safe and healthy cooking oil (The Globe and Mail) and coconut milk serves as a great vegan-friendly and dairy-free alternative for those with lactose intolerance.

And just when you thought you’d heard it all – the new coconut trend comes in the form of vinegar. According to Well & Good, coconut vinegar is as delicious as it is nutritious and is packed amino acids, vitamins, fiber, and naturally occurring FOS (a prebiotic for digestive health).

4. A medicinal marvel:

Coconut oil has been used as a natural and effective medicinal treatment for thousands of years. Polynesian cultures used coconut oil as a central source and supply of essential fatty acids and for antibacterial protection at times when antibiotics were not available (How Stuff Works). The antibacterial properties of coconuts come from a fatty acid called monolaurin (also found in breast milk) which is recognized for protecting immune systems against bacteria and viruses (How Stuff Works).

In which ways do you incorporate coconuts into your health and beauty routine? Tell us in the comments below.

This post was written by Christie Pike from Eminence Organics.
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