July Issue 105
All Rights Reserved
Piña
colada, anyone? The piña colada
is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and
pineapple juice, either blended or shaken with ice. My
favourite ingredient in a piña colada is the coconut – well, unless I’m sitting
on a chair on some tropical beach and then that would be my favourite thing.
But
here at home, on my deck, the coconut is my favourite part. I love coconut and
that could be why a piña colada is one of my favourite drinks. And coconut is
really good for you too – so I don’t feel so bad about all the calories I’m
drinking—they are healthy calories—that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
But
really, coconut or coconut oil is good for you; there is no mistaking the
wonderful benefits of coconut oil for softening and healing dry and damaged
skin and hair. Coconut oil works wonders for burns, cuts, and bruises and
speeds the healing while it fights infection. In East Africa, palm kernel oil
is considered a health tonic and is the first medicine of choice among the
native population regardless of the illness. Traditional healers hold the
coconut in such high regard that the coconut palm is commonly given the title
"Tree of Life" in the Philippines.
Now coconut is fabulous in drinks but
coconut oil is also fantastic for lots of other uses:
As a Conditioner – apply warm coconut
oil to damp hair and keep covered for 15 minutes. Shampoo and enjoy luxurious,
shiny hair.
For Fatigue – Adding coconut oil to
your diet has been reported to increase energy, balance hormones and stimulate
the thyroid gland.
For Cholesterol – The cholesterol-lowering properties of coconut oil
are a direct result of its ability to stimulate thyroid function.
For a Metabolism Booster – It raises your metabolic
rate, helping to release energy and promote weight loss.
For Frying – It can be used to
fry foods just like any other oil.
For Skin Care – It forms a
protective barrier to hold in moisture but also penetrates into the deeper
layers of the skin to help keep connective tissues strong and supple. It is
readily absorbed into the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines
and wrinkles and will aid in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells,
making the skin smoother.
Wow – I’m off to the store to buy some
coconut oil! And if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can easily make an anti-aging
moisturizer with ½ tsp.coconut oil and 1 capsule vitamin E. The oil combats
inflammation and the vitamin is a potent anti-oxidant. Remove the oil from your
fridge (it will be solid) and put it in your palm. Break open the capsule of
vitamin E and squeeze the contents into your palm. Rub your hands together
until the oil liquefies and blends with the vitamin E. Gently apply it to your
face just before you go to bed at night. Do this for a week and you will be
astonished at the transformation of your skin.
I knew I loved coconut for a reason – it
surely is and always will be one of my favourite, fabulous and fantastic
things.
By: Kathryn Hartwell
References: bodyandsoul.com, prevention.com and
shape.com
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