Coconut or, Cocos nucifera, is derived from 16th century Spanish and Portuguese 'coco' meaning "grinninng face."
The “Tree of Life” (coconut tree) has benefits for basically every cell in our body, the milk and oil improving health and beauty from the inside out – and the outside in. So, the next time you get your hands on one, maximize it’s use.
Ingest it! The fat is mono-saturated (“good fat”), so feel free to incorporate it into your diet. Coconut water is packed with potassium and electrolytes that help stave off dehydration and prevent cramping during exercise.
Coconut boosts metabolic function, energy and endurance while promoting digestion, lowering blood pressure, and reducing blood clotting. In other words, it is great pre, during, and post workout!
Use it as a hair treatment. Rinse hair in coconut milk to add shine and stimulate growth; massage gently into scalp and rinse away with cold water. Use coconut oil as you would any hot oil deep conditioning treatment.
How to create coconut oil: Simmering coconut milk for an hour and separating the oil with a layer of fine mesh.
Benefits of applying coconut oil topically:
- Stimulates hair growth
- Skin softener
- Anti-viral
- Anti-fungal
- Antioxidant
- Wrinkle prevention
- Anti-aging
- Anti-sagging (skin)
Bathe in it. Pour one cup of coconut milk into your tub for a fragrant and noursihing milk bath. It will soften your skin noticeably, instantly! (If you can get your hands on fresh plumerias or gardenias, throw them in, close your eyes, and retreat to a far away paradise.)
Fun fact: Coconut water is the only natural substance that is also used as an intravenous fluid (in a pinch) because it can be safely injected into the blood stream.
- Stefanie Payne, Executive Editor at CityRoom
