Coconut oil is called "pure poison".
While coconut oil has been touted as the new and trendy health food, nutritionists say there's no evidence to support this claim.
USA Today
Among the many health and beauty products promoted on social media, few are as popular as skin care products. Skin care regimens, preferred exfoliation methods, and serums are popular topics of discussion in many social groups. But for some, concerns about dry skin, chronic disease and skin aging are anything but profound.
Worse, these people often have to navigate multiple (sometimes confusing) advertising campaigns and a seemingly endless stream of expensive products to find the right one for them. Fortunately, some of the best skin care products aren't made in a lab and there are plenty of natural remedies available. With antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, coconut oil is one of the best natural skin care products and can make a huge difference when used correctly.
Coconut oil for skin and what you need to know
Coconut oil is an oil pressed from fresh or dried coconut pulp (copra), the white part of the fruit. Vegetable fats are produced in both refined and unrefined forms. Unrefined coconut oil, also known as virgin coconut oil, is obtained from the flesh of coconuts but is not further processed. On the other hand, refined coconut oil undergoes further processing to deodorize, neutralize and decolorize it until it resembles white butter.
The refined version of the product is good for cooking, but most dermatologists and experts recommend using the unrefined version for skin care, although both versions contain enough fatty acids to be a good moisturizer. While there is minimal research supporting many of the purported health benefits of oral coconut oil, actual coconut oil has been more extensively studied.
Is coconut oil good for skin?
Such studies confirm that coconut oil applied to the skin provides various health benefits. These include reducing the signs of skin aging and dark spots, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and aiding healing by increasing the body's antioxidant and collagen levels. "Studies also show that coconut oil can help prevent moisture loss and protect against environmental factors such as chemicals and allergens," says Perry Halperin, MS, RD, clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Health System.
Such advantages are significant because the skin is the most varied and diverse organ of the human body. Skin condition is one of the most important indicators of good health. Research shows that any skin related disease can also affect mental health and lead to the progression of chronic skin disease. These conditions include inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, a chronic skin condition that "is helped by virgin coconut oil," explains Jennifer Koman, MD, a nutritionist at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital.
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Uma Naidu, director of nutrition and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of It's Your Brain About Food, also praises coconut oil's anti-inflammatory properties and adds that the oil may also help with heart disease. other skin. Skin "lubrication". and soothes the skin.
Koman says coconut oil creates a protective barrier against environmental irritants and harmful microorganisms, but he cautions that coconut oil doesn't protect against the sun's rays as some people think. "Coconut oil only has an SPF of 1 and won't protect you from UV rays," she explains. "Make sure you use sunscreen."
Can coconut oil be used on the face?
Although coconut oil can moisturize and is beneficial for many skin types, it is not suitable for everyone. Some people's skin reacts negatively to it and should be avoided if allergic to coconut oil. Experts recommend starting slowly and applying a small amount first to see how the body reacts before applying elsewhere.
And while some people apply it liberally to their skin (and even hair), coconut oil isn't water-based, so it shouldn't be applied all over. For example, Tara Schmid, a registered dietitian with the Mayo Clinic Diet, does not recommend using coconut oil on your face. "Be careful not to use it on your face or other acne-prone areas," she advises, "as it can clog pores."
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