Your guide to coconut oil

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Coconut oil is fast becoming one of Australia’s most popular natural healers, being used to relieve stress, aid weight loss and increase metabolism. It was once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, but it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is unique and different from most other fats and possesses many health-giving properties. It is a healthy saturated fat that consists mainly of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) like lauric acid. These types of fatty acids produce a whole lot of health benefits. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Truly a “miracle” ingredient!

Supermodel Miranda Kerr has been a long-time supporter of coconut oil, saying that consuming a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil per day can do wonders for the body’s immune system.

Related: Coconut oil could fight tooth decay

Amy Anderson, founder of Coconut Health and Healing explains the benefits of how you can introduce this wonderfully, natural product into everyday life.

Weight loss: Coconut oil is digested so quickly into the body it immediately stores as energy, not fat. It increases thyroid function and metabolic rate, burning more calories and promoting weight loss.

Great for the heart: The medium-chain fatty good acids found in coconut oil help to control high cholesterol and high blood pressure so it lessens likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.

Cooking Oil: Use coconut oil to replace your ordinary cooking oil because it’s free from trans fats. Trans fats raise LDL cholesterol levels and deplete good HDL cholesterol levels. Coconut oil is a fantastic substitute for butter in cakes as well.

Body Moisturiser: With its 100 per cent natural contents, coconut oil softens the skin and helps to relieve dryness and flaking. It helps to prevent wrinkles, age spots and stretch marks. Eczema and dermatitis sufferers can also use it as healing cream.

Hair Conditioner: Coconut Oil restores the natural moisture in the hair’s follicles, resulting in healthy growth and increased shine. For a full conditioning treatment, rub half a tablespoon of coconut oil into your scalp and wrap your hair in a shower cap for 30 minutes. For even better results, leave in overnight and rinse with warm water.

Makeup Remover: Coconut oil is highly emollient which makes it ideal for breaking down oil and dirt on the face. Douse a cotton pad in the oil, and then hold it over your eyes for a few moments. Slide the cotton pad down the eye gently and repeat process once.

To purchase some coconut oil for yourself or to learn more about it, you can visit Coconut Health and Healing on Facebook.