Aura Cacia Organic Coconut Oil Unrefined Body Care (Conditioner) - 177g

Aura Cacia Organic Fair Trade Certified Coconut Oil comes from the Philippines and is Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA. It is cold pressed from the flesh of the coconut.

Quick use: Use coconut oil as an all-over moisturizer after a day in the sun. Coconut oil (Coco nucifera) is one of the most popular natural ingredients in the world today. It is well known for its moisturizing, nourishing and rejuvenating abilities in body, face, hair and scalp care applications. The moisturizing qualities of organic unrefined coconut oil make it very beneficial for the skin, while its lightweight feel makes it popular for users.

COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil is an edible oil from the kernel or 'meat' of the coconut, which comes from the coconut palm (cocos nucifera)...

Coconut oil is very stable, even in high heat, making it a great choice for frying.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids

We are now much more educated about the severe health risks associated with consumption of trans fats, and how some saturated fat in our diets can actually improve our overall health. We also know more about the specific fatty acids in coconut oil, namely lauric acid and capric acid, both medium chain fatty acids (MCFA's). MCFA's contain 6-10 carbons, compared to long chain fatty acids, which contain 10+.

Medium chain fatty acids differ significantly from their longer chained counterparts and may be a more fat friendly, abundant, rapidly used and available source of energy. Another bonus to using MCFA's for energy is that, when compared to carbohydrates, MCFA's do not have a stimulatory effect on insulin levels. Studies are now showing that coconut oil may be useful in controlling weight gain and obesity, thanks to its lauric acid component. Lauric acid makes up the largest proportion of saturdated fat in coconut oil. Lauric acid has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol (the 'good' cholesterol) in the body, creating a more favourable cholesterol profile.

Coconut oil And Alzheimer's

Advancements in Alzheimer’s research has led to a theory about the development of the disease that points to the inability of brain cells to process glucose. Scientists are not sure why this happens, but this inability leads to the starvation of brain cells. Research dedicated to studying the potential for coconut oil use in Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention is promising. Since coconut oil is a natural source of MCFA’s, which provide the brain with ketones instead of glucose for energy, regular consumption has been shown to improve cognitive function and mood in Alzheimer’s patients. These findings are optimistic and could mean coconut oil has a role in stopping brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s patients. Of course, more studies will need to be done to test the accuracy of the theory and if it is a universal phenomenon.

More great reasons to incorporate more coconut oil into your diet!

MCFA's have also been used widely in the treatment of malabsorption pathologies,such as pancreatitis, Crohn's, celiac's, and cystic fibrosis, showing a huge benefit over low fat diets in terms of maintaining adequate nutrition and weight.

They have been found to aid in the digestion, absorption and transport of lipids.

Coconut oil may be effective for the treatment of gallstones or prevention of gallstone in individuals who are susceptible.

Works well as a moisturizer, applied directly to the skin as needed.

Another great benefit of coconut oil is its ability to withstand high heats, while still retaining the health benefits of its fatty acids. It is one of the 'healthier' oils to fry with, if you must fry with oil.

More Health Benefits - Immune Support

Lauric acid is converted to monolaurin in the body, a MCFA that is otherwise only naturally found in breast milk. We now know the importance of monolaurin during the first few days and months of life, as it supports the absorption of necessary minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Although it was initially reserved for use in the soap and cosmetic industry, Lauric acid has significant anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoal functions within the body, as well. It has been shown to destroy lipid coated viruses, such as HIV, herpes, CMV, and influenza, as well as bacteria like heliobacter, and protozoa such as giardia. It has these effects by solubilizing the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope of the virus, causing disintegration. Some researchers have also suggested that monolaurin from lauric acid interferes with signal transduction between virus and bacteria, as well as interfering with virus assembly and maturation. The immune benefits of coconut oil (and specifically its MCFA content, including lauric acid) have been clearly demonstrated.

Everything In Moderation

As always, the key to a healthy diet is moderation. Almost any fat, in excessive amounts, can lead to a greater risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. No more than 30% of our caloric intake should come from fat, and of this 30%, only 10% should come from medium chain fatty acids. A diet containing only MCFA's is lacking in some essential fatty acids, including EPA and DHA, necessary to a variety of processes within the body. That being said, it is so important to understand the place that fats can and should have in a healthy diet, and why a 'low fat diet', unless essential to your specific health condition, may actually be leading to weight gain and disease. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it's all about moderation.

What To Look For (In Your Health Food Store)?

Virgin or extra virgin NON-HYDROGENTATED coconut oil, when purchased from a reputable source and consumed in moderation has numerous health benefits AND it's delicious. Coconut oil is naturally a solid at room temperature, and will turn to liquid if warmed to over 75-76 degrees. At this point the solid becomes a liquid. If this happens in your cupboard over the summer, do not worry, the product has not gone bad and it is still effective. It will form a solid again when it cools. Coconut oil has a long shelf life.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

There are two proposed mechanisms. The first follows the theory that the aroma of the oils have a direct influence on the brain. Through the olfactory system, our nose, the aromas travel to the limbic system of the brain.

The limbic system is involved in various functions in the body such as emotional responses, memory storage and hormone regulation. It also plays a role in sensory perception and motor function, as well as olfaction, the sense of smell.

Another theory is simply that, just as plants and herbs have medicinal properties, essential oils made from the same plants and herbs have pharmacological effects, as well. This theory relies on the ability of the scented oils to be absorbed through the skin and exert their medicinal effect on deeper bodily processes that way. These two mechanisms support the argument that the oils can be, but do not necessarily have to be applied on the skin to achieve their healing goals.

Versatile as a mode of treatment, aromatherapy offers improvement for mental and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression and insomnia while also treating symptoms like difficulty concentrating and muscle and joint pain. Acute conditions such as exhaustion, nausea and headaches can also be improved through the use of aromatherapy. Even chronic conditions like respiratory difficulties, stress and low libido can be treated. Aromatherapy has even been known to improve immune functioning.

Aromatherapy has many applications and is used to treat a variety of ailments with reported success. Unfortunately, there are limited scientific studies on the efficacy of aromatherapy due to the individualized nature of treatment.

Dilution

Because of their extremely concentrated state, it is important to dilute essential oils in other high quality carrier oils like olive, almond, grape seed, or sesame. Keeping in the spirit of oil not mixing with water, an essential oil can only be diluted by mixing it with another oil. When essential oils are used without being diluted, they can cause severe skin irritation, gastrointestinal upset and even liver damage in the long term. Certain essential oils are not for internal use, and can be toxic even in small amounts.

Essential Oils Can Be:

- inhaled through steam inhalation, humidifiers, diffusers, and vaporizers
- added to a carrier oil and applied to your skin directly or as a hot or cold compress
- spritzed onto objects like pillows, bedding and furniture
- added to infusers, potpourri and candles to enhance the odour of an indoor space
- applied to skin as perfume
- used as a gargle or mouth wash, added to toothpaste, soaps, cleaning solutions, lotions and creams, face and body spray
- added to baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, hand and foot baths and saunas

Essential Oil Uses

Essential oils are aromatic compounds extracted from a number of different plants. They are also known as volatile oils because they evaporate so quickly, which is also how they create such a strong aroma in the air. Because of this ability to quickly create strong scents, these oils are often used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other scented products.

How Are They Made?

Essential oils are extracted from the plant by steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Good quality products create a pure product that will evaporate cleanly if dripped on a piece of paper. Each type of extraction is used for different plant materials. Solvent extraction is used for substances like flowers that contain very little volatile oil, and those that can be damaged by the temperatures used in steam distillation. Solvents used are hexane or supercritical carbon dioxide. Because carbon dioxide evaporates quickly when the temperature is raised to normal, it is the preferred solvent extraction method to maintain purity. Solvent extraction performed at lower temperatures is preferred to maintain the integrity of the active compounds.

Medicinal Properties

The benefits of essential oils are as diverse as the oils themselves. Some are diluted and used as skin treatments for acne or rashes, while others are used for internal use to fight infection or even help to treat specific diseases. Often current research will focus on specific compounds found in essential oils, to determine which one is responsible for their medicinal benefits. More traditional herbalists believe that it is the synergy between all of the active constituents in the oil that provide the full benefit. In some cases, the benefits of essential oils can simply be attributed to the effect of their scent on the brain. To stimulate the limbic system in the brain, essential oils are often used for aromatherapy in combination with massage and other balancing techniques.