[ARTIKEL] 26 Oct 2023

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Not only for cooking, it turns out there are many benefits of coconut oil which are good for health. Coconut oil contains very large amounts of saturated fatty acids, namely around 80-90 percent. The most saturated fatty acid in coconut oil is lauric acid, which is 47 percent. Then, there are also myristic and palmitic acids in smaller amounts. Even though it contains saturated fatty acids, coconut oil has been proven to be beneficial for health.

The benefits of coconut oil are very diverse, but you cannot use it carelessly. This is because not all skin types are suitable for this oil, so there are several things you need to pay attention to when applying it to the skin. Coconut oil is often used for cooking. However, who would have thought that this oil could also provide various health benefits, including facial skin health. The benefits of coconut oil for the face come from the content of several important nutrients that can make skin healthier, such as lauric acid which can stimulate collagen production in the skin.

Coconut Oil Nutritional Content

Coconut oil is believed to have good nutritional content for the human body. For example, vitamin E, but the amount is very small. Additionally, coconut oil does not have fiber and minerals. However, coconut oil is still beneficial for health. The following are details of the nutritional content in 1 tablespoon (tbsp) of coconut oil:

• 0 gram protein.
• 0 milligrams (mg) cholesterol.
• 121 calories.
• 13.5 g of fat, of which 11.2 g is saturated.

Meanwhile, as quoted from Hello Sehat, it is known that the composition of fat consists of 100% fat. Mainly 80-90 is saturated fat. In coconut oil there are at least 3 types of saturated fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid.

Various Benefits of Coconut Oil for Skin

Many beauty products release skin care products containing coconut oil because this oil can bring health benefits. The following are some of the benefits of coconut oil for skin health:

Reduces the risk of deterioration of body organs and tissues: The largest consumers of saturated fatty acids in the world are the Tokelau people who live on the islands in the Pacific (part of New Zealand) and Kitava (part of Papua New Guinea). Even though 60 percent of the calories they consume come from coconut oil, the people of Tokelau and Kitava are in good health. They also rarely suffer from degenerative diseases, namely medical conditions that cause gradual deterioration of the body's organs and tissues.

Removes remaining dirt on the face: Coconut oil can be used as a natural make-up remover because it is able to remove dirt and remaining make-up on the face. How to use it is also quite easy. You only need to pour enough pure coconut oil into the palm of your hand, then apply it to your facial skin. Massage with gentle movements so that dirt or make-up on your face can be removed. Next, gently wipe your face with clean cotton wool, then wash your face using cleansing soap so that there is no more dirt or coconut oil left on your face.

Moisturizing Leather: The linoleic acid contained in coconut oil can make the skin hydrated, so it can strengthen the top layer of the skin (skin barrier). Thanks to his deep abilities moisturize skin, those with dry skin can use coconut oil as part of their facial skin care to make their skin more healthy moist and chewy.

Minimizes the Appearance of Wrinkles on the Face: Coconut oil contains lauric acid which can stimulate collagen production. Collagen is a protein that can be produced by the body naturally and functions to maintain skin elasticity. However, increasing age can cause collagen production to decrease. This makes the use of skin care products that contain collagen, such as coconut oil, necessary to maintain skin elasticity. That way, the appearance of wrinkles on the face can be minimized.

Treating Acne: Applying coconut oil to the face can help treat acne. The benefits of coconut oil for the face can be obtained thanks to the lauric acid content in it which is effective in killing acne-causing bacteria. Apart from that, it also contains capric acid which has properties anti-inflammatory and antibacterial which makes coconut oil able to relieve acne while inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause acne.

Brighten the Skin: Coconut oil is known to be able to brighten facial skin, disguise black spots, and even out skin tone. However, the benefits of coconut oil for the face can be maximized if combined with the use of other brightening ingredients, such as lemon. Lemon contains high levels of vitamin C and is known to be effective in brightening the skin and reducing dark spots on the face.

Kills Bacteria: The lauric acid in coconut oil can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. Hence, habit consume Coconut oil is thought to help reduce the risk of disease due to microbial infections. In fact, there is research that reveals that coconut oil can be used as a mouthwash. This method, known as oil pulling, is actually good for oral health.

Healthy Scalp: If you have a scalp that tends to be dry, using coconut oil could be a solution. Coconut oil may help moisturize and provides nutrition for the scalp.

Helps Relieve Allergy Symptoms: Allergies can cause the skin to feel itchy. For those of you who like to scratch your skin, this condition can make your skin tend to become scaly or dry. Using coconut oil can help overcome this condition. However, before using coconut oil, make sure you do not have an allergy to the ingredients in it.

Treating Insect Bites: Insect bites can cause pain accompanied by itching. It is believed that using coconut oil on the surface of the skin that has been bitten by insects can help relieve the complaints you are feeling. Therefore, if you feel itchy due to insect bites, try applying coconut oil.

Things to note: Even though the benefits of coconut oil for the skin are quite diverse, you still have to be careful when using it. For example, those with oily skin are advised to avoid using coconut oil on their face because it can make their skin even more oily. For those with dry and normal skin, coconut oil is generally safe to use. However, still do an allergy test first before applying coconut oil to your facial skin.

Reference:

• Melati Ananda Kusuma, et al, 2020, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Fatty Acids and Their Health Benefits, agrotechnology journal, Faculty of Agriculture, Sultan Ageng UniversityTirtayasa attack
• Pham, et al. (2022). Anti-Aging Effects of a Serum Based on Coconut Oil Combined with Deer Antler Stem Cell Extract on a Mouse Model of Skin Aging. Cells, 11(4)
• Varma, et al. (2018). In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Protective Properties of Virgin Coconut Oil. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(1)
• Cleveland Clinic (2022). Should You Use Coconut Oil on Your Skin?
• Lang, A. Healthline (2023). 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Coconut Oil.
• Whelan, C. Healthline (2020). How to Use Coconut Oil on Your Face Overnight.
• Memon, N. & Chintapalli, S. MedicineNet (2022). Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Skin?
• Patient. What are The Benefits of Collagen, and Can It Prevent Skin
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874191/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/coconut-oil-on-face-overnight#removing-makeup
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