Coconut Oil as an Anti-Aging Treatment

Coconut oil is considered to be one of the most beneficial health products of nature, and is often called the healthiest dietary oil on earth. Natural coconut oil is a saturated fat (the hydrogenated version found in processed foods is different). However, this saturated fat is not the type that contains cholesterol or increases blood cholesterol level. There are several health benefits associated with coconut oil such as disease prevention and anti-aging. That is why coconut oil has also been used extensively in numerous anti-aging skin care and beauty products.

Studies have confirmed that dietary coconut oil does not act similarly with saturated fat from animal sources, and is a rather good supplement for vitamin E in the body. A sufficient quantity of this oil is also considered to have antioxidant properties to disrupt the chain-reactions of oxidation in the body. This function is important in preventing and controlling cellular damage and aging of the skin and the body by inactivating the “free radicals”. Coconut oil has also been found to assist the body in defeating a number of malicious viruses such as hepatitis C, herpes, and HIV.

In the 1960s, Dr. Stanley Hartroft and Dr. David J. Porta revealed that the ratio of oxidants to antioxidants, multiplied by the ratio of unsaturated oils to saturated oils is in proportion to the "age pigment" produced in the body. It has also been known that general aging, and especially aging of the brain, is closely associated with lipid peroxidation. A number of experiments and studies have shown that ultraviolet light from the sun advances peroxidation in unsaturated fats, rather than in saturated fats, and that this generally occurs in the skin. Tests in rabbits also revealed that the rate of aging, and the development of wrinkles by the skin are clearly governed by the amount of saturated fat in diet.

As an anti-aging skin care remedy, coconut oil has softening, moisturizing and film forming properties. In the cosmetic world, coconut oil has been used widely used as moisturizing agent, to make the skin resilient, and is responsible for the rich, thick lather in handmade soap. Some of the benefits when coconut oil is used in cooking, or applied directly to the skin include:

1. Prevention of premature aging of the skin
2. Improving digestion and nutrient absorption
3. Weight loss
4. Healthier immune system
5. Reducing risk of atherosclerosis and related diseases
6. Reducing risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases
7. Reducing risk of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
8. Controlling diabetes
9. Healthier metabolic function
10. Providing an immediate source of energy