People often ask me what I use as a face moisturizer. I reply, “The same thing I use to cook with.” It’s an age old secret that many islanders, such as the Pilipino women, know about. You would think that putting an oil on your face would clog pores and cause break-outs. Well, just the opposite is true: coconut oil is antimicrobial and it fights wrinkles and pre-mature aging. I have even seen it make my pores smaller and my face has had no unwanted blemishes since I started using it 5 months ago. Sound too good to be true? Well, I’m just getting started! In addition to using this as a natural face (and body) moisturizer, coconut oil is also a great to eat. Use it in baking, sautéing, and what ever else you’d use butter for. Virgin Coconut oil is safe to cook with since, unlike many other plant-based oils, it does not break down the medium chain fatty acids easily. The medical benefits of consuming coconut oil are too many to list. Whole books have been written about it, such as:
Know Your Fats : The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol, by Mary G. Enig,
Eat Fat, Lose Fat: Lose Weight And Feel Great With The Delicious, Science-based Coconut Diet by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig
So, use it as a moisturizer and cook with it too!