Tag: Child Category
Coconut water- Nature’s fluid of life has six unknown benefits.
Coconut Water is the most wholesome beverage provided by nature to the people of tropics. The more you explores nature’s Wellsprings the more you are in awe of its goodness. Not only water even the coconut meat is nature’s gift of nourishment.
Before we venture into nature’s fluid of life’s benefits let us first know how nature manufactures it:
Nuts of Coconut Palm trees have two edible parts one is the inner white kernel and other is a clear liquid endosperm (Coconut water). An Immature coconut between six to nine months contains about 750 ml of water that eventually becomes the flesh. During the fifth month the kernel begins to form a thin layer of jelly around the inside of the endosperm or shell. Little by little, the kernel grows and replaces the water by cells storing lipids (Coconut meat). At full maturity (12 months) the amount of coconut water harvested from each nut is about 300ml. The composition of Coconut water varies depending on the stage at which it is harvested.
Composition per 100ml
Water 95.5%
Protein 0.1%
Fat ˂ 0.1%
Mineral Matter 0.4 %
Carbohydrate 4.0%
Calcium 0.02%
Phosphorus ˂ 0.01%
Iron 0.5mg
It is even considered as Rehydration drink!! Amazing!
According to studies Coconut water can be used as re hydration drink in exercise induced dehydration. The basic ion composition of coconut replenishes the electrolytes lost through sweat.
Well, do you know not all coconuts have sweet water?
Choose tender coconuts as they have around 5.5% of sugars. The sugars found in tender coconuts are glucose and fructose as a result they taste sweeter compared to matured coconuts.
The best part: Nature has fortified coconut water with even vitamins!!
Coconut water contains both Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and vitamins of B group. The concentration of Ascorbic acid ranges from 2.2 to 3.7 mg per 100ml, which gradually reduces as the kernel surrounding the water begins to harden. So next time you think of ordering any beverages how about you try this gift of nature.
Vitamins Value
Nicotinic acid 0.64 μg/ml
Pantothenic acid 0.52 μg/ml
Biotin 0.02 μg/ml
Riboflavin ˂0.01 μg/ml
Folic acid 0.003 μg/ml
Thiamine traces
Pyridoxine traces
Six main benefits of drinking the nature’s fluid of life:
Nature’s Gastroenterologist: If u suffer stomach upset then drink coconut water and see the difference. As it helps in preventing and relieving many health problems including dehydration, constipation, digestive disturbances, malnutrition, fatigue, heatstroke, boils, diarrhoea
Daily intake of Coconut water acts as preventive measure for kidney stones, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections.
Natural anti aging: The important significant and useful components in coconut water are cytokinins. Researchers have suggested the possibility that consuming a rich source of cytokinins, such as coconut water, may produce an anti-aging effect on the body, reducing risk of developing degenerative and age related diseases
For healthy Skin: Splash your face with Coconut water regularly. Nicotinic acid (niacin) present in coconut water acts as natural toner and anti-aging. Topical application of niacinamide improves the surface structure , shows anti-inflammatory effects in acne, rosacea.
For preventing Skin rashes: Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes.
For menopausal women: In a study conducted it was proved that coconut water reduced changes in the brain induced by hormonal imbalances in menopausal women
Natural Source of Calcium and Iron: Coconut water has calcium , iron and Vitamin B9 (Folic acid). Regular intake improves health and cures malnourishment.
Having daily coconut water at work can be the 5th way of beating office blues in addition to 4 ways to beat the office blues
Availability: People living in tropics should not miss out on the goodness of Coconut water. Water in coconuts is in sterile and pure form. So you should prefer drinking directly from the coconuts.
In regions where availability is an issue packed tender coconut water is being imported. Major exporters of the product are Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Thai’s Finest 100% Pure Coconut Water
Naked Juice 100% Organic Pure Coconut Water, USDA Organic Certified
Cocozia 100% Organic Coconut Water
Tamanu oil is a must have in your makeup kit – My Wellspring
I’m very much excited to write this post as today I’m going to share findings on a very much raved about oil.
This oil has taken over the Cosmetic industry in recent years.
As a matter of fact this oil not just substitutes but is also way beyond the available Cosmetic skin care products.
Introducing to you my new personal favorite tamanu oil also famously known as dilo oil or Kamani oil. If you check any top brand face serums the must have ingredient is tamanu Oil
Tamanu oil
The oil originates in Polynesia, where it continues to play an important cultural role.
It is employed by local Polynesian women for promoting healthy, clear, blemish-free skin, and is also used on babies to prevent diaper rash and skin eruptions.
Fatty acid Composition Of oil:
Linoleic acid – 38%
Oleic acid – 34%
Stearic acid – 13%
Palmitic acid – 12%
Linoleic acid (LA) and Oleic are omega series fatty acids.
They have sebum restitution properties.
These compounds play a significant role in the skin.
In dry skin it strengthens the lipid barrier of epidermis, protects against loss of water from skin’s epidermis and normalizes the skin metabolism.
In acne prone skin, a decrease in LA content in sebum is observed, which leads to blocked pores and formation of comedones and eczemas. Linoleic acid present in Tamanu Oil invigorates the deprived skin.
Stearic and Palmitic acids are the saturated fatty acids that act as emollients. Apart from fatty acids Frediline and callophylloide present in tamanu oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
What research says about this oil?
Studies were conducted to assess effectiveness of naturally derived facial oil containing sunflower seed, tamanu and ginger root oils to treat signs of skin fatigue surfacing by the end of the day.
This treatment has shown ability to provide anti oxidation benefits and to improve signs of fatigue immediately, over the course of a day and overtime
In another studies tamanu oil, exhibited significant UV absorption properties and was associated with an important sun protection factor (SPF 18–22) and it appeared to act as a cytoprotective agent against free radicals and DNA damage due to UV rays.
Tamanu oil consists of delta–tocotrienol, a type of vitamin E. So this oil naturally helps in treating blemishes, scars and acts as anti- aging.
The key to the effectiveness of Tamanu Oil is its extraordinary ability to promote the regeneration of new skin tissue, encouraging rapid repair and the development of healthy skin. The scientific name for this process is “cicatrisation”.
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My take on tamanu oil:
Calophyllum inophyllum tree is found in coastal areas. It is even grown in India so I thought I could easily purchase authentic 100% pure oil from Indian markets.
But to my disappointment the reviews I read of tamanu oil produced in India were mostly negative and customers were complaining that they didn’t find the oil to be pure or authentic.
Authentic Tamanu oil has nutty smell and is of green color and absorbs well into the skin.
So I choose Aura Cacia brand of Tamanu oil
Aura Cacia Organic Skincare Oil Tamanu – (check this link)
The packaging is not travel friendly. The spray bottle tends to leak. Nevertheless it is good as you get a regulated amount of oil for every pump of spray.
The oil is emerald green in color. It easily blends into the skin leaving no traces of oiliness.
Provided make sure you use moderate amounts depending on your skin type.
I have started using it as night serum from past 2 months. I take minimal amounts and blend into the areas free from acne.
And for acne prone areas of my skin I usually dab this oil and follow up with sandalwood paste.
Results: Well, my skin is the most unpredictable. Just when I think I am at the brink of achieving a flawless acne free skin, a pimple pops up and later on few more.
So, when I started using this oil I was having a minor breakout on my temples and acne scars on my cheeks.
Tamanu oil helped me lighten my acne scars and it was not overnight but it took around a fortnight period of time. Whereas to treat my cystic acne it took much longer for tamanu oil to work. However I follow up with sandalwood paste after dabbing oil to acne areas of face and body.
The best part of using this oil as night face serum is every morning I wake up with a healthy and fresh glow.
Start using this oil and you could pose a no-makeup look #IDidWakeupLikeThis.
This oil brings the freshness to the skin by alleviating signs of fatigue. So, you can include tamanu oil in your mid-day touch-ups.
Weekend care: Exfoliate your skin- take 1 tea spoon of tamanu oil + 1 tea spoon coconut oil (click to read about coconut oil) and mix them well. After cleaning your face with mild soap or cleanser apply this oil mixture to your face and body.
Massage well and then take sugar and scrub it gently for 2 mins then rinse it off with water. By far this has been the best natural exfoliation i have ever tried.
Makeup Routine: Irrespective of your skin type Tamanu oil is one of the best natural primers available.
Pump a little oil and prime your face well before applying foundation.
If you have dry skin you can mix this oil in your CC or BB creams or foundation and then apply.
And also after removing makeup moisturize your skin with this oil.
When you opt oils for your skin care the key to get results is patience. And also make sure you buy authentic products. Please drop in your comments mentioning your skin type and your review if you have used or been using tamanu oil.
If you wish to try other brands of tamanu oil i suggest you look for Life-Flo Pure Tamanu Oil (check this link) or Tamanu Oil
Also, would like to mention that there’s something you need to take care of prior to using any skincare product. Click the below image to read:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBtNPh-j-Sy/
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Coconut Oil – The evergreen solution to troubled skin
Earlier the name coconut oil would make me scrunch my nose and bring back the not-so-good memories of using Parachute coconut oil when I was in school. As it was presumed to make your hair strong and healthy, Parachute coconut oil was/is common household name in India.
In my mid teens I stopped using it all thanks to the greasy and frizzy effect of it on hair. Furthermore I felt it was because of using this oil, dandruff started.
My assumptions were right as my dandruff considerably reduced after I stopped using it.
According to hearsay, Parachute coconut oil available then was admixed with mineral oil, paraffin wax and other chemicals.
No wonder, the greasy effect and smell, by which one can guess from a distance if someone had used this oil or not. And on top of that we get to see Deepika Padukone endorsing it where they show her going to photo shoots after applying this grease fest.
Because of this experience I never bothered to do add coconut oil to the list of natural oils I was experimenting.
But every time I surf about natural oils, Coconut oil is always the most raved about.
So, this made me embark on the goodness of coconuts and made me realize problem lies in the brand we choose. For testing of any natural oil’s suitability for your skin or hair the foremost prerequisite is to get 100% pure oil.
So go for Cold pressed oils or Virgin oils.
Before I present my review I would like to mention few findings on Coconut oil-
Coconut oil is mainly composed of Lauric acid, Myristic acid, Palmitic acid, Capric acid and Caprylic acid which are saturated fatty acids. These constitute around 91% of oil.
Lauric acid has antimicrobial activity stronger than benzoyl peroxide ( Benzoyl peroxide ointment is commonly prescribed for acne).
Myristic and Palmitic acid are natural emollients and enhance absorption into the skin and therefore Coconut oil can be used as carrier oil for Essential oils.
Clinically Coconut oil has shown remarkable improvement in people having extremely dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin (Xerosis) and also patients suffering from Atopic dermatitis which is more common is younger children.
Though many people claim its use as natural sunscreen it is still not yet proven if it can be used as standalone against harmful UV A/B rays of sun.
Nevertheless it is used as tanning oil for spending a day at beach.
Coconut Oil For Hair When Compared to Mineral oil and Sunflower Oil:
We come across different Hair oils, shampoos, leave in conditioners and serums claiming to stop hair fall. Invariably most of these products have mineral oil.
Therefore, when Coconut oil was tested along with Mineral oil and Sunflower oil, it was found that only Coconut oil reduced the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.
The reason for Coconut oil’s superiority over other hair products is due to its high lauric acid content.
Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has high affinity for hair proteins and therefore, easily enters inside the hair shaft.
So this research finding confirms what our ancestors have been saying on using coconut oil for getting stronger and healthy hair provided, we use 100%pure oil.
Coconut Oil- La Flora Organics:
I was looking for cold pressed or extra virgin coconut oil. After checking all available brands I choose Coconut oil from La Flora Organics.
As you could see in the below images, label mentions that it is Organic, Certified, Cold pressed coconut oil. With No mineral oil, Hexane, Preservatives and perfume.
The packaging and labeling seems pretty impressive. Bottle seems travel friendly with no leakage issues. I bought this from www.firstcry.com
La Flora Organics Organic Coconut Oil Skin And Hair Care – 200 ml
Amazon : La Flora Organics Organic Coconut Oil Skin And Hair Care
The oil has faint odor of coconuts and with absolutely no greasy feel.
I started using it as my after shower moisturizer for body.
I suggest you apply it on moist or damp skin immediately after shower by this it absorbs pretty fast into the skin.
You won’t even feel like you have applied any oil as it absorbs well into the skin.
You can replace your body lotions with Coconut oil.
As I have acne prone skin I was very cautious with regard to its usage.
But now after using it for a while I am confident enough that coconut oil doesn’t exacerbate your acne or cause any breakouts.
Instead if you use it in moderation it helps restore skin’s vitality.
On daily use it imparts a natural shine to your skin.
As I have combination skin I avoid using it on face directly.Instead I prepare a mask:
1 tbspoon grounded coffee powder (do not use instant coffee) + Coconut oil 2 tbspoon. This mixture you can apply it on your face and body and leave it for around 15-20mins. And then rinse it off. No matter what your skin type is, this mask helps in exfoliating and nourishing your skin. So far, I am loving it. There is no overnight miracle but I could sense a change in my skin texture.
For hair: I have been using it as pre-bath massage oil. And also as after shower leave-on serum on scalp and hair.
When compared to skin this seems to work wonders on my hair and scalp.
Even in peak winter my dandruff seems to be in control. And this has never happened earlier.
My frizzy hair seems to be more tamed. In fact it is so light and non-greasy that you can use it and go to work or college without having to worry about how your hair looks.
Apply moderate to minimal amounts on your wet, dripping hair and then you can blow-dry or air dry your hair and then you are good to go. If you blow-dry your hair opt for cool settings. Ever since I have been using Coconut oil I have less hair whirling down the shower drain .
So my final verdict is thumbs up. If you have dry skin or dry scalp condition then this oil is a must have in your toiletries. Even though you have no skin or hair issues go for Coconut oil massage as often as possible or else you are surely missing out on a great deal of nature’s Well springs!! If you are searching for a face oil that can be used as makeup primer as well as imparts skin care then include tamanu oil.
Falling in love all over again with Coconut oil after I changed the brand – August 2018 Update:
Ever since, I started using Coconut oil in 2016, I have been trying various brands of Coconut oil.
Recently while touring folsom, CA markets, I finally got my hands on other brands of Coconut oil.
This time I bought Coconut oil exported from Thailand. You can find Coconut Oil from Thailand at Walmart or any other retail stores. Just what you need to check on label – Unrefined, Virgin, Cold pressed or Expeller pressed oil.
When used for hair care Coconut oil prevents loss of proteins from hair. When used for skin the lauric,myristic and palmitic acid present restores vitality.
Hands down when it comes to Coconut water and Coconut oils, Thailand takes the winning trophy.
The best part of coming across this high quality Coconut oil – I have started using this oil for my oil cleansing skin care regime.
Oil Cleansing Regime: My way
I’d prefer coconut oil any day to cleansing balms. Most people say it breaks them out. If you have faced the same with coconut oil then try fractionated coconut oil. Not-so-surprisingly, most of the cleansing balms are formulated with fractionated coconut oil. A little something on cleansing balms:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo2LVl1HUs4/?taken-by=beautyspring.in
Paula begoun, the founder of Paula’s Choice recommends mixing 2 or 3 oils for cleansing than using a single oil.
You can use a mix of Coconut oil (Use fractionated), Rose hip oil and Argan oil. You can play around with the ratios to determine the best suited for your skin type. If you prefer Almond oil, then keep its amount low compared to other oils. This because Almond oil is high in oleic acid. If you have sensitive skin then go for oils high in linoelic fatty acid such as Rosehip oil. On other hand, Argan oil has near equal amounts of both oleic and linoelic fatty acids with additional vitamin E.
Take the mix of your oils and then add little amount of your cleanser to the mix. Then massage this mix to your face and then rinse it with water and voila!
