Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Kids & Babies
Coconut oil is being lauded as one of the new healthy must-haves, especially when it comes to kids. Coconut oil is an edible oil that’s extracted from the fleshy white meat of coconuts and it’s being used in foods, medicines and in industry.
It has a high saturated fat content which means that it’s slow to oxidise and can last up to two years without going rancid. It’s rich in anti-oxidants and is jam packed with natural microbial and anti-bacterial agents which is probably why it’s recently been taking the health food industry by storm.
Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for the delicate skin of kids. A little coconut oil after a bath can keep your child’s skin smooth and help him sail smoothly through the dreaded winters. And not just skincare, from boosting immunity to hair care, coconut oil has many benefits for kids. It has amazing qualities that can help improve virtually every area of your child’s health as well as the overall quality of life.
HERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL
Some of the health benefits reported in adults include:
- Boosting metabolism and raising body temperature, so improving thyroid health
- Weight loss
- Positive results in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Fighting off viruses and bacterial infections
- Increased energy levels
- Improving the effects of Alzheimer’s disease
- Some advocates of coconut oil recommend 2 teaspoons of coconut oil daily added to a child’s diet – either straight from a spoon, added to smoothies or added to baked cakes. However, most kids these days get enough fat in their diets and there are other ways of taking advantage of coconut oil for your kids.
EXCELLENT FOR KIDS SKIN & HAIR : It’s a great massage oil and massaging your baby’s skin is a great way of bonding. You can buy coconut oil from you local pharmacy – it’s quite cheap. the oil is usually solid at room temperature, so scoop some out and let it melt in your hand and then rub into baby’s skin.
Commercial oils and lotions that claim to stimulate hair growth in kids are often full of harsh chemicals and do more harm than good.
Coconut oil is a safe and natural way to stimulate hair growth in kids. Its lauric acid and capric acid improve hair quality and encourage new hair growth while its moisturizing properties promote moisture retention in the hair shaft making hair soft and smooth.
IT MAKES TEETHING PAIN-FREE : One of the toughest times as a new mom is to handle kids during teething. Teething time for kids is often painful where nothing seems to help. Applying pure, virgin coconut oil on the gums of infants dilates and soothes the pain during teething.
IT MAKES FOR AMAZING AFTER-BATH MOISTURIZER : I know what you are thinking. “Baths make babies’ dry skin even drier”. But, not if you use coconut oil as an after-bath moisturizer. Pat the baby’s skin dry with a towel after the bath and then apply coconut oil while the skin is damp. This can be very restorative and will keep the baby’s skin soft and smooth throughout the day.
IT IMPROVES MENTAL ALERTNESS : Most kids feel out of energy after school or after a long session of playing games. Do you know that coconut oil can help in improving your child’s mental alertness? By adding a few tablespoons of coconut oil to their daily diet you can help them maintain a higher level of energy throughout the day
Coconut oil boosts digestion, thanks to the fatty acids present in it. The oil also has a special stimulating effect on brain functioning, which is even better than caffeine.
IT BOOSTS IMMUNITY IN KIDS : Ah! Every mother understands the pain of dealing with a kid with a running nose, cough, and cold. Regular cough and cold are a testimony of poor immunity in the child.
The good news is that adding coconut oil to the daily diet of a child can help in significantly boosting their immunity. Lauric acid present in the coconut oil gets converted into monolaurin, which is helpful in fighting bacteria and viruses. It helps the babies fight the seasonal flues.
IT HELPS IN HEALING FUNGAL INFECTIONS : Applying coconut oil often to the affected areas helps in healing fungal infections in kids. And by often I mean 5 to 8 times a day. Yes, it is easier said than done, especially for kids who throw a tantrum every time an ointment or cream is put on. But you need to find a way out. Because coconut oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can effectively relieve fungal infections. And most importantly, it is natural.
COCONUT OIL IS LOADED WITH BENEFITS. BUT, THERE IS A CATCH!
To enjoy all the above benefits of coconut oil, it is important that you stick to organic, virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil. Only then, the goodness and nutritional value of coconut oil remain intact.
