1. Kerr attributes her blemish-free skin and glossy hair to this oil. “I will not go a day without coconut oil. I personally take four tablespoons per day, either on my salads, in my cooking or in my cups of green tea.” Her endorsement has got women scurrying out to stock up on coconut oil.

2. Sales at a UK-based health food chain Holland & Barrett had shot up by 50 per cent in the past year and that much of the demand was recent. A £ 12.59 (Rs 900) pot of the store’s own- brand product was sold out on its website as they hurried to re-stock.

3. Coconut tree, also called the tree of life in the Caribbean islands, has been used for centuries in India for traditional remedies. Once again, science proves that tradition is right. It is a known fact that coconut oil gives you beautiful hair, but a lesser known fact is that, in south India, coconut is also a very popular skincare ingredient.

4. From being used for skin nourishment in ayurvedic massages, it is also used in the treatment of boils, sores, viral infections and abscesses, dermatologist and hair expert Aparna Santhanam said. “Coconut has a unique mechanism of moisturising and hydrating the skin by locking the moisture within the skin which is not only effective but also long lasting. The molecular size of the fatty acids in the oil is very small, thereby, ensuring excellent penetration,” Santhanam added.

5. A unique property of coconut is that it is rich in medium chain fatty acids ( lauric acid) which makes it an a potent anti- inflammatory agent and an antioxidant. This is the reason why it has gained popularity with people keen on losing weight. A study published in the journal Lipids found that women with high belly fat, who consumed coconut oil while following a low- calorie diet and walk almost an hour a day lowered belly fat.

6. Compared to other oils, coconut oil is not as unhealthy as many saturated fats such as butter, meat but experts, including the World Health Organization, have warned against drinking too much coconut oil as it contains high levels of saturated fat and calories. “Recent reports have shown that coconut is good for your health. However, it still contains high amount of saturated fats. So don’t go overboard.

7. A healthy person shouldn’t take more than 6 tablespoons of oil in a day, half of which could be coconut oil. For a cardiac patient, we recommend 20 gram of oil in a day,” dietician Geetika Ahluwalia, Delhi Heart & Lung Hospital.

8. COCO FACTS Coconut oil is used for the nourishment of hair and skin It is used for the treatment of boils, sores, viral infections, abscesses It is an anti-inflammatory agent and an antioxidant A maximum of 3 tbsp of the oil should be consumed daily

Courtesy: http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com