Shameela Yoosuf Ali
I was in Sri Lanka last month; The country of coconuts.
I can not help compressing a smile which peeps out of my lips. Coconut in Tamil we call Thenga.In our locality, Thenga Thanni, or coconut water is used to refer to the nut-heads.
When I was packing and purchasing stuff, I got a request from one of my sisters to bring her a bottle of coconut oil.
Now many of you would raise your eyebrows. True enough, taking coconut oil to Sri Lanka is as if taking salt to the sea.
As with many products, the best produce is exported to rich countries. Thus organic coconut oil is not widely available in Sri Lanka.
In recent times pure coconut oil is replacing many beauty products off the shelf.
A year ago I did a small research on coconut oil. I was simply amazed.
Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolised differently than most other fats.
These fats can boost fat burning and supply your brain with quick energy. They also help to raise the good HDL cholesterol in your blood, which is essential for your overall health.
There are numerous peer-reviewed research carried out on coconut which endorses the health benefits of this superfood.
From the ancient times in many cultures, women used it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the appearance of their skin and hair.
Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture content of the skin as well as it can cure many skin related abnormalities.
Some of you might have heard about Oil-pulling, in which you use coconut oil as a mouthwash. It is an age-old Ayurvedic practice, which helps to kill the harmful bacteria in the mouth, whitening your teeth and contributes to improving your overall health. Oil pulling is one of the best things I came across which assists to keep myself healthy and vibrant.
Coconut oil tolerates a higher temperature for heating and frying than most oils. It can be used in, sautéing and tempering and even in baking as a substitute for butter.
Well, I do not own a coconut oil mill planet though I would love to smell the soothing aroma of cold pressed coconut oil every day.
The corporate-sponsored media agencies carry out mass campaigns against coconut oil as they do for many other useful products. It is no secret that the pharmaceutical industry is behind the screen of portraying coconut oil as poison.
Read again; I am not talking about refined coconut oil of pale yellow colour which is freely available in the market. It is all about the cold-pressed coconut oil which is white and smells fresh.
Coming back to my sister’s request, I looked for coconut oil in a small organic boutique in my town, Sutton Coldfield. I bought one and read the label. It said pure organic cold pressed coconut oil made only from ‘Sri Lankan coconuts’.
What more can I say!
