Claim 8: Moisturise
- Great as eye cream
- Remove eye makeup
- Soothes cuticles
- Use as aromatic massage oil
Coconut oil is as effective and safe to use as a moisturiser as mineral oil is (24). You could look at it more from the angle that coconut oil is a natural product that does the same as a product derived from petroleum (yuck!). Which would you prefer to slather on your face? Coconut oil is used in many homemade products such as soap, lotion bars. I myself make my own lotion bars, but they are a combination of coconut oil, almond oil, shea butter and beeswax. Which of these keeps my skin looking moisturised I cannot tell.
Conclusion: Proven effective and safe as a moisturiser.
Claim 9: Take care of your heart
- Contains 50% Lauric acid
- Helps prevent high blood pressure
- Helps reduce damage to arteries
- Helps prevent atherosclerosis
Contains less than 50% Lauric acid (1). Research suggests that the effects on the heart, and atherosclerosis is uncertain due to complex factors (25). It cannot therefore be stated either way as to whether coconut oil (lauric acid primarily) is good or bad for the heart and arteries.
Conclusion: The scientific jury has yet to prove either way on this claim.
Claim 10: Strengthen Immune System
- Contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Coconut oil helps in fighting harmful bacteria like listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.
Research indicates that the fatty acids in coconut oil do indeed possess antimicrobial properties. In studies lauric acid has been shown to be inhibitory against gram positive bacteria e.g. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp,(26) so potentially this could include Listeria spp and studies have indicated that lauric acid is effective against Helicobacter pylori, although further studies are required to ascertain use in human therapy (27). Studies have reported that lauric acid is effective against Candida albicans (28) and a derivative of lauric acid is effective against some RNA and DNA viruses (29). Overall the claim about Coconut oil’s antimicrobial properties is true, however to state it strengthens the immune system is misleading as the fatty acids in coconut oil has no effect on the white blood cells that are the power house of our immune system.
Conclusion: Science supports the claim that coconut oil has antimicrobial properties.
