You might find the title of this post funny or a bit weird but I really meant to word it that way. Because the truth is using virgin coconut oil has really blessed our family in different ways.
And since we believe that being “Truly Rich and Blessed” is all about “GROWING OUR FAITH, LOVING OUR SELF, STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS, MAXIMIZING OUR RESOURCES, AND DELIGHTING IN OUR DISCOVERIES AND EXPERIENCES,“ I’d like to share some benefits of virgin coconut oil, which we count among our “discoveries.”
Disclaimer: What I share here should not be considered medical advice or anything like that. I am merely sharing information based on what I have researched and on our family’s personal experiences. Incidentally, while we’re disclaiming things, please know that this post is sponsored by VPharma but all opinions remain my own and I was no way influenced by the company. 🙂
So, without further ado, here are a few surprising “blessings” or benefits of virgin coconut oil:
1. It has “antimicrobial” properties.
I first discovered this soon after I gave birth to our second baby, who developed a fungal infection when she was still a newborn. Since our family was still based in Timor Leste at the time, I researched on different ways to help speed up her recovery.
I was leaning more towards natural remedies and eventually discovered that virgin coconut oil is commonly used to treat fungal infections. Doctors from the Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria even conducted a study about this, stating that “Coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections in view of emerging drug-resistant Candida species.”
Besides its antifungal properties, virgin coconut oil or, more specifically, its components lauric, capric and caprylic acid, is also anti-bacterial, as seen in a study conducted by researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences at Kent State University in the U.S.
This is most probably why many natural health advocates recommend applying virgin coconut oil to cuts, wounds, and even insect bites. We personally do this on our selves and our kids when needed, especially in “sensitive” areas like the face.
2. It helps enrich and boost the milk supply of breastfeeding moms.
I personally did not know about this unique property of virgin coconut oil until I had our fourth child, who had some health issues as a baby (but everything worked out, by God’s grace). When he became underweight, his doctor advised me to try drinking virgin coconut oil to help make my breastmilk “fattier” and more nutritious. This is because virgin coconut oil contains essential fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids.
Because of that piece of advice, I did some research and found out that omega-3 fatty acids also help in the production of the hormones responsible for breastmilk production. I also recently discovered this interesting study by Indonesian researchers that shows how virgin coconut oil intake in breastfeeding mothers actually helps improve the medium chain fatty acid content of breastmilk — so cool!
Image courtesy of VPharma.ph
Of course, it’s always best that breastfeeding moms remember the “law” of “demand and supply” when it comes to breastfeeding, i.e. that the best way to increase one’s milk supply is to “remove more milk from the breast,” as IBCLC Kelly Bonyata says. I also recommend seeking a breastfeeding expert’s advice if you are having breastfeeding challenges (and by expert, I mean a professional like a breastfeeding advocate pediatrician/doctor, a certified lactation counselor or certified lactation consultant).
3. It may be consumed by infants who need to gain more weight.
You may (or may not!) know this already but our two youngest kids both had weight gain issues as newborns. They both became very underweight, and we had to work extra hard at helping them gain more weight.
In addition to addressing the underlying reasons for their conditions, plus checking on possible breastfeeding problems, their pediatrician advised giving virgin coconut oil and heraclene. For our youngest, we chose to give him Naturali Premium Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) upon the recommendation of our friends from . (I also ingested Naturali VCO upon the pedia’s advice, as previously stated, and it is the best VCO for me so far, primarily because of its mild taste compared to other VCO brands that we have tried!)
Image courtesy of VPharma.ph
Apparently, many Filipino pediatricians prescribe virgin coconut oil for underweight babies, and this 2005 study published in the Philippine Journal of Pediatrics even shows “a trend towards an increase in weight gain and other growth parameters among those [low birth weight infants] whose feedings were augmented with VCO [virgin coconut oil].”
(Again, please remember that this post should NOT be considered a form of medical advice or prescription in any way. Kindly practice due diligence and consult a medical professional you and/or your child before using anything mentioned here. Although I advocate natural remedies and/or supplements, please note that I always consult medical professionals like doctors when it comes to my kids’ care.)
So, there you have it — just a few ways virgin coconut oil can benefit you and your family. And when I say “benefit”, I also mean “bless” because we all know that whatever is good or beneficial for our loved ones can be considered a blessing from our good Lord, right? 😉
Now, I’d like to know: Have you ever used virgin coconut oil? How? Why? Do share in the comments!
