Outside of mother's milk, pure coconut oil is nature's most plentiful source of lauric acid. That’s right. Nature still has a few miracles up her sleeve!
You've probably heard that breast milk is jam-packed with nutrients and disease-fighting ingredients that help keep babies healthy.
Well, incredibly, coconut oil contains one of the same compounds -- lauric acid -- found in mother's milk. And lauric acid is the predominant type of MCFA found in coconut oil.
Fortunately for our health, lauric acid in both breast milk and coconut oil transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for helping to strengthen the immune system.
Many skeptical scientists proceeded to test this like crazy. In fact, a great volume of research has now been done establishing the ability of lauric acid to enhance immunity.
What researchers found was that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.
The lauric acid in coconut oil is a natural and effortless way to help strengthen your and your baby’s immune system. Benefits of coconut oil during and after pregnancy include;
Lactation
Coconut oil stimulates metabolism promoting both healthy thyroid and lactation. Intake of coconut oil while pregnant may help ensure that a mother will have lots of milk. Studies have proven that milk in breastfeeding mothers who takes coconut oil and other coconut products has higher amount of lauric acid.Stretch Marks
Because of the high amount of vitamin E in coconut oil, pregnant women in South India apply the coconut extract on their bellies to prevent stretch marks. Even existing stretch marks have a chance to fade with regular use of coconut oil. It will also moisturize the skin and keep skin irritation and infection at bay.Infant Health
Coconut oil helps develop the immune system of the newborn as well as aid in the brain and bone development. It is known to relieve diaper rash, Keratosis Pilaris and is so gentle and beneficial for baby’s digestive health it is actually used by hospitals in infant formula.Infant Massage
Coconut oil is popular for infant massage, and has been known to calm babies and help them sleep.Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and pregnant women have an increased demand for good nutrition. The unborn child also demands ample nutrients for proper development and growth and will steal them from the mother’s body if they are not supplied in her diet.
Pure virgin coconut oil is more than safe to use during pregnancy. It offers the nutritional benefits of MCFAs and the immune strengthening properties of Lauric acid.
For generations people living in the coconut growing regions of the world have relied on coconut for nature’s nourishment and health. So is coconut oil safe to use during pregnancy? The answer is a loud YES.
