How to Use Coconut Oil on Your Hair and Skin

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Using coconut oil is a wonderful natural way to make your hair and skin soft, radiant, and healthy. Coconut oil is natural and contains no harmful chemicals. Toss out your deep conditioners, under-eye creams, and lotions - you don't need them anymore! A jar of unrefined coconut oil is an all-purpose moisturizer great for all skin and hair variations. If you want to learn how to use coconut oil on your hair and skin, keep reading.

  
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Conditioning Your Hair

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    Put on old clothes. Coconut oil can get a little drippy, so put on an old t-shirt or drape a towel around your shoulders to prevent it from getting on your nice clothes. It's best to start the conditioning treatment in your bathroom, but you'll be able to move around while you let it soak into your hair for a few hours.
     
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The Benefits Of Using Aloe Vera For Skin Care And More

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Aloe vera has been used for a host of purposes since the ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality.” 
 
Since then, its uses have become more targeted and medicinal, and it's one of the leading therapies for sunburns. 
 
Aloe vera is a cactus plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family. It grows in dry climates such as those found in parts of Africa and India and has been used medicinally for centuries. 
 
Aloe leaves secrete a clear gel that when broken off from the rest of the plant that can be applied topically to heal wounds and soothe skin.
 
Various studies have been conducted to examine the benefits of the aloe vera plant and it was found out that aloe vera does in fact have several properties that are effective in treating a variety of skin conditions, from flaky or dry skin, cosmetic ailments, hair and scalp problems to many more. 
 
It is also said to be useful in treating wounds and burns, minor skin infections, cysts, diabetes, and elevated blood lipids in humans, and shows some promise in treating more serious and persistent conditions such as eczema, genital herpes, dandruff, psoriasis, canker sores, skin ulcers and others, according to the Mayo Clinic.
 
Here are 8 benefits of using aloe vera gel:
 
1. It treats sunburn. 
 
Aloe Vera helps with sunburn through its powerful healing activity at the epithelial level of the skin, a layer of cells that cover the body. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. Because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, the skin heals quicker.
 
2. It acts as a moisturizer. 
 
Aloe moisturizes the skin without giving it a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily skin complexion. For women who use mineral-based make-up, aloe vera acts as a moisturizer and is great for the face prior to the application to prevents skin drying. For men: Aloe vera gel can be used as an aftershave treatment as its healing properties can treat small cuts caused by shaving.
 
3. It treats acne. 
 
Aloe vera gel contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Giberellin in aloe vera acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. 
 
Aloe is soothing and can reduce skin inflammations, blistering and itchiness, while helping the skin to heal more rapidly. Additionally, in Ayurvedic medicine, Aloe is used to effectively heal chronic skin problems, such as psoriasis, acne and eczema.
 
4. It fights aging. 
 
As we age, everyone begins to worry about the appearance of fine lines and the loss of elasticity in their skin. Aloe leaves contain a plethora of antioxidants including, beta carotene, vitamin C and E that can help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated.
 
5. It lessens the visibility of stretch marks. 
 
The skin is like one big piece of elastic that’ll expand and contract as needed to accommodate growth. But if the skin stretches too far, too fast (due to pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss) the elasticity of the skin can be damaged. That’s what leaves those unsightly stretch marks. These marks appear due to minor tears in the layers of the skin caused by sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds.
 
6. It's nutrient rich for good health. 
 
This solid material contains over 75 different nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid. 
 
7. It soothes in periodontal disease. 
 
According to a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, it's extremely helpful in the treatment of gum diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis. It reduces bleeding, inflammation and swelling of the gums. It is a powerful antiseptic in pockets where normal cleaning is difficult, and its antifungal properties help greatly in the problem of denture stomatitis, apthous ulcers, cracked and split corners of the mouth.
 
8. It aids in digestion. 
 
The internal benefits of aloe vera are supposed to be just as amazing. The plant is said to improve the digestion and to relieve ulcers. Some people consider it a laxative, while others attribute that effect to its digestive qualities (which normalize the system and induce regularity). The juice is also prescribed for arthritis and rheumatism. To test any of these claims, steep the cut foliage in water or chew pieces of the fresh leaf.
 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

 

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel

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Steps

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    Wash your hands. It's important to start with clean hands and use clean tools to make sure the gel doesn't get contaminated.
     
     
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    Slice off an outer leaf of an aloe plant. The outer leaves are more likely to be mature. They'll contain plenty of fresh, healthy gel. Look for leaves around the outside of the plant, with bases growing close to the ground. Use a sharp knife to make a clean cut near the base.
    • Since aloe vera gel is perishable, it's best not to make a huge batch at once, unless you plan to give some away. Cutting off just a leaf or two, especially if they're large, should be sufficient to make 1/2 to 1 cup of gel.
    • If your plant is young, be especially careful not to cut off too much at once. Cutting off all of the outer leaves could damage the plant.
     
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    Drain the resin for 10 minutes. Place the leaves upright in a cup to let the dark yellow resin drain out. The resin contains latex, which can be slightly irritating to skin. It's best to drain it out so it won't get into your gel.
     
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    Peel the leaves. Use a vegetable peeler to carefully peel away the green portion of the leaves.[1] Be sure to cut through the inner white layer to the gel underneath. Peel off all of the skin on once side of the each leaf, leaving a canoe-shaped half filled with gel.
    • If you have large leaves, it may be helpful to cut them into smaller pieces before peeling.
    • Discard the skin as you go so it won't get mixed in with your gel.
     
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    Scoop the gel out with a spoon. The clear, soft gel is easily scoopable. Scoop it all out into a clean bowl until there's nothing left in the leaf half.
     
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    Consider mixing the gel with a natural preservative. If you have a lot of gel and you want it to keep for a month or two, mix in 500mg powdered Vitamin C or 400 IU vitamin E for every 1/4 cup of gel you have. Place the ingredients together in a blender and blend well. The gel will look foamy at first.[2]
     
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    Place the gel in a sterilized, clean glass jar. If you used the preservative, the gel will keep for several months in the refrigerator. Without it, it will keep for a week or two.
     
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    Use the gel. Apply it to sunburns or other minor, surface burns. Aloe can also be used as a skin moisturizer or an ingredient in homemade body products.
    • Never use aloe vera gel on deep cuts or blistered skin. It should only be used on surface skin irritation, since it can prevent deep cuts from healing properly.
    • Try blending 1/2 cup aloe with 1/4 cup melted coconut oil to make a healing, moisturizing massage lotion.[3]
    • Learn how to grow an aloe plant so you'll be able to make a batch of gel whenever you want.

 

Coconut Water and Aloe Vera Juice

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Coconut Water and Aloe Vera Juice

Hydration is necessary in everyday living, especially if you are active. Here we have two nutrient-packed drinks to help you stay hydrated: Coconut water and Aloe Vera juice..

Coconut water
Coconut water refuels and hydrates the body by maintaining the body’s fluid levels and its potassium content, which in turn helps maintain water pressure within cells and blood. The electrolyte content in coconut water improves nervous system functioning and nerve transmission; this can help prevent cramps and spasms in the muscle. Coconut water is also composed of many naturally occurring bioactive enzymes which help in digestion and metabolism. Lauric acid found in coconut water makes it anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. This boosts the immune system in fighting infection.

Aloe Vera 
When most people think of Aloe Vera, the first thing that comes to mind is the soothing gel that helps with sunburns. Well not anymore. Dating back nearly 5,000 years to early Egyptian times, it was cited as being a powerful herbal medicine. This is down to the huge range of nutrients found in Aloe Vera juice, which replenishes your body naturally. It contains approximately 200 active components including vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, folic acid and Niacin. Some of the benefits of taking Aloe Vera internally (remember to buy the juice- don’t drink the gel for sunburns) included aiding digestion and promoting both good immunity and skin health. It is very soothing for the internal organs and helps beat the bloat.

Which one should I choose? 
Well, it’s down to you. Try them both to see which one suits your fancy. Even though both of these hydrate your body, make sure to also drink plenty of regular water and do not rely totally on these drinks as they still have some calories and sugar in them.

- See more at: http://www.fitbug.com/g/coconut-water-and-aloe-vera-juice#sthash.JdmDbTtY.dpuf

 

14 Really Important Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice

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REMEMBER: These Are 14 MOST Important Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice! Pay SPECIAL Attention to Benefit #10! These Tips Helped Over 250,000 Readers! AWESOME Photos Included!

We are all familiar with aloe gel and it’s variety of uses in topical form to help treat cuts, soothe a sunburn and even promote healing in bedsores. But there is another form that has many benefits as well – the aloe vera (AV) juice!

  • CLICK HERE to jump to the 1st. benefit.

This plant is a very hearty succulent that can grow in a broad range of climates. Moreover, it can survive in temperatures from freezing colds to 120 degrees F, as well as in droughts and a rain-forestsas long as its roots do not drown or get damaged!

Its leaves are harvested to obtain the liquid that can be sold or processed into a gel by combining it with a thickening agent. Additionally, this substance has many significant benefits and has soared in popularity to treat a variety of health conditions.

Benefit #1 – Alkalizes Your Body

Our bodies maintain a healthy balance between acidity and alkalinity which is influenced by the foods we eat. Luckily, this juice makes our inner system more alkaline.

The optimum structure of foods should be 80% alkaline and 20 % acidic!

This juice helps by alkalizing our organism and since diseases do not survive in such an environment, this can stave off various illnesses and other health complications.

Benefit #2 – Removes Various Toxins

When the aloe vera juice is produced, it has a natural gel-like consistency.

If you split its leaf and allow liquids to flow out, you can see how it does not run quickly like water but more slowly.

This consistency allows for this juice to absorb toxins from your gastrointestinal tract and they just travel through your organism to get discarded!

Benefit #3 – Supports Your Immune System

 

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Our immunity is always ready to fend off attacks from the environment we live in. This juice can help ramp it up with polysaccharides.

These substances help our bodies to produce macrophages, which is our tool to defend against viruses and other nasty stuff. Besides polysaccharides, aloe vera juice has also a lot of anti-oxidants, that reduce a lot of free-radicals flowing within our organisms.

This even helps with slowing the effects of aging and cell damage!

Benefit #4 – Drink Aloe Vera Juice to Lose Weight

 

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We all would like to find the easiest formula for skinny body, but unfortunately, this one isn’t your magic bullet. Instead of directly contributing to weight loss, the many benefits of this plant make losing pounds a secondary effect!

It removes toxins, enhances your immune system and maintains a healthy digestion. All of these enable us to stay well and shed body mass.

Benefit #5 – Lowers High Cholesterol

 

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Medical studies have shown that beta (β) sitosterol can bring high cholesterol levels in your blood under control. This substance is a type of sterol with a similar chemical structure that stops cholesterol absorption.

It even helps to reduce overall levels in your body, hence promotes good cardiovascular health!

Benefit #6 – Fights Against Inflammation

Inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors. There could be an injury or it could be an auto-immune response.

Either way, it makes our bodies experience pain and minimizes what we are able to do by limiting our capabilities.

Keep in mind: The next time you are suffering from inflammation try drinking some aloe vera juice. It contains over 12 different substances that can help you get rid of it. The most predominant one is beta-sitosterol that has been used by many runners to minimize swelling after a competition!

Benefit #7 – Improves Digestive Tract & Reduces Its Irritation

 

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We all face issues with our digestive tracts such as ulcers, acid reflux, and general irritation. This natural liquid has three properties that can improve stomach health and reduce its irritation:

  1. This plant is an adaptogen that can regulate your organism and make your bowel movements more regular.
  2. It may ease acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome by soothing and regulating your systems.
  3. It may help your body get rid of worms because it is a vermifuge as well.

Keep in mind: All of these work together to promote proper digestion that is crucial for effective weight loss and overall health.

Benefit #8 – Bye-Bye Constipation!

If you’ve ever been constipated you know that it’s not pleasant at all. However, drinking this juice canboost regulation of your digestive system and get both diarrhea and constipation under control.

Furthermore, it helps you to get rid of dangerous bacteria that may have entered your organism. These benefits will make you more regular and function optimally.

Your overall health and feelings of well-being will improve.

Benefit #9 – Diabetes Patients May Benefit from It!

 

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If you are struggling with diabetes, this liquid can regulate your blood sugar!

There are studies that have been done to show some improvements in glucose levels when patients drank aloe vera juice.

Three compounds in it help provide this benefit – Lectins, Mannans, and Anthraquinones.

Benefit #10 – Boosts Your Vitamin & Mineral Intake

 

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This juice is a rich mixture of vitamins and minerals!

Very few drinks or foods can boast such large amounts. It contains vitamins (A, C, E), a contingent of B (including B1, B2, B3, B6 & B12), folic acid & choline!

Moreover, it has over twenty different minerals. For example, there is calcium, sodium, potassium, selenium & iron! It also contains fatty acids and 8 essential amino acids. Overall, this one has “more bang for the buck” than any other choice on the market right now!

Benefit #11 – Hydrates Your Body

 

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Aloe vera gel has many applications when used as a topical solution to treat skin conditions!

It also has significant secondary benefits because it works as a moisturizer and has anti-aging properties that keep your skin looking young and fresh.

Drinking AV juice can keep you hydrated which is good for keeping your skin healthy. Additionally, it gives your body the building blocks it needs to replenish old cells and regenerate.

Benefit #12 – It Cures Your Gums

jar-full-of-aloe-vera-juice-gelThe countless benefits of this juice extend even to the area of your mouth! The reduction of inflammation and elimination of bad bacteria also apply to your gums.

However, there is evidence to show that aloe plant can help reduce their bleeding and even cure ulcers!

Medical studies have shown that maintaining healthy gums is essential to our overall well-being. Food and pathogens can enter through your mouth but if we allow them to take up residence and grow, then we are giving them the easiest gateway to our organism.

Extra info: Aloe gel is starting to become more popular in toothpaste because of the benefits it provides for good dental care!

Benefit #13 – Reduces Acne & Blemishes

Aloe Vera juice combined with its gel is an excellent way to combat acne and blemishes on your skin. It works internally to supply vitamins and nutrients your body needs.

Not only that, it helps to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria at the same time! It also hydrates your body because of its high water content.

Keep in mind: Its gel form (when applied topically) helps to make your skin supple, heal blemishes, moisturize and minimize inflammation due to shaving or sun burns! All of these improve the overall health of your skin and eliminate acne.

Benefit #14 – Improves Your Hair Growth

 

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If you’ve always wanted to have long silky hair then maybe you should try drinking some aloe vera. It assists to keep your pH balance in the correct range to boost growth and helps to retain moisture!

It may also help if you apply this liquid directly to your scalp. There are two things that it does, it clears dead skin clogging your pores. Secondly, it removes sebum which can lead to baldness! Overall, both liquid and gel combined together can help you to have the full head of hair that you’ve always wanted to have.

Aloe vera juice has become the new super-food in the health food industry.

Very few natural liquids have such a long list of benefits that this one has. No longer is this just a topical solution that we use to heal cuts, burns and bites!

 

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