Mineral oil is an odorless and colorless substance that is made from petroleum jelly. It is found in many different products such as, baby lotion, ointments, hydraulic fluid, wood preservative, pesticides, facial creams and even electrical transformers. Before synthetic oils were invented, mineral oil was used primarily as a lubricant for mechanical parts and machines that require a gliding motion.
The Environmental Working Group cites mineral oil as possibly containing cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When used on the skin, mineral oil only keeps the area that it is applied moist while forming an impenetrable seal that prevents your skin from breathing.
Because your skin is the body’s biggest organ, it plays a pivotal role in the removal of toxins. If your skin cannot breathe, it cannot do its job and your health may suffer as a result. Coating your body in mineral oil is like wrapping yourself in plastic wrap. In addition, mineral oil also attracts moisture from cells deep in the skin which causes cell renewal to slow and collagen to break down. This in turn damages connective tissue and can cause premature aging.
There are over 4,000 published studies which link the use of mineral oil back to negative health conditions. According to the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, UCLA, workers in an aerospace manufacturing facility who were exposed on a regular basis to mineral oil, were at an increased risk of developing and/or dying from lung cancer, melanoma and cancers of the esophagus and stomach along with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and leukemia.
The Perfect Alternative
Nature has provided the perfect alternative for healthy and vital skin: pure, extra virgin coconut oil. Organic coconut oil has been used for thousands of years medicinally and is clearly a better option than any petroleum based product.
The wonders of coconut oil taken internally and applied directly to the skin are well documented with an ever increasing volume of scientific information accumulating daily. Not only can coconut oil help reduce abdominal fat and help reduce cravings for unhealthy foods, but it can act as a moisturizer for all skin types. Studies (see resources) point to the ability of coconut oil to heal wounds, treat dermatitis as well as serve as a replacement for antibiotic treatment of acne.
Coconut oil helps to clear away dead skin cells and can also be combined with coconut crystals, sea salt or other natural exfoliating substances to make a very useful facial scrub that leaves the skin feeling soft and clean. No need to spend money on special products when you can use coconut oil. A simple scrub can be made by mixing one cup of coconut crystals with 1/2 cup of organic coconut oil.
People living in the tropics have beautiful, wrinkle-free skin and this is due, in part, to their use of coconut oil. This medium-chain fatty acid protects and heals the skin at the same time. Coconut oil is also an effective sunscreen, blocking out 20% of harmful rays.
Coconut oil puts nutrients back into your skin as opposed to mineral oil products that suffocate the skin and provide no nutritional benefits. If you want to use coconut oil as a moisturizer, be sure to start with a very small amount. If you put too much on your skin it will be a mess and your skin will not be able to drink it all in. A little bit goes a long way and this makes it an extremely economical choice for a moisturizer.
Coconut oil is safe for children of all ages, including babies and can help heal up a mean diaper rash in no time.
Will you trust your skin to coconut oil like the islanders have been for thousands of years? We think you will be pleased with the results.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20523108
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19134433?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19387482?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
http://coconutoil.com/
