Blog / Beverages

19 Nov 2015

10 Amazing uses for coconut oil

The coconut plant is often referred to as "the tree of life” and coconut oil has been used for centuries to add flavour to food as well as treat a variety of bodily ailments. It can be used internally and externally and is loaded with vitamins, minerals and healing fatty acids. Throughout history people in tropical island areas have used coconuts and coconut oil on a daily basis and swear by it as a cure for many illnesses.

Here are 10 amazing uses for coconut oil.

Cook with it.

Coconut oil is made up of mostly saturated fat which means it is not damaged by high heat and is much healthier to cook with than unsaturated cooking oils. You can replace vegetable oil or butter with coconut oil when cooking meat, vegetables, eggs, etc.

Suppress your appetite and stop cravings.

Coconut oil is made of healthy fats which slow down digestion and make you feel fuller for longer. If you are likely to crave sugary sweets and food during the day, try to take a tablespoon or two of coconut oil after lunch or dinner and this should curb your cravings. Take a tablespoon of coconut oil before a meal and this should prevent you from eating too much.

Improve oral health.

Coconut oil contains compounds that are strongly anti-microbial and it is useful to maintain and improve oral health. You can add some coconut oil to your homemade tooth paste and you can try the practice of coconut oil pulling.  This involves swishing a tablespoon of liquid coconut oil in the mouth for 10-20 minutes each morning. Harmful pathogens and plaque gets dissolved in the oil and this has been known to reduce allergies, acne, sinus problems, PMS, gingivitis, cavities and may whiten teeth.

Remove make up.

Coconut oil is a wonderful way to remove make up as well as dirt and grime. You can rub coconut oil over the face and eyes and remove it with a warm, wet face cloth. This works very well for waterproof make up. 

Moisturise skin.

Coconut oil is a natural skin moisturiser and you can lather it on your body before bed for smooth and healthy skin. You can also use it instead of shaving gel and your skin will not feel dry after shaving. For fragranced moisturiser you can simply add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to it before use.

Treat skin problems.

Coconut oil can naturally soothe eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and nappy rash. It can also help to heal cuts, grazes, burns, skin infections and acne due to its anti-microbial and healing properties.

Reduce heart disease.

Studies in humans and animals have shown that consuming coconut oil reduces triglycerides, raises the good HDL cholesterol and lowers bad LDL cholesterol and changes it to a type which is not harmful to health. This improvement in cardiovascular markers will lead to a lower risk of heart disease in the long term. 

Sun protection.

Coconut oil is also an effective sunscreen which blocks out about 20% of the sun’s harmful rays. This is due to its contents of medium-chain fatty acids that act as a protection barrier on the skin. To make a natural sunscreen using coconut oil simply add it to some zinc oxide powder and cacao butter.

Lose weight.

Weight gain is not simply due to an excess of calories, it is also the source of the calories that count. Coconut oil can help with weight loss by reducing appetite and suppressing cravings, but it also increases 24 hour energy expenditure by about 5% which can lead to weight loss over the long term. This special oil is effective in reducing the dangerous abdominal fat, which is closely associated with many chronic diseases.

Treat viral, bacterial and fungal infections.

Almost half of the fatty acids in coconut oil are in the form of lauric acid. This fatty acid has strong antimicrobial properties and is effective against a range of bacteria, viruses and fungi, including Staphylococcus and Candida Albicans. Therefore taking coconut oil in the diet can prevent and treat infections.

Find a range of fantastic companies that provide coconut products here

Sources
http://changinghabits.com.au/healthy-blog/coconut-oil-uses