Thinking about coconut oil brings me to envision myself sitting at the bar at the beach on a tropical island sipping on a smooth and sweet pina colada straight out of a coconut shell. The benefits of everything coconut go far beyond just enjoying a refreshing beverage. There are significant health benefits to using coconut and its oils which I will share with you.
I grew up around coconuts all my life. My mother is an avid baker and cook and uses coconut often. Being of African and West Indian descent, we use coconut, coconut milk, and oil in everyday cooking. To tell you the honest truth, I hated coconut growing up because I was exposed to it all the time. Anything that included coconut as an ingredient, I would refuse. As I matured, I grew to like coconut and use it often now.
Today coconut oil can be found in our local supermarkets in its unrefined forms for use. This practice was not something that was common up to ten years ago. Studies over the recent years have shown that there are plenty of fantastic health benefits in using and consuming this tree nut.
Healthy Benefits Of Coconut and its Oils
1. Consumption of Coconut oil
Coconut and its oils are known to be one of the healthiest fats and recognized as a superfood. Coconut oil is said to be easier to digest than other fats. The oils from the coconut are known as a saturated fat but fall into the healthy saturated fat column. The fat composition of coconut oil makes it more beneficial than other fatty oils in its class. Coconut oil is also a good source of energy as it gets converted to energy instead of being stored for fat. Coconut oil is also great to use for cooking as it doesn’t lose its nutritional value when heated. I add coconut oil to my cooking, and I love the nutty flavor it adds to my meals.
2. Oral care-Oil Pulling
Personally, I was clueless about what Oil pulling was until about two years ago. This pulling process has been around for centuries and has gained popularity when the health benefits of it were brought back into the spotlight. Oil pulling is a process of swooshing oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 min. Sounds gross, but once you do it a few times, you get used to the process. Oil pulling is known to prevent gum disease and helps to whiten teeth. Learn more about oil pulling here.
3. Lip Moisturizer
How many times have you experienced chapped lips and tried many lip balms that don’t seem to work? Next time try giving coconut oil a go on those precious lips. Coconut oil works wonders on chapped lips. The natural properties of the nut oil help to heal cracked lips. The other plus for using coconut oil is that it does not contain any chemicals or petroleum that can become harmful if ingested. So if you happen to swallow some of the oil, it just acts as an added health benefit.
4. Skin Softener
For me, coconut oil is my go-to skin moisturizer. I religiously use the oil from head to toe. Coconut oil is excellent to soothe skin as it gives a fantastic moisturizing effect as it contains Vitamin E. The properties of the oil helps to heal cracked hands and feet. It also helps skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The oil absorbs quickly into your skin, therefore not leaving you oily. This nut oil can also be added to other natural products and essential oils to make body butter.
5. Hair and Scalp Conditioner
When I said I use coconut oil from head to toe, I meant it! This oil works wonders on my hair. Coconut oil soothes my scalp. My hair tends to lack moisture, so I usually start massaging the oil from the scalp and work the oil through my locks. Getting someone to do it for you feels even better. I also use coconut oil to deep condition my hair which helps to give it extra shine.
There you have it!! My top five uses for coconut oil.
The advantages of coconut oil go far beyond what I have mentioned. Don’t be afraid to explore other methods and share with me as well.
