WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COCONUT OIL
Well, I think you may or may not hear about Coconut Oil. This oil is one of the best substitutes for vegetable oils and butter, in cooking, baking, and not just for that! You can also include it in your hair and beauty routine.
Who doesn’t like to eat yummy and be fit at the same time? Sweet potato wedges, muffins, oats cookies, brownies, cakes, fry eggs and so on, with no Trans fat, cholesterol and messing with your hormone balance. That is when Coconut oil comes into place.
Let’s start by saying that the best way to consume Coconut oil is raw cold-pressed and organic. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidification, lasting up to six months at 24 °C (75 °F) without spoiling. Has the content of medium-chain fatty acids that your body is going to oxidize as an energy source.
Coconut oil is rich in Lauric acid is the highest after breast milk, it´s antibacterial, help to slightly increase the metabolism, aids decreasing cholesterol and triglycerides, improve your hormones environment, boost energy to go through your day.
In addition, you can heat up Coconut oil to a high temperature as 350 degrees Fahrenheit without break it down but always is better cook with it in lower temperatures.
Now you would say, what are those great uses for Coconut Oil? Well just keep reading…
Cooking and Baking:
- Great cooking oil. You can heat up Coconut oil to a high temperature as 350 degrees Fahrenheit without break it down but always is better cook with it in lower temperatures. Also, don´t forget less is more, you don´t need tones of oil, for example, sautéing a steak, chicken or fish you just need half a teaspoon or 1 at best no more.
- Great for baking as a dairy-free replacement to butter or other fats 1:1 solid room temperature for shortening or melted in Muffins, oat biscuits or any biscuits, brownies, cakes, pies crusts, bread, crumbles, frosting and so much more. You can see I included it in my recipes like my GLUTEN-FREE RHUBARB AND APPLE CRUMBLE PIE as part of the crust and crumble.
- Spreads like butter or better. You can use solid, room-temperature coconut oil in place of butter for your brown bread toast, sourdough bread, corn in the cob, etc. Even though there is coconut butter in the market and they look similar they are slightly different but pretty much the same uses.
- Use it to grease baking pans. Take a pastry brush, paper towel or your clean fingers why not to spread a thin coating over the surface of your preferred bakeware.
- It doesn´t affect the flavour of baked goods, well, not in my taste buds opinion.
- You can use it to make healthy snacks such as roasted chickpeas and popcorn.
Hair Routine:
- You can use coconut oil as an intensive natural conditioner. Spread into your dry hair (once a week do not abuse it because sometimes can have opposite results than expected), put a shower cap (optional) on and leave for several hours at a minimum of 30min before washing out with a sulphate, paraben, sodium-free shampoo and warm water.
- Rub coconut oil into the scalp to stimulate hair growth and dryness.
- A tiny dab of coconut oil rubbed on your hands and then through hair makes a great anti-frizz treatment, I wouldn´t use more than a pea-size.
- Put coconut oil on before bleaching your hair, as a mask, the day before. Also, literally, rub it onto your hair and then topped with the bleach, it won´t block the process from making lighter your hair, but is going to protect it while doing it.
- If you suffer from dandruff, that annoying itchy condition. May be caused by dry skin conditions, sensitivity to the harsh chemicals in hair care products, and commonly yeast-like fungal infections. Coconut oil has strong antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties that target the fungus and help to kill it, as well as, viruses and bacteria that may be hidden on your scalp.
But it is not a surprise that not everything works for everybody, different types of hair respond to oils differently. Coconut oil helps the hair retain its natural proteins; it can be helpful for those who lack enough natural protein in hair follicles. Studies have even confirmed coconut oil’s benefits for certain types of hair, but it isn’t for everyone!
For those with fine to medium hair will see good results from coconut oil and notice stronger, shinier hair with more volume, but those with coarse or dry hair may not struggle with low protein at all and coconut oil may lead to more brittle hair and hair loss. These people may move to other types of oil like olive oil, sweet almonds oil, avocado oil, marula oil, argan oil, macadamia oil, castor oil.
Beauty Routine:
- Moisturizer, same properties make coconut oil great for dry skin as well. Its natural antioxidant properties make it great for stopping wrinkles and skin irritation. But depending on your skin type it might be too strong leading to breakouts, so test it first in small amounts, and see how it goes.
- Deodorant, its natural antibacterial properties make it helpful in fighting odour. There is some deodorant in the market made from coconut oil that has helped people to switch from commercial spray deodorant to more natural ones. In my case it didn’t work at all I test it for 2 or 3 months and honestly, I was stinky all the time one day more than others. So with this been said if I were you I would grab a sample size to try it instead of committing to a full size that might don’t work and end in the bin.
- Coconut oil makes an excellent eye-makeup remover on its own, just grab a chunk and rub it in between your finger and apply it over your eyes. Also great to remove all face makeup and those thick mineral sunscreen that is great but hard to remove like (name of the Korean brand)
- Body scrub, just mixed with equal parts of sugar and solid coconut oil for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower) or mixed with coffee leftovers instead and it might help to combat cellulite.
- Nails and cuticles, rub it on to help nails grow.
- Cold sore treatment, Dab coconut oil on the affected area can help speed up healing time, relieve pain and reduce the risk of scarring or discolouration. Coconut oil possesses disinfectant and antimicrobial properties, helping to protect against as well as heal microbial infections.
- Rash, using coconut oil for skin eases the pain, itch and redness of a rash. Using it regularly can also help keep it at bay.
- Lip Balm; get rid of dry, cracked lips.
- Skin Conditions, for its anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil has been rising popularity for treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions.
The bottom line, coconut oil derived from organic coconuts has a number of benefits for your health.
In order to get the most out of it, make sure to choose organic, raw, virgin coconut oil rather than refined versions.
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Disclaimer: This post is based on my research, what I did through the internet and my personal experience and opinion. The above is for general information only and not medical advice. My intent is not to force you to change your food habits and lifestyle. I am just showing you my food habits. I am just a health passionate. Always consult your Doctor before making any big changes in your health/lifestyle. If you like the post then considers sharing it with others fit and healthy lifestyle enthusiast on social media.