Coconut oil is a new superfood. Although this oil has been used for centuries in many cultures, it is relatively new in the West. Natural health proponents advocate for increased use of coconut oil because of it’s many supportive properties. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of coconut oil and how you can incorporate it into your healthy lifestyle.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is full of MCTs, medium chain triglycerides. MCTs are a fatty acid of medium length, which are digested differently than long chain triglycerides. So even though coconut oil is full of saturated fat, it does not affect your cholesterol or weight like other saturated fats do. In addition, MCTs in coconut oil go straight to the liver from the digestive system to give you a quick boost of energy. The end result is that you burn calories from the oil quicker than other longer-chain fats so you store fewer calories from coconut oil.
Coconut oil is beneficial to your whole body. Its antimicrobial properties benefit your digestive tract by fighting irritation and infection. Coconut oil MCTs benefit the brain by boosting focus and mental performance. The oil is currently being studied for its benefits to Alzheimer’s and epilepsy patients. Coconut oil is also good for the immune system because of natural antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is also known to be heart healthy by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing LDL (bad cholesterol).
Top 10 Uses of Coconut Oil
While the uses of coconut oil are countless, take a look at these 10 ideas to see how you can incorporate coconut oil into your healthy lifestyle.
- Skin care – make your own moisturizer for dry hands, knees, elbows and even heels by massaging coconut oil into your skin as needed.
- Hair care – moisturize your hair and scalp with coconut oil for healthy and shiny hair.
- Oil pulling – swish a teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth from 5-20 minutes a day for healthy teeth and gums. The antibacterial properties of coconut oil make this an excellent “mouthwash.” It can even remove stains to make your teeth whiter.
- Cooking – Coconut oils is fantastic for cooking because of it’s high smoke point. Use in everything from stir frys to baking.
- Coffee “Creamer” – Emulsify a big of coconut oil in your coffee instead of cream for a morning brain and energy boost.
- Insect bites – Coconut oil is known to reduce the pain, itch and inflammation from insect bites. It’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties help decrease swelling and infection.
- Deodorant – Make your own deodorant with a coconut oil base for a natural way to reduce body odor.
- Newborn Massage – Coconut oils is excellent for massage. Its mild properties make it an excellent choice for newborn massage.
- Eye makeup remover – Remove eye makeup at the end of the day with a little coconut oil. Rub gently on the eye then remove with a washcloth.
- Wood polish – Coconut oil isn’t just for the body. Use a little on your wood to restore shine and repel dust.
While coconut oil is beneficial in many ways, it is still high in calories. Although there are no known side effects or interactions, exercise common sense when ingesting coconut oil. Try it today to experience the benefits of coconut oil for yourself!
