Today’s latest health craze revolves around essential oils, and especially coconut oil. Growing up in an Indian household, coconut oil was always on hand for weekly hair conditioning sessions. South Asians have been using the oil from this healthy fruit for cooking and beauty rituals for ages – but now the health benefits of the tropical fruit are more mainstream.
Coconut oil is solid at room temperate – which makes it ideal for skin and hair care. It used to be criticized for its high saturated fat content but has recently been confirmed to contain only the “good” kinds of saturated fat. (You still want to avoid consuming a lot of coconut oil if you’re counting calories though!) Coconut oil has health benefits pertaining to both our internal and external well-beings.
It’s about time we pay our respects to the amazingly versatile coconut oil, by taking a look at all the healthy ways in which it can be used!
1. Conditioner
Let’s start with the obvious – coconut oil is a great way to get your hair soft and hydrated. As an oil, it provides moisture to your hair and helps repair it against damage. Any Aunty will tell you that you need to oil your hair regularly if you want it to grow long and strong!
Coconut oil is also a great skin moisturizer – it can be used in many face masks and scrubs to replenish your dry skin.
2. Cooking
Unlike other oils such as sunflower and olive, coconut oil doesn’t break down its fatty acid chains when its heated to high temperatures. This means that the flavor, and the benefits, of the oil remain intact even when heated!
3. Healthy Heart
Coconut oil, with its high lauric acid content, provides your body with good cholesterol instead of the bad kind. Consuming coconut oil is a great (and delicious!) way to keep your cholesterol in check .
4. Weight Management
Coconut oil has fatty acids, like most oils do – but its acids are easier to digest. This means that coconut oil can contribute to a faster metabolism and help one lose or maintain their weight.
It also helps that coconut oil is dense and solid so when you eat it, you tend to eat less than what you would if a food were cooked with another type of oil. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should eat a plateful of pakodas fried in coconut oil!
5. Immunity
The lauric acid in coconut oil is a strong opponent to viruses and bacteria. The acid gets converted into antiviral compounds, which can prevent viruses and illnesses from entering your body.
6. Indigestion
Coconut oil can soothe your indigestion due, as it helps your body absorb other vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. These properties can fight the viruses and bacteria that cause your indigestion in the first place.
7. Energy Booster
Ever heard of taking your coffee with a teaspoon of coconut oil? It’s not unheard of! Coconut oil is a great energy booster since it helps the liver produces ketones, molecules of organic fuel that “feed” your brain. Maybe it’s time to reconsider how we drink our chai?
8. Eye-Makeup Remover
Coconut oil is solid and full of hydration. As an oil, it naturally lifts makeup off your skin – while moisturizing it at the same time! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that coconut oil makes your face smell great!
9. Snacking
Coconut oil is a great substitute for common snacks – use it as butter on toast or a thickener in a smoothie. The high fat content of coconut oil makes it more dense, so a small amount of coconut oil can fill you up for a longer period of time!
10. Shaving Cream
We’ve all had our “oh no!” moments when we reach for our razors and realize we’re out of shaving cream. Coconut oil is an even better alternative to drugstore shave gels – and it’s right in your kitchen pantry! Because it’s solid at room temperature, it can easily be spread onto your skin for a thick layer of moisture. As an oil, it won’t wash off as quickly – so your skin will stay smooth while you get a close shave!
We love coconut oil, and we’re so glad the rest of the world has picked up on its health benefits too! Thanks to generations of mom and Aunty advice, we’ve figured out how to incorporate coconut oil into our beauty regimes – but we should definitely consider its numerous other uses too.
What are your favorite ways to use coconut oil?