Key Benefits of Coconut Oil
You may have noticed the widespread availability of coconut oil at your local grocer lately. It’s not just a fad, because coconut oil has many uses that are both a healthy and natural alternative to other products on the market today. Here are some uses and benefits of coconut oil.
Cooking and Baking
When you cook with coconut oil it maintains its nutrients, even when heated to high temperatures. It makes a great replacement for dairy in any recipe instead of using butter. Add a little to your coffee instead of cream and it may give you a little boost right along with your daily caffeine.
Skin and Hair
Coconut oil makes a great moisturizer. You can either slather it directly onto your skin, or use it as a component to homemade soaps or lotions that also works as a natural sunscreen. It may even help to lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin, as well as prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. A little on your lips can also replace your need for chapstick. Heck, you can even use it to remove eye makeup!
Use it as a conditioner on your hair to help keep frizz away too. Just rub it into your hair, put on a shower cap for about an hour and then rinse it out. It smells great and will remind you of sipping a Pina Colada on the beach all day long!
Health
Coconut oil may help to support healthy thyroid function, plus it’s a medium chain triglyceride that won’t be stored in your body as fat. The high lauric acid content in coconut oil can help to boost your metabolism, which can help to speed up weight loss. It has been shown in some studies to improve cholesterol ratios and therefore heart health and may even have anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce joint pain. There’s even some preliminary evidence that suggests that regular ingestion of coconut oil can help prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s disease.
The beneficial fats in coconut oil may also be able to help with depression and anxiety as well as, If taken regularly, it can boost hormone production.
Coconut oil tastes great and is readily available, and it’s a healthier fat, so there’s really no reason not to work it into your daily diet. With so many uses, it seems like a little coconut oil goes a long way!
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Richard Elzey