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This tropical fruit comes with a host of health benefits, internally as well as externally. Although coconuts are found in tropical places all over the world, coconut oil mostly produced in countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
When a coconut is cracked open, there are essentially 3 main parts: The shell, the meat, where the oil and milk are extracted from, and the liquidy center known as coconut water. All parts are deliciously edible, except for the shell.
Although coconut oil is used many times for food flavoring and cooking, many people use it to beautify the skin and hair as part of their beautifying regimen. The many uses of coconut makes this versatile fruit one of the best oil for a number of reasons, including stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, dental hygiene, proper digestion health, and metabolism regulation.
Coconut is also very fatty and high in saturated fats and was once a very popular oil used in the United States and Canada until up to the 1970’s when the soy and corn industries propagated that coconut oil was highly unhealthy. This myth has been proven untrue. In fact, it is the healthiest oil. Some saturated fat is actually found not to be so bad after all.
Many non-holistic health care practitioners demonize coconut oil because of it’s high fat content. Despite their concerns, coconut oil has been used for centuries in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as HIV, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and heart diseases.
Here are some reasons that you will find coconut very beneficial in your everyday life.
#1) Contains a Healthier form of Saturated Fat
As we know by now, coconut oil contains a high amount of saturated fats, in fact, 90% of it’s fat content is saturated. However, this isn’t the type of saturation that is found in animal products, such as meat and cheese.
The saturated fat contained in coconuts is part of a chain known as, Medium Chain Triglycerides(MCTs). What this means is that most foods that have saturated fats are metabolized differently than in coconut oil.
When ingested, the oils goes straight to the liver of the digestive tract. This then is used as a quick source of energy, later to be converted to ketone notes, which benefit the brain and helps to stave off Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s
#2) Oil Pulling is Great for Your Teeth
No, this isn’t anything like pulling your teeth. Oil Pulling is a technique that was founded in India and has been in practice for centuries. It is a way of cleaning or pulling the bacteria from your mouth.
Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, including some that are very harmful. When we fail to brush out teeth regularly, a bio-film is used to attach bacteria to our teeth forming a film known as plaque. Oil pulling prevents bacteria from adhering to your teeth, tongue and gums. As a result, whiter teeth, stronger gums, fresher breath, and a reduction of harmful bacteria.
To give oil pulling a try, put 1tbsp. of coconut oil in your mouth(coconut oil melts easily at a warm room temperature, so don’t worry. Store cool to turn back into a solid form). Swish around your mouth for 15-20 minutes, then spit out, followed by brushing your teeth. You’ll notice glossier, glowing teeth within just 10 days.
#3) A Natural Beautifier
Coconut oil has many wonderful uses in beauty, from a cheekbone highlighting to a natural diaper rash cream. The pros of coconut oil on the hair and skin far outweigh the cons as a great go to for when you need a quick product that will work.
In India, some women use coconut oil as a natural hair straightener by slathering it on, wearing in a tight bun, then when the bun is untied, straight hair awaits. The uses on curly hair have become increasingly popular as a natural hair conditioner before shampooing, eliminating frizz.
Because of coconut oil’s high water content, it works as an effective moisturizer for excessively dry skin as well. It can be used as a shaving cream that lubricates the skin to keep from getting nicked at while you shave. The molecules in coconut oil are very small, making it one of the best ways to lock in moisture, producing silky, supple skin.
Coconut oil is a versatile go-to product to treat and remedy any health issues or beauty concerns that you might have. Drink it, eat it, wear it, whatever you like.
Tell us what you think! Do you use coconut oil regularly for anything? If so, what do you use it for? Let us know!
I wish I would have known all the benefits of coconut oil when my baby was younger. I would have loved to try it as a diaper rash treatment.
No kidding, right? I had no idea, but now I have a friend who is pregnant and she is using it on her belly to prevent stretchmarks. So cool! I also use it as a moisturizer, so I totally understand why.
I had no idea of all of the benefits of coconut oil. I wish this article told a bit more on how it is so beneficial. How much do you need to ingest to help lose weight?
It helps with stretch marks? Before you get them or after you already have them? I knew cocoa butter helped with this but I didn’t know that coconut oil did. Is coconut oil the new cocoa butter?
It sure sounds like coconut oil is the new cocoa butter. From all of the things you can use it for. I found this article pretty interesting.
It seems like something that is really getting some headlines lately. I was reading about it the other day and one of the biggest things I noticed is how many people use it for the skin, it seems to work wonders!
I’ve heard a lot about coconut oil being great for dental health, but I haven’t tried it yet. I just can’t imagine swishing oil around in my mouth for 15 minutes. Has anyone here tired it and what was your experience like?
I’ve been hearing all about coconut oil a lot lately, too. I have to admit that I’m a touch skeptical that it can do so many wonderful things. Is it too good to be true? Or does it really perform the way we keep hearing about?
My mother actually gave this a try recently. I know she said it takes about a month before you can expect to see results. She hasn’t updated me about how it has worked for her. I will have to ask her the next time we speak.