The Many Uses of Organic Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is incredibly popular — and for good reason. Organic coconut oil has a large number of uses.In fact, organic coconut oil is nothing short of a beauty-cure all. Each bottle or jar of coconut oil is full of health and beauty-related benefits.Coconut oil has been used for centuries because of it many benefits and uses. Be it chapped lips, dry skin, bad breath, or any number of other ailments, coconut oil appears to have a cure for everything.Other than being a beauty staple, coconut oil also has a huge number of benefits for your health. In fact, this oil is incredibly versatile and has so many uses that you may not even be aware of.Here are all the many uses of organic coconut oil.
Increase Your Metabolism
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides or MCT’s. MCT’s refer to fatty acids that can get absorbed quickly and can increase an excess number of calories.According to a number of controlled studies, MCTs can help boost your metabolic rate, at least for some time.Another study discovered that roughly 15–30 grams of MCTs managed to increase the exact number of calories burned by about 120 within a 24-hour period.
Protect Your Skin from UV Radiation
One of the main beauty benefits of organic coconut oil is that if you apply it to the skin before heading outside, it can protect your skin from harmful UV radiation of the sun.Excessive exposure to the sun’s rays can be pretty harmful for the skin. It can cause signs of early aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, and may even lead to pigmentation. In fact, too much exposure even poses the risk of skin cancer.As such, it is very important to make sure your skin is protected each time you step outside. While you can always opt to purchase store-bought sun blocks, these are unnatural and might contain harmful chemicals.If you decide to use coconut oil instead, you can remain protected and make sure that your skin is not damaged in any way.Coconut oil can help protect you from about 20% of the sun’s harmful rays. But do keep in mind that it will not be as effective as the store-bought sun blocks as these can block out up to 90% of the sun’s rays.
Improve Your Oral Health
Organic coconut oil is also a pretty powerful tool for fighting against bacteria. This bacteria includes the Streptococcus mutans, which is the bacteria responsible for causing all sorts of problems in our mouth, such as cavities, tooth decay etc.According to the findings of one study, rinsing your mouth with coconut oil for up to 10 minutes can reduce the bacteria in your mouth, just as effectively as any store-bought antiseptic mouthwash could do.Yet another study found that rinsing your mouth daily with coconut oil can significantly reduce plaque and even inflammation in teenagers and adults with inflamed gums or gingivitis.
Improve the Functioning of the Brain
Your liver tends to break down the MCT’s present in coconut oil and convert them into ketones. There ketones can then function as an alternative energy source for your brain, to help improve its functioning. In fact, numerous studies have shown the efficacy of MCTs for reducing the symptoms of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.Some researchers have even concluded that coconut oil can be used as a source of MCTs, only to help the body produce ketones.
Cook at High Temperatures Safely
Coconut oil tends to have a pretty high saturated fat content. In fact, nearly 87% of all of its fat is saturated.Because if this high saturated fat content, coconut oil is one of the best oils for cooking and frying, especially because frying requires the oil to be of an extremely high temperature.Saturated fats tend to be heat resistant for the most part. That is, they retain their structure even when exposed to very high temperatures, as compared to the polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found inside vegetable oils.Corn oil and Safflower oil on the other hand, convert into toxic substances when heated and this can have negative consequences for health.For this reason, coconut oil is a far safer alternative if you intend to cook at high temperatures.
Relieve Skin Irritation and Eczema
According to research, organic coconut oil can help improve skin disorders such as dermatitis and can moisturize the skin just as well as any store-bought moisturizer.In another study in children with eczema, 47% of those treated with coconut oil noticed marked improvements.
Moisturize Your Skin
Coconut oil is a great l moisturizer for your arms, legs, and even elbows.It is even possible for you to use it on your face, but if you already have oily skin then this isn’t recommended.Furthermore, coconut oil can help repair cracked heels. This is especially important during the dryer winter season.All you have to do is put a small coat on your heels before sleeping and make sure to wear socks. You can repeat this daily until you have smoother heels.
Can Fight Infections
Organic coconut oil has certain antibacterial properties and these can help treat all sorts of infections.A certain test-tube study discovered that coconut oil could even prevent the growth of intestinal bacteria called Clostridium difficile, also called C. diff, which can cause severe diarrhea.Furthermore, coconut oil can also cure yeast infections. This is because coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is in fact the primary fatty acid that makes up coconut oil.
Increase Your ‘Good’ Cholesterol
Studies have proven that organic coconut oil can raise levels of ‘good’ cholesterol in certain people.One particular study in women suffering from abdominal obesity discovered that ‘good’ cholesterol increased in a group consuming coconut oil, whereas it decreased in those consuming soybean oil.
May Reduce Belly Fat
According to research, organic coconut oil can even help reduce belly fat or visceral fat. This sort of fat has been generally linked with an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.Based on one study, men who were obese lost 1 inch from their waist fat by adding 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to their diet.According to yet another study, based on women who were on calorie-restricted diets, those who consumed two tablespoons of coconut oil per day, significantly found a decrease in their waist size. ,
Protect Your Hair from Damage
Organic coconut oil can help protect your hair from damage and keep it healthy.In a study that compared the effects of coconut oil, mineral oil, and sunflower oil on hair, it was found that only organic coconut oil significantly reduce protein loss in hair when it is applied before or after shampooing. This result applied to both healthy as well as damaged hair.Based on this research, it was concluded that that the particular structure of lauric acid, present in coconut oil, can help penetrate the shaft of your hair in a way that other oils cannot.
Improved Wound Healing
According to one study, rats whose wounds were treated with organic coconut oil displayed a severe reduction in inflammation and also significantly increased production of collagen, which is an important skin component. Because of this, their wounds bended up healing much faster.If you ever get a scrape or a wound, you can also use coconut oil to speed up its recovery. Make sure to apply a bandage on to the scrape or wound so that it heals properly.
Decrease Hunger and Food Intake
According to a significant body of research, the MCTs present in organic coconut oil can help reduce your hunger, leading to an overall reduced calorie intake.In a small study, men who followed a high-MCT diet took in fewer calories and lost more weight than men who ate diets with low or medium MCT content (26Trusted Source).
Boost Bone Health
Animal research has interestingly suggested that the antioxidants that organic coconut oil is made of can help protect and promote bone health by neutralizing free radicals, which can usually damage bone cells.According to a six-week long study of rats ,the group receiving 8% of their calories from organic coconut oil had a whole lot more bone volume and even an improved bone structure.
Make Healthy Mayonnaise
The mayonnaise that you buy from stores usually contains soybean oil and a whole lot of sugar. The good news is that you can make your own mayonnaise at home using organic coconut oil.If you wish to do so, there are many recipes you can find online that you can easily follow to make healthy mayonnaise using coconut oil.
Remove Eye Makeup
Organic coconut oil is also a pretty great and effective makeup remover. It is also gentle on the skin and does not contain any harsh chemicals like the makeup removers available in the stores.All you have to do, is take a cotton pad, lightly dip it in the oil and wipe away all of the makeup until your face is completely clean.
Make Dark Chocolate
Homemade dark chocolate is yet another delicious way to get the full benefits of organic coconut oil.Once you are done making it, do remember to store it in a refrigerator or even a freezer, because coconut oil melts at 76°F or 24°C.It’s simple. Just find a recipe online and get started!
Create a Natural Insect Repellent
Certain essential oils can be an effective natural way to keep all sorts of bugs away and to help you avoid all sorts of stings and bites.You cannot apply essential oils directly to the skin however and you require carrier oil. Coconut oil acts as decent carrier oil and is pretty effective for this purpose.In fact, in one particular study, in which Thai essential oils were combined with organic coconut oil and provided more than 98% protection from all sorts of mosquito bites.
Remove Stains
Organic coconut oil can also be pretty helpful if you want to remove stains, including any sort of a stain on a carpet or even furniture.The process is easy. All you have to do, is combine one part organic coconut oil with one part baking soda and and mix it until it becomes a paste. Then, apply it to the stain, wait a bit, and then wipe away. Voila! You’re stain free.
Reduce Inflammation
Several animal studies show that eating coconut oil provides strong anti-inflammatory effects (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).Human studies suggest that eating coconut oil may reduce markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, especially when compared to highly unsaturated oils. However, more research is needed (36Trusted Source).
A Natural Deodorant
Although the sweat on your body itself does not have a smell, the bacteria that live on your skin that produce an undesirable odor.Amongst the many uses of organic coconut oil, it also has effective antibacterial properties which can make it function as a natural deodorant.You can easily find recipes for deodorants made with organic coconut oil as well as other natural ingredients online. .
Quick Energy Source
Organic coconut oil contains MCTs and these are digested differently from the long-chain triglycerides that are present in most foods.These fats are transported directly from your gut to your liver. Here they can be used as a quick source of energy, without raising blood sugar levels as this can be harmful for health.Heal Ragged CuticlesOrganic coconut oil can even be used to cure or heal ragged cuticles.All you need to do is apply a very small amount of coconut oil to your cuticles and keep massaging for a few minutes. Do this each week for maximum results.
Make Your Wood Furniture Shine
Organic coconut oil can even help your furniture to look polished and shiny. Not only can it add to the natural beauty of the wood, it even functions act as a dust repellent. Additionally, it has a very pleasant fragrance unlike the strong and harsh fragrances of the commercially available wood polishes. These are just some of the many uses of organic coconut oil. So stop waiting and grab your jar or bottle right away.