We’re
going a little nuts for coconuts — or its oil, at least. But can you blame us?
This miracle oil, extracted from the kernel of matured coconuts, is suggested
to be the solution to many of life’s little (or big!) problems.
Natural coconut oil is 90 percent saturated
fat which makes it one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man. By
virtue of this, there is a great deal of controversy as regards its impact on
heart health. The kind of saturated fat matters just as
much as the amount.
Coconut oil’s main fat is lauric acid,
a medium-chain fatty acid (MFA), which permeates cell membranes easily, does
not require special enzymes to be utilised effectively by your body, and puts
minimal stress on your digestive system. It also contains vitamins E and K
iron, and has anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.
These factors, and more, give coconut oil a
set of unique health properties as well as being a great beauty product,
too!
Here are 25 ways you can use coconut oil in
your day-to-day life:
Health
1) Boosts your metabolism. While
adding oil to your diet may sound counterintuitive, the fats in coconut oil are
easy to digest, can be used directly by the liver for energy and encourage fat
burning.
2) Lowers cholesterol. It has been shown
that lauric acid increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help
improve cholesterol ratio levels.
3)
Keeps your stomach happy. Ingesting coconut oil may help soothe your
stomach and is even thought to ease symptoms from serious disorders like Crohn’s Disease and Irritable
Bowel Syndrome. It may also help treat ulcers.
4)
Improves your oral hygiene. Oil pulling is
an Ayurveda practice that’s all the rage at the moment, is believed to help your wellbeing in lots
of different ways: it whitens your teeth, improves bad breath, reduces plaque
and more. Swish about two tablespoons of it around your mouth for 3 to 20
minutes a day.
5) Wound care. Applying a thin layer to small scrapes and cuts can
act as a topical protector for wounds, shielding them from outside
contaminants.
6) Helps calcium and
magnesium absorption in your body for healthy bones and teeth.
Food and cooking
7)
In cooking. The oil has a high smoke
point, meaning it won’t emit harmful free radicals as readily as other oils.
Great for baking, stir-fries or as a dairy free replacement to butter or
vegetable oils. See 'How to choose coconut oils’ below.
8)
Smoothies. Add one tablespoon of
coconut oil into your favourite smoothie recipe and increase your energy with
the oil's MFAs.
9)
Roasted vegetables. The next time
you’re roasting a batch of hearty winter vegetables such as butternut squash or
sweet potatoes, try tossing them with a mixture of coconut oil, lemon juice,
thyme / rosemary, and salt and pepper for an appealing hint of coconut.
10)
Frying eggs. Lightly coat the bottom
of your frying pan with coconut oil to create a non-stick surface for delicious
eggs.
11) Nut butters. In a food processor grind together 2 cups of nuts such as
almonds, pecans, or cashews with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil until smooth and
buttery. Add cinnamon, flax seed, or even ground coffee.
12)
Popcorn. A sweet twist on a classic
snack! First, add the coconut oil and popcorn to a heavy-bottomed pan. Coat the
area of the pot with the oil, and use just enough popcorn to make a single
layer over the bottom of the pot. Give the pot a little shake to make sure all
of the kernels are coated with oil. Next, place the pot over a medium heat. Put
the lid on the pot, leaving it slightly open so that steam can escape. It
should take about five minutes for the popcorn to pop completely.
13)
Replace vegetable oil for baking. Next
time you make your favourite cake / brownie recipe, replace the vegetable oil
with coconut oil.
14)
Homemade granola. Embrace your inner
hippie and bake up batches of homemade granola using coconut oil, which lends
an irresistible aroma to your oats and nuts. We have a great recipe ‘Extremely
tasty granola' on our breakfast recipe page.
Skin care and beauty
15)
Facial moisturiser. Massage a light
layer on your skin after cleansing.
16)
Eye make-up remover. This works with
waterproof make-up too.
17)
Body scrub. Mix with equal parts
sugar.
18)
Fade age spots. Rub on hands or
other areas daily to benefit from its natural anti ageing properties.
19)
Homemade lip balm or lip gloss. Apply
directly.
20)
Massage oil. Not too greasy and with
a relaxing scent.
21)
Body moisturiser. Apply directly
after showering.
22
Sunburn care and prevention. Use as
SPF4 sunscreen or after too much sun.
23)
Elbow rub. Helps manage the dry skin
on your elbows.
Hair Care
24)
Leave-in overnight conditioner. Rub
a small amount of oil into hair (mostly at ends), comb through and put hair in
a loose bun before bed, and wash out in the morning.
25)
Hair flyaway tamer. Use very
sparingly on ends or areas with flyaways.
Choosing
the right coconut oil
Coconut oil that is labelled
“virgin” or “extra virgin” is extracted from coconut meat using delicate
methods such as cold-pressing. I use this type of oil as it has more
antioxidants, therefore it has more benefits, though it does have a stronger
coconut flavour and aroma. (Best/reputable brands known to us
are Biona, Tiana, Perfectly pure, Lucy Bee)
You could try refined coconut oil
(sometimes labelled “expeller-pressed”), which is further processed to have a
more neutral taste and scent for external use or cooking. These refined coconut
oils also have a higher smoke point than virgin oils, so they can be used for
higher-heat cooking such as stir-frying or for making dishes like scrambled
eggs when you don’t want the taste of a beach holiday. I would recommend
researching brands online to find ones that avoid using harsh chemicals to
refine their coconut oil.
Both versions have a long shelf life (about 2 years without
refrigeration), meaning there is less worry about coconut oil going rancid than
there is about more delicate oils such as flax or extra-virgin olive oil.
A 500ml jar of virgin coconut oil will cost £8+ from health stores or
online, but will last a long time. I have two, one for nutrition (which I keep
in the kitchen) and one for beauty (in the bathroom).
While the disagreements
among doctors and nutritionists over coconut oil's cardiac health benefits will
continue, there is no doubt that coconut oil - being both safe and natural - has a myriad of different uses that anyone
can take advantage of.
We would love to hear how you use coconut oil
at home.
Alison x
Sources:
authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/
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