The Many Healthy Uses for Coconut Oil

You may on occasion (or often) feel as if mounting tasks are sucking you into a black hole of stress. Stress is one component of health that everyone wants to gloss over and pretend doesn’t exist. As a result, if often ends up taking control of our life and well-being. I’ve found the best way to stay afloat and balanced is to make time for stress relief.

Stress-Relief Tactic #1: 

To combat the physical stress I felt on my body, I hit the cardio machines a couple times this week (with my nutrition books in hand :)) and shave away at the weight of my world. It’s frustrating how much pressure our society and our circumstances put on us…I don’t think we are made to live this way, but I refuse to sacrifice what I love and value for what others demand of me!
Stress-Relief Protocol Tactic #2:
Hobbies of course, and for me, that’s cooking. There is nothing more rewarding than tapping into my creative side and banging out some frustration by making a few ingredients come alive in a recipe.
In my latest creation, I’d like to give a little spot-light to one of my staple pantry ingredients: Coconut Oil
If you are not familiar with Coconut Oil I suggest tossing the Pam spray, Vegetable and Canola Oils and replacing them with Extra Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed, organic, coconut oil.

What makes Coconut Oil so great you might ask? Here are just a few of the many uses of coconut oil

1) Cooking  and Baking

Coconut Oil is a saturated fat made primarily of MCFA’s (Medium Chain Fatty Acids), making it very stable for cooking and giving it a longer shelf life.  MCFA’s are easier to digest and immediately used as an energy source rather than being converted to fat.  Polyunsaturated fats (like vegetable oils: corn, soy, safflower, canola) are damaged from heat processing, cooking, and sitting on a shelf; it is these damaged (oxidized) fats that primarily contribute to inflammation, plaque formation, and increased cholesterol.  Cooking with stable fats such as coconut oil or butter provide the benefits of that fat without the oxidized side-effects.

2) Make-up Remover

Potentially my favorite use!  After searching several stores for a natural eye-makeup remover and being disappointed in the outrageous price of a tiny bottle, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I purchased a jar of virgin coconut oil, rubbed a tiny bit on my eyes and voila!  It works better than anything I’ve used before, and it’s much more cost effective.

3) Moisturizer, Lip Balm, Shiny Hair Serum

I find it ironic that moisturizers available on the market attempt to mimic natural products by adding chemicals, fragrances, and colorings that are harmful to the body.  They often add coconut oil to their chemical concoction, but why bother with all that crap when you can have the real thing!  Want to know what’s in coconut oil?…Coconut oil.  That’s it. 
I use it on my face, neck, and lips every night before bed.  Only downfall is that Libby dog tries to eat it off my face but that’s not the worst thing.  You can also rub it through your hair and let it set for an hour before washing out.  This will help repair damaged ends and renew shine!

4) Anti-Microbial Properties and Neurological Benefits

The MCFA (medium chain fatty acids, notably lauric acid/monolaurin) in the coconut oil demonstrate anti-microbial properties and work to kill off several viruses, yeasts, and bacteria, especially the kind that like to overtake the GI system, such as candida.  It works as a natural anti-fungal that helps to re-balance the body and strengthen the immune system.

Coconut Oil is also used as part of a treatment for people with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s/dementia, autism, ataxia, hyperactivity, and other developmental disorders.  This is due to the anti-microbial effect (these people almost always have bacterial imbalances and a brain unable to use glucose (sugar) as a fuel) and the “coconut ketones” in it, which provide a fuel for those people with impaired glucose utilization in the brain.

5) Nutrients and Nutrient Absorption

Coconut oil contains vitamins A, D, E, & K  and also minerals such as Iron and Choline.  More notably perhaps it facilitates the uptake of minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium which are necessary for nutrient utilization and proper function in the body.

2 comments on “The Many Healthy Uses for Coconut Oil

  1. Coincidentally, I just got my first jar of unrefined, organic coconut oil today. It is going into my daily healthy drink, replacing my unrefined, virgin olive oil. 🙂

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