Hi guys welcome to back to my
blog; today we are going to be discussing Coconut oil, why you should be using
it and ways to use it. So as you may or may not know, I was in The Caribbean
Island during the summer of 2015, one thing which I found very popular there
was Coconut – coconut oil, coconut water, coconut snacks – they had Coconut
everything.
Prior to my trip, I have
heard of Coconut oil from natural hair Gurus, but I was always too lazy to take
it serious – except for that one time that I bought this liquid coconut oil
from EBay and used it whenever I remembered.
Upon my return to Ireland, I
decided to do some research on Coconut oil and after finding out how good it
is, I gave it a try and I love coconut oil.
So what is so special about Coconut oil?
Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. It has various applications as
food or in cosmetics. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and, thus slow
to rancid (Can last up to six months at 24 °C without going bad).
There are many more
benefits of Coconut oil, but that is just a few
My favourite Uses of Coconut oil
Skin care
Coconut oil is excellent
massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all
types of skin, including dry skin. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for
preventing dryness and flaking of skin - I use coconut oil on my skin daily,
either by directly rubbing it all over my body and I sometimes mix it with Johnson’s
Baby Lotion (I do this because sometimes I don’t like the feel of just the oil
on my skin).
It also helps in treating
various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, ring worms, eczema and
other skin conditions
Hair care: - My favorite way of using Coconut oil.
It is one of the best
natural nutrients for your hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair and gives
your hair a shiny quality. It is also highly effective in reducing protein loss (Reason why we do the protein hair
treatment- blog coming soon) which can lead to various unattractive or
unhealthy qualities in your hair
.
Coconut oil I is an
excellent conditioner and helps the re-growth process of damaged hair. It also
provides the essential proteins required for nourishing and healing damaged
hair.
By regularly massaging your head with coconut
oil, you can ensure that your scalp is free of dandruff
How do I use it?
I apply coconut oil to my scalp
each night and massage it for 3-4 mins, sometimes longer, playing close
attention to my edges (My problem area)
3.
Dental care
Calcium is
an important component of our teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of
calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth. Coconut oil also
stops tooth decay- it is also said to whiten your teeth.
How do I use this?
I do an oil pull most
mornings (Blog coming soon)
Types of
Coconut Oil
There are different
varieties of Coconut oil, with each one having different function and uses. There
are primarily 6 varieties of coconut oil that you will find on the market.
These are pure coconut oil, refined coconut oil, organic coconut oil, virgin
coconut oil, organic virgin coconut oil and extra virgin coconut oil.
Let’s focus on two
varieties
Virgin Coconut Oil: derived from the milk obtained from fresh
coconut meat. Care is taken to use no or as little heat as possible in the
extraction of this oil. The oil has remarkable anti-microbial properties. This
is one of the most respected and trusted varieties of coconut oil.
Organic Coconut Oil: The coconut oil that has been
extracted from coconuts obtained from coconut palms raised only on organic
manure and no synthetic fertilizers or insecticides. The production of organic
coconut oil is also completed without involving any chemical in its extraction
or processing. This is another well-respected variety of coconut oil. Organic
coconut oil forms an integral part of a number of organic cosmetic products
such as organic soaps, organic skin creams and lotions, organic snacks and
thousands of other similar products.
So which one should I use for what?
It really depends on what
you need it for. Furthermore, before you buy coconut oil, you should keep in
mind that for edible and therapeutic uses, refined coconut oil is the best as
it is hygienic and clean. Unrefined coconut oil is good for external
applications like hair care and skin care.
Q&A
Can I use coconut oil for cooking?
Yes, in most of the
tropical coastal regions, people use coconut oil for cooking.
2.
I don’t like the taste of coconut oil. What
should I do?
Try using coconut oil in a
variety of different recipes – e.g. I use coconut milk in making my Avocado
smoothie and you can barely taste the coconut oil (Recipe coming soon)
However, if you get
nauseated after eating coconut oil, don’t force yourself to eat it. As can
happen with any food item, your body may be allergic to coconut oil and it is
best not to consume it.
3.
Where can I buy from?
Coconut oil is easily available in most
grocery stores; I get my coconut oil from Tesco.
4.
Which brand to buy?
Forget
brand; just buy the one that suits you. I have bought the refined and unrefined
coconut oil from Tesco; I use them all for different purposes.
I use the KTC for oil pulling
as it has no scent and Organic coco well for my hair
5.
How much to pay?
This
is a really difficult question to answer. The price of coconut oil depends on
many factors, however in Ireland, I am sure it ranges from €1.99 to €15+
depending on where you buy.
**Note ** When
buying coconut oil make sure to check the ingredients list! There should be
nothing else in the ingredients other than coconut oil, if not please RETURN
it!. Organic coconut oil should ALWAYS have a scent, if not it has been
processed (Processed/refined coconut oil is not bad, but to get the full 100%
benefit, I recommend going organic – for your hair)
Thank for taking the time
to read this Blog, I hope this will be of some help to you. Your comments are
welcome! Don’t forget to share this information with your friends. Thanks!
Till Next time
Stay natural X
Please note always follow instructions as directed by your doctor or nutritionist, I am not a professional and please follow all advice given with Caution. Thank you.
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