
Coconut oil is having a moment right now and is touted worldwide as a miracle for a wide range of issues. It’s easy to find and simple to use so what are you waiting for?
Once you know the great things that coconut oil can do for you, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to try it. Of course, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before using it for any health reason, as it might not be suitable for everyone.
In general, however, coconut oil is a natural solution that many people will enjoy for its external and internal benefits.
For Your Hair
Coconut oil is chock full of antioxidants, and when you apply it to your hair, it infuses each of your strands with them. This means you can expect to see healthier hair with a regular routine of coconut oil application.
The oil is also a wonderful way to pump your hair with hydration, leaving it fuller, shinier and less damaged. Simply massage the oil into your hair, let it soak in for a few minutes, then wash and rinse with warm water to remove it. You’ll have smooth and shiny locks as you never imagined!
For Your Skin
There are numerous ways you can use coconut oil for your skin. Much like with your hair, it adds moisture and nutrients to your skin that helps keep it healthy, young, fresh and radiant. If you’re into natural skincare products and techniques, you are going to love what you can do with coconut oil.
One popular thing to do is to mix it with ground oatmeal and use it as lip balm or lotion. It’s also a great ingredient for making deodorant and can help ward of sunburn when you use it as sunscreen.
Coconut oil also has powerful benefits for treating and preventing stretch marks during and after pregnancy. You can also use coconut oil to make soap, a wound healing cream and body scrub.
Some research shows that coconut oil is especially useful as a way to treat eczema in both children and adults because of its thick texture and healing properties.
For Your Health
Coconut oil can also be used in cooking and has a multitude of benefits. Research shows that is has a positive impact on thyroid disease, immunity, heart health and weight control. That makes it a valuable addition to your daily diet.
You can use it to make marinades and homemade salad dressings for a nutty and sweet flavor that also boosts your health. Some people use coconut oil to sweeten coffee or make homemade mayonnaise.
It also works well in baked goods and when you fry vegetables or meat. It also makes a great alternative to other vegetable oils in virtually any recipe you want to try.
Despite all this evidence, some health experts caution people that coconut oil isn’t a miracle food and may not produce the results in you want. The research studies are fairly new and limited so many medical health professionals say that more study is needed before they are comfortable backing up the claims.
In addition, coconut oil is a type of saturated fat, which experts say should only make up 7 to 10 percent of your daily calorie intake. While it may make sense to use it topically, it’s a good idea to balance it out with other, healthier fats, in your diet, such as olive oil. Your doctor can help you determine what amount of coconut oil is right for you.