Coco for Coconuts

Where to begin? There is more than meets the eye to this fascinating fruit. Today, I want to focus on the benefits of coconut oil. What if I told you that the coconut oil can be used to promote a healthy mouth, fight bacteria, cure dry skin and boost your energy? Well, it’s true! Let’s crack this nut (remember its a fruit) and explore it’s many uses.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat. For years we have been told to stay away from saturated fats, however we now know that there are good fats and bad fats. Coconut oil is a good fat. In the past, scientists discovered a correlation between high levels of saturated fats and cardiovascular disease. It was a fat known as palmitic acid that they found in these people.  They came to the conclusion that because so many heart attack victims had high levels of these saturated fats, that we should avoid consuming saturated fats all together. We now know that those high levels of palmitic acid do not come from saturated fats, they come from excess carbs and sugar. This is how it works, our bodies store glucose and carbohydrates in the liver and muscle tissues in the form of glycogen. Once these stores are full many excess sugars are converted to palmitic acid and stored as saturated fats. This is the cause of elevated levels of saturated fat. Eating excess carbs and sugar are the main culprits! Our bodies need a good source of healthy fats.

Let’s talk about the structure of this oil.

 It differs from other common oils, which contain long chain fatty acids or LCT’s. Coconut oil is a medium chain saturated fat called medium-chain triglyceride or MCT. LCT’s put more strain on the pancreas, liver and the gastrointestinal tract. MCT’s are smaller and permeate cell membranes easily, making it very easy to process. MCT’s are sent directly to the liver where they become a direct source of energy rather than being stored as fat.

Incredibly, MCT’s do not need bile or other enzymes to be effectively metabolized. This makes coconut oil fully digestible for those who do not have a gallbladder or those who are having a hard time processing fats.

The major component of coconut oil is lauric acid and is known for its antiviral and antibacterial functions. Some of the lauric acid converts to monolaurin which is a potent antimicrobial. The monolaurin helps to reduce bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi and some parasites! One of my children had a case of mono and had terrible bumps in her throat. Taking 2 tablespoons a day helped clear the bumps almost immediately, quite remarkable.

Here are other ways coconut oil can be used:

Cooking - Coconut oil is a healthier alternative to vegetable oils. It may take some time getting used to the taste, but worth it. I personally love to make popcorn with coconut oil!

Dental Health - Coconut pulling helps to draw out harmful bacteria from the gums. I try to do this routine a few times a week. Take one tablespoon and swish around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. Make sure to spit it out in the garbage because coconut oil hardens and can clog drains. 

 Dry skin - Coconut oil can be rubbed right onto the skin for a moisturizer. I even use it on my dog's skin when his skin becomes very dry and itchy. It also promotes healthy skin and may prevent wrinkles.

Energy - as mentioned earlier, MCT’s are a great source of energy because MCT’s are sent directly to the liver where they become a direct source of energy. Try some before your next workout.

Fat bomb recipe- looking for a healthy treat? 

Here is a fat bomb recipe that will really satisfy and is a great source of healthy fats.

Ingredients:

¼ cup coconut oil *

¼ cup almond butter

2 tbsp cacao powder (not cocoa)

1 tbsp date syrup

Melt all ingredients together in a small pot over low heat.

Use a ladle to pour into silicone molds and then put in the refrigerator until they’ve hardened.

Keeps in the fridge for about a week.

*Always buy virgin, organic, non-refined, cold pressed coconut oil.

Hair masque- rub a tablespoon or two into your hair (more or less depending on length and thickness). Leave it in your hair for 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. This gives hair added moisture, great for dry, frizzy hair.

Lice- rub coconut oil on your head, wrap it up with a shower cap and leave on overnight. Wash it out at a.m. and comb through with a lice comb. Follow up with vinegar spray (1 part vinegar and 4 parts water). Vinegar helps loosen the glue holding the eggs. Condition hair afterwards with a tea tree conditioner.

Make up remover/acne reducer-I am always looking for safer, effective natural ingredients to use especially on my skin. I have been using coconut oil to remove make-up for some time now. Most people would think coconut oil would clog pores and not be great for skin care, but some even use it for acne care. Some of its components help with inflammation as well as it having antibacterial properties. The lauric acid has been shown to kill off bacteria linked to acne.  Below is a link to a study showing how the lauric acid found in coconut oil can help with acne.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19665786/

Fights Mono- take 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, twice a day, morning and evening and this will help reduce the sores in the throat. Remember coconut oil has anti bacterial agents.

Weight Loss- good fats help us lose fat, when you don't eat fat the body holds on to more adipose fat, when you introduce healthy fats the body can use these for metabolism and a good fuel source. It also helps keep you satiated longer, which in turn lowers your appetite.

I hope you found some new ways to use this healthy ingredient. Please share any other innovative ways you use coconut oil.

Next week we will discuss the many ways to detox the body. Just in time for the holidays.

This site is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.

The information provided here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.