Coconut oil and the 15 hidden facts about and why you should take it
Base on natural phenomenon, everything in coconut is beneficial to the body. from the fruit to the shell, but almost 70% of people have not thought of the health benefits of coconuts oils and its wonderful benefits to the body in general.
When you think about the health benefits of coconut oil,
we're going to guess that the last thing that comes to mind is rubbing
the edible plant grease all over your face. Or your arms. Or coconut oil
for your hair. But a growing body of research, countless experts, and
an army of natural-beauty devotees swear by the stuff for just about
everything. Are they onto something?
Yes, according to our experts. Coconut oil is used
in many natural beauty products, and for good reason: It's naturally
antibacterial and antifungal, coconut oil for skin is an excellent
moisturizer, it can penetrate hair better than other oils, and, well, it
smells like cookies.
"Yum," says Tieraona Low
Dog, MD, director of the fellowship program at the Arizona Center for
Integrative Medicine. "Is there anything more luscious than coconut
oil?"
We can't think of anything. But we can
think of 18 amazing uses for it in your very own home that don't
require spending a fortune on store-bought products. In fact, all you
need is one thing: Raw (and preferably organic) virgin coconut oil.
1. Deep-condition your strands overnight
There's
a reason many conditioners contain coconut oil: It's better able to
penetrate hair (and prevent protein loss) than mineral and sunflower
oil, according to research. "I use coconut oil for hair and on my skin
for deep conditioning," says Tasneem Bhatia, MD, an integrative doctor,
and owner of the Atlanta Center for Holistic and Integrative Medicine.
Apply a quarter-size dollop to your hair, comb it, and then pile it into
a loose bun. You'll want to place a soft towel over your pillow or
sleep in a shower cap. In the morning, shampoo as usual with a gentle
cleanser.
2. Tame frizz
If you struggle with taming your mane, coconut oil can definitely help.
Calm your frizzy, flyaway strands with just a bit of oil to leave your
hair looking smooth and polished. As an alternative to straight oil, you
can also use products like this coconut oil hair serum that will nourish your hair while also protecting it from heat-styling tools.
3. Add shine
Smooth
a tiny amount of organic coconut oil onto your ends of your hair to add
a little shine if you have dark hair. Remember that a dab will do you:
Any more and your hair might appear greasy.
4. Minimize dandruff
One
of the most common causes of dandruff is a dry scalp. But before you
spend money on special shampoo, try minimizing the problem with an
ultra-moisturizing coconut oil treatment: Heat 2 or 3 tablespoons of oil
on the stove over a low flame. Once it liquifies, immediately remove it
from the stove, so it doesn’t become too hot. Then, massage the oil
into your scalp. If you have any leftover oil, you can use it to coat
the rest of your hair. Let the oil sit on your scalp for 30 minutes and
then wash it out with shampoo. (A shower cap will contain the mixture
and prevent it from dripping on you while you wait.) If the problem
persists, try some of these other dandruff remedies.
5. Clean your face
Because coconut oil is naturally antibacterial,
antifungal, moisturizing and, according to research, great for atopic
dermatitis, many women swear by its use as a nighttime moisturizer for
their face, too. Try the double-cleansing method: Simply rub the oil in
circular motions all over your face and neck, giving yourself a gentle
massage as you go. When you're done, wash off the residue with your
favorite cleanser. (If you're acne-prone, avoid this technique unless
you know your skin tolerates coconut oil.)
6. Remove eye makeup
Yes,
coconut oil even works on waterproof mascara! Put a little on a cotton
ball and gently sweep it over your eyes, paying attention to your
under-eyes as well. The oil does a great job breaking down waxy, inky
eye makeup, and leaves the delicate area hydrated, too. Once you're
done, wash your face as usual.
7. Give yourself the perfect pout
Fend
off chapped, flaky lips or even add a pop of color to your pout with a
homemade tinted gloss made from coconut oil. To make it, simply mix bits
of an old lipstick with some coconut oil. For lips that need a little
more TLC, make a nourishing lip scrub by substituting the lipstick bits
for some brown sugar and honey. Put the mixture on a soft toothbrush and
then use a circular motion to lightly exfoliate your lips. Let the
mixture sit on your mouth for a minute and then remove it with a damp
cloth.
8. After exfoliating, moisturize your lips
Once
your lips are silky smooth, dap them with a bit of coconut oil for
added moisture and shine. You can add straight coconut oil (carried in a
tiny container like a contacts case), create your own DIY blend, or buy an organic lip balm made with coconut oil, like this three-pack that also utilizes essential oils of eucalyptus/mint, vanilla, and citrus.
9. Freshen your breath
Remember oil pulling?
Turns out, swishing coconut oil (or any organic vegetable cooking oil)
around in your mouth may actually pull the toxicity out of your mouth.
Just swirl it around your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes until it turns a
milky white color, then spit it out into the trash and rinse with water.
If this sounds like a gross way to spend 15 minutes, you'd be
surprised—it becomes routine fairly quickly and can even feel meditative
and relaxing, one writer found.
10. Highlight your cheeks
Nothing
perks up a tired face like a little highlighter, but you don't need
store-bought products to achieve the same effect. Simply sweep a small
amount of organic coconut oil on top of makeup and leave it
alone. It looks like your skin but glowier, which is why many natural
makeup brands use it as a base ingredient in their formulas. If you're
looking for a more portable option, try the cult favorite Living
Luminizer by RMS Beauty ($38, amazon.com), which has a coconut-oil base and light reflecting pigment.
11. Soothe dry hands
This
won't work for dry digits when you're on the go, but at home, coconut
oil for skin can work wonders on your dishwashing-parched hands. You can
get a jar at your local grocery store, or try this organic coconut oil
by Viva Naturals "I keep a jar of organic extra virgin coconut oil by the kitchen sink
and put a little on after washing my hands to keep them soft and moist,"
says Low Dog. And if you cook with coconut oil—you can sub it for
butter in baking recipes because it’s solid at room temperature—scoop
out a little extra for your hands, too. "Whenever I cook with coconut
oil, I make sure to moisturize my hands with it too," says Katrine van
Wyk, a holistic health and nutrition coach based in New York.
15. Mend your pup's paws
This one's a beauty trick for your dog, but even our furry friends need
a little pampering sometimes! If your pup loves hiking and other
outdoor activities, his paws can become cracked and raw from all the
stress. Rub a little coconut oil on his paws—it'll function as both an
antiseptic and moisturizer to help him heal. To estimate how much to
use, measure about 1 tsp. oil per 10 pounds of body weight. While
coconut oil has been shown to be completely safe for most dogs, you should check with your vet first before using it if your pup has a health condition.
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