Coconut oil
beneficial for beauty and health
There is probably no other oil that is as widely used as coconut oil. It is mostly used for cosmetic purposes, but also increasingly for nutritional purposes, thanks to its high nutritional value. The main ingredient of coconut oil is lauric acid, which is also present in breast milk and has antibacterial and antiviral effects. It also contains vitamins and minerals.
The highest quality coconut oil is virgin cold-pressed oil, which has the smell and taste of coconut. You can buy it at health food stores. It is 100% pure oil containing more than 90% saturated fatty acids.
Most of these acids are medium-chain fatty acids that are very easily digestible. But on the stores’ shelves, you will also find odorless one, which, after cold pressing, undergoes the process of removing odors by heating the oil, thereby losing some of the vitamins from the oil.
That is why it is best to consume coconut oil in its raw form as we get the most of its medicinal ingredients. It is important to emphasize that coconut oil is extremely resistant to high temperatures, and therefore does not produce free radicals and release adverse carcinogenic ingredients. Thus, it is recommended for frying and stewing food. Coconut oil is usually in a solid form, so you will probably come across the name of coconut grease, and when exposed to temperatures above 24° C, it turns into a liquid state.
By consuming coconut oil, we provide the body with an energy source. Since it creates a feeling of satiety, the body will be less likely to seek sugar-rich foods, so it is an excellent ally in weight loss. But the benefits of using coconut oil are numerous. It helps with digestive disorders, diabetes, impaired immunity, bacteria, viruses, and fungi, improves blood cholesterol levels, and can reduce the risk of heart disease.
If you like to prepare natural body care products yourself, then coconut oil will be the ideal base ingredient. It can be used in mouthwashes and breath freshening, toothpaste, peeling and body lotion, lip balm, a mask for dry hair and scalp. Due to its small molecules, it easily penetrates the skin and hair, helping to regenerate the body.
We bring you some easy-to-prepare concoctions so you can try them yourself at home. You can get the ingredients at pharmacies and health food stores.
Toothpaste
100 g of coconut oil
2-3 tablespoons of baking soda
15 drops of peppermint essential oil
2-3 g Stevia (optional)
Melt coconut oil and mix in the other ingredients. Stir everything well to blend the mixture entirely. Put the mixture in a small jar and let it cool completely.
Lip balm
4 g of coconut oil
2 g of beeswax
3-4 drops of Vitamin E oil
Put all ingredients in a fireproof pan and mix well. Put in microwave for about 30 seconds, remove the pan, and stir the mixture. Repeat the process until all the ingredients have completely dissolved. You can also melt the blend on a steam bath. Pour into a container to store the balm and refrigerate the mixture.
Hair mask
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 tablespoon organic honey
A few drops of rosemary essential oil (optional)
Note: this quantity needs to be increased if you have longer hair
or are more heavily damaged
Mix the ingredients and place the mixture in a saucepan and gently heat it on the stove. You can add some essential oil to the hair mask, such as rosemary, which stimulates scalp circulation.
A mask can be applied on dry or wet hair, but applying will be easier if the hair is moist. Divide the hair into strands and apply a mask from root to tip. You can apply a bit more mask right on the tips as they are more susceptible to damage than the rest of the hair. Wrap your hair and cover it with a protective cap and let the mask work for about 30-40 minutes. Then wash your hair in the usual way.
You can also treat dry hair with coconut oil only. Apply a small amount of pea-sized coconut oil to the tips of the hair. Be careful not to overdo it, as it will have the opposite effect, and your hair will be greasy.
