COCONUT OIL - BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONS
Coconut oil contains vitamin E but no fiber and almost no other vitamins and minerals. As we said earlier, coconut oil is almost 100% fat, most of which is saturated fat. However, the structure of the fat in coconut oil differs from that of many animal products, which are primarily made up of long-chain fatty acids—coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids. They are harder to turn into stored fat and easier to burn than long chain triglycerides.
Now they talk about coconut oil as a superfood - the unique combination of fatty acids in coconut oil can have positive effects on your health, such as faster fat loss, heart health and brain function.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
1. Coconut oil is an excellent skin moisturizer and nourisher.
Coconut oil contains vitamin E, essential amino acids, as well as lauric and caprylic acids, which are part of our skin's barrier function and help maintain the skin's natural flora.
Coconut oil is primarily made up of saturated fats, which are great at restoring your skin's natural barrier function and can also lock moisture into your skin by slowing down evaporation. It is quite light, absorbs well and does not leave a greasy feeling on the skin.
There are many ways to use coconut oil, such as lip balm, as a temporary skin soothing agent, hair mask, nail moisturizer, body moisturizer, mouthwash, and skin cleanser. But you should not use it as a replacement for face cream, it is quite comedogenic.
Tip: Apply coconut oil after a shower when your skin is still damp to retain some of the moisture, then dry off with a towel.
2. Coconut oil - nourishing hair mask.
Coconut oil intensely hydrates the hair and scalp and is especially beneficial for frizzy or naturally dry hair - it hydrates and conditions dry or tired hair, transforming dull strands into thick, shiny hair to be proud of. In addition, coconut oil has natural antibacterial properties that can help eradicate dandruff and keep your scalp healthy and hydrated.
Apply the oil to the entire length of the hair, leave for 1-2 hours or overnight and rinse well with shampoo. Long, thick or coarse hair can handle up to three tablespoons of oil, but finer or shorter hair should only be used about a tablespoon so as not to overload the hair.
3. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties.
Treating minor wounds or skin lesions with natural coconut oil accelerates healing, improves antioxidant status, and increases levels of collagen, an important protein that helps wounds heal.
Oil pulling is a traditional oral treatment. This is a similar remedy to modern mouthwash - you need to take 1 teaspoon of coconut oil into your mouth and rinse your mouth with it for 5 minutes.
Studies have shown that extracting coconut oil protects against cavities and affects oral bacterial balance.
4. Coconut oil for cooking.
Coconut oil has a high smoke point and a longer shelf life than some other oils. Because it is solid at room temperature, it can be used in baking, frying, greasing pans, and as a substitute for butter or vegetable oil in recipes.
Outcome
Not all coconut oils are the same, and their health effects vary by type. In general, the less processed an oil is, the more likely it is to provide health benefits.
Virgin coconut oil is obtained from fresh, mature coconuts and does not require high temperatures or chemicals. Therefore, for the use of oil as a cosmetic product, and in general for the use of oil in food, it is better to give preference to unrefined coconut oil (and any other type of oil)