10 Surprising Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a very broad category of internal and external health benefits. It is becoming more widely known for not only it’s cooking uses, but for its uses in everyday beauty routines and around the home. Here I will share 10 surprising ways to use coconut oil for a healthier lifestyle.

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The milk and flesh from coconuts contain high amounts of saturated fats and antioxidants that have the ability to wipe your blood clear of radicals (the particles that cause cell death and oxidation).

However, if you do use coconut oil is it important to make sure it is organic and processed correctly. It is possible for some non-organic brands to have a lack of a certain key ingredient, resulting in you not receiving the full benefits.

Organic coconut oil is not a waste of your money! Your health is an investment, not an expense. My personal favorite trusted coconut oil brand is Nutiva.

I use this coconut oil at least three times a day, I don’t know what I would do without it honestly. My favorite use is for my skin, let me tell you it looks better than it has in years.

Read below to discover ways to use coconut oil you may not know existed!

Surprising Ways to Use Coconut Oil

1.) The Basics: Cooking

Using coconut oil in cooking is one of the most common uses of coconut oil. If you’re still using vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil to cook, do your body a favor and toss it. Coconut oil is more beneficial and less harmful to your body’s health.

Why use coconut oil?

Coconut oil’s medium length-chain fat molecules make it easier to bond together with one single carbon bond. This action allows the coconut oil to have stability at room temperature.

Extra-virgin olive oil is another common cooking oil. The fat molecules for this oil have a low smoke point allowing its molecules to break down into trans-saturated fatty acids when exposed to high heat.

As some of you may know, trans fats are detrimental to the health of your heart.

2.) Skin moisturizer

With coconut oil having so many saturated fats, it makes it a fabulous candidate for moisturizing dry skin. The oil contains antioxidants that clear pores and get rid of toxins in the skin.

Polyphenol compounds in coconut oil can also reduce inflammation which is a key factor of acne breakouts. Coconut oil will keep your skin looking and feeling radiant. You can use it a lotion or in the shower after you wash with soap.

3.) Hair masks

Most shampoos contain sulfate which actually strips your hair of its natural oils. Natural oils are essential to your hair’s health. With the depletion of these oils, your hair is more susceptible to producing more oil to make up for it which can cause your hair to break easily.

To prevent this, coconut oil is a great substance to use for nourishing dead or damaged hair. It will regulate oil production in your scalp causing your hair to become healthier and stronger.

It can be used as a hair mask or a deep conditioner. If you use it as a hair mask, simply leave it in your hair after a shower, throw your hair in a bun, and rinse it out in the morning.

4.) Makeup remover

Coconut oil serves as a great natural makeup remover. Its antibacterial properties make it the prime candidate for removing the nasties from your skin after a long day.

I think this is one of the most surprising ways to use coconut oil, as most people are focused on purchasing makeup remover wipes. In fact, I haven’t used real makeup remover in four years.

But how does it function as a makeup remover?

It has a detergent effect that allows it to cleanse the skin of anything put on the surface. Coconut oil would be a much better option rather than using a remover containing chemicals damaging to the skin.

5.) Helps prevent high blood pressure

The amounts of saturated fats found in coconut oil are beneficial to the heart in which they are key components in increasing the amount of “good” cholesterol in your body.

This healthy cholesterol is known as “HDL” and the more you have, the more healthy your heart is.

Because of this, coconut oil lowers the risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. Anyone who already suffers from high blood pressure can benefit from coconut oil as well. It reduces blood pressure and creates a healthy regulated circulatory system running properly.

6.) Prevents stomach cancer

Wait what? Oh yeah. As shocking as it may seem, coconut oil contains MCFA (medium-chain fatty acid) which has been found to kill helicobacter pylori bacteria. This microaerophilic bacterium resides in the stomach and penetrates the stomach lining, establishing infection.

This kind of bacteria leads to stomach cancer so when it is killed, your chances of stomach cancer are very slim.

7.) Improves digestion

Coconut oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids which are extremely beneficial in the digestion process. Consuming these fatty acids actually double the effect you have on the digestion process. Your gut will be able to more openly receive essential vitamins, nutrients such as magnesium and calcium.

Along with getting rid of the bad bacteria, good bacteria are also hard at work in your gut and stomach. Coconut oil can benefit the good bacteria that live in your gut and make sure it is functioning efficiently and properly.

8.) Boosts your energy levels

Ditch the chemical-filled energy drink and eat some coconut oil. Due to the MCFA’s as mentioned earlier, once they reach the liver, almost all MCFA’s are converted to energy.

In order to consume this oil for its energy, simply eat at a tablespoon of oil with some honey and chia seeds. This will give you plenty of necessary and natural energy about half an hour after consumption. Forget the espresso!

9.) Burns more fat

Coconut oil has the glorious ability to trim you down and keep you looking and feeling better than ever. This oil contains a good source of calories that of which are great for weight loss.

MCT’s (medium-chain triglycerides) allow you to spend more energy when you exercise rather than long-chain fats. Regular consumption of these fats will be able to help you burn fat faster than ever and reach your ideal weight in no time.

10.) Protects bones

As you get older, your bones throughout your body will become more brittle and fragile making them prone to cracking, chipping, or breaking. Coconut oil increases the amount of calcium absorbed into your gut causing your bones to become stronger.

The more calcium your gut intakes from food, the stronger your bones become. Osteoporosis is a common health condition where the bones are weakened. High levels of antioxidants in coconut oil will help by fighting off free radicals. Introduce coconut oil into your diet to save your beautiful bones.

Incorporating this oil into my lifestyle with these 10 surprising ways to use coconut oil has dramatically changed the way I go about my daily routine. Give it a try and let me know what you think!