In the recent years, coconut oil is becoming more and more popular through media and over the internet. Nutritionists are recommending it for cooking purposes, and women are starting to swear by it as a skin and hair product replacement. Today, coconut oil can now be found in just about any health food stores, even in local grocers.
Health benefits of coconut oil Coconut oil is obtained by pressing the fat content from the white meat found inside the hard fruit. According to the Federal Office of Food Security and Veterinary Affairs (OSAV) of Switzerland, 100g of coconut oil contains 895kcal, 85.9g of saturated fat (6g monounsaturated and 1.40g polyunsaturated), 0 grams of carbohydrates (0 grams of fiber and 0 grams of sugar) and little to no vitamins or minerals.
So… coconut oil is basically just vegetable fat? On the contrary!
So what good is coconut oil anyway? Coconut oil is packed with medium-chain fatty acids, triglycerides (MCFAs or MCTs). In plain English, it simply means that compared to its animal-obtained oil counterparts, coconut oil is less likely to be transformed into body fat by our system. Because it is mostly saturated fat, studies also show that subjects who consume coconut oil are much less likely than their animal-fat consuming counterparts to develop cardiovascular diseases.
Aside from its favorable fat content, other studies have shown more benefits of the coconut oil. One study shows that coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory properties, providing gastrointestinal protection against inflammatory diseases. Some studies have also suggested anti-fungal properties in coconut oil, which can provide beneficial effects for topical uses.
Just to top it off as cherry on the cake, coconut oil is also an antioxidant - you know, the thing that keeps you looking young.
In the kitchen and on the table When it comes to its uses in the kitchen, coconut oil is extremely versatile: baking, roasting, sauteing, just to name a few, simply use it as you would any other oil when cooking.
Coconut oil can be found in refined and unrefined forms, depending on how you want to use it, it’s recommended to choose carefully the type of oil that you buy. Refined coconut oil is odorless, tasteless and has a slightly higher smoke point (230C/450F) than unrefined coconut oil, making it a more ideal choice as frying oil. On the other hand, unrefined coconut oil has nearly the same smoking point as butter, which is 175C/350F, and has a stronger sweet, nutty coconut taste.
Want to try your hand at cooking with coconut oil? Here’s a delicious, easy to prepare healthy recipe for you to get started (Sauteed asparagus with fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes).
On your natural beauty shelf Aside from its uses in the kitchen, many women are also starting to use coconut oil as a natural beauty product, and are swearing by it for very good reasons: it is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and very well absorbed by the skin.
Here we offer three simple tips on how to use coconut oil as part of your beauty routine:
1. As a deep conditioner.
Rub about a 1 franc size of coconut oil to your hair and keep it in a bun for about 30 minutes before washing your hair.
2. The cheapest, healthiest and the most efficient makeup remover
Believe it or not, coconut oil removes just about everything, even waterproof mascara! Just dab a pea-sized bundle of it on a cotton pad or q-tip, swipe it over your face and just watch everything melt off along with the oil. Do this as your nightly routine and you’ll notice that not only will the oil wipe off the excess dirt and makeup that didn’t make down the drain during wash, it will also leave your skin beautifully hydrated before sleep.
Plus, at merely CHF 20 per kilo in stores, you can’t go wrong.
3. The perfect after-sun lotion
Because coconut oil is anti-inflammatory and is found to be effective in reducing water loss in dry skin, it is a perfect combination as a soothing lotion after a day under the sun. Coconut oil will leave your skin with a healthy glow and makes you smell delicious. To give your coconut oil an extra kick, add some jojoba oil.