Coconut oil might just be the most beneficial food on earth with a versatile number of qualities so that it is considered as a superfood. The coconut tree is known as the tree of life in much of Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and other tropical locations. And today, there are over hundreds of studies proving the benefits of coconut oil.
There are many benefits to using coconut oil. It is popular for boosting the immune system, nourishing the skin and increasing energy. Here are the most effective 30 uses of coconut oil:
1. Uses of Coconut Oil for Skin
After a refreshing shower, apply coconut oil smoothly all over your body. It will heal the patchy and dry skin and helps to nourish skin after shaving. As a plus point, coconut oil is filled with natural SPF and is a perfect shield for protecting your skin from the damage. If you are applying coconut oil to the bottom of your feet, do so outside of the bathroom to reduce the risk of slipping on the floor.
One of the serious issues for adults is acne problem and is commonly caused by the overgrowth of bacteria or an imbalance of oils on the skin. Coconut oil works as a natural antibiotic, killing harmful bacteria that leads to skin problems. For a great home remedy to treat skin problems, try mixing the oil with raw honey and tea tree oil for more benefits and effectiveness.
2. Uses of Coconut Oil for Hair
There is a reason why many hair conditioners contain coconut oil, It is better at penetrating hair and preventing the hair loss of protein than other oils like mineral and sunflower oil, according to research. Apply a quarter-size drop of the oil to your hair, comb through the hair, and then put it into a loose bun. You should place a soft towel over your pillow or if comfortable, sleep in a shower cap. On the next day, use shampoo as usual with a gentle conditioner.
One of the most common reasons of dandruff is a dry scalp. But before you think about spending money on special hair treatments, try getting rid of the problem with an ultra-moisturizing coconut oil. Take two to three tablespoons of oil and microwave it for 30 seconds. Once it is warm, immediately take it out of the microwave so it doesn’t get too hot. After that, massage the oil into your dry scalp. If you have any oil left, you can use it to apply on the rest of your hair. Let the oil sit on your scalp for as long as you want and then wash it out with regular shampoo.
3. Uses of Coconut Oil for Face
Because coconut oil is a natural, antifungal, antibacterial moisturizer and scars remover, according to research many women consider it as a holy grail for the nighttime moisturizer for their face too. Try the double cleansing method. Simply rub the oil in circular motions all over the face and neck, giving yourself a gentle massage as you go. When you are done, wash off the rest with your favourite cleanser. If you are a victim of acne, avoid this technique unless you know your skin can tolerate the coconut oil.
4. Uses of Coconut Oil for Beauty
Can you believe it? Coconut oil even works on a waterproof mascara! Take a little on a cotton ball and gently apply 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.
Nothing lightens up a tired look like a little highlighter, but you don’t need any branded products to achieve that gorgeous effect. Simply take a small amount of organic coconut oil and apply on top of makeup and leave it for a while. It looks like your skin but shinier, which is why many natural makeup brands use it as a main ingredient in their formulas.
5. Uses of Coconut Oil for Skin Care
For areas that need attention around your eyes, dab just a little amount around and under the eyes to help fight pre-maturing ageing and to help remove the dark circles. Leave the oil whole night to soak in, and wake up looking better than ever. Combine with frankincense oil for more health benefits.
Coconut oil is also a natural sunscreen and sunburn remedy, packed in one. In fact, it is SPF 4, just enough to protect against the damage and the best of the herbal oils. Apply another coat if necessary, throughout the day. If you get too much sun, gently rub coconut oil into sunburned areas, and it will provide healing and soothe the pain.
6. Uses of Coconut Oil for Teeth
There have been claims that coconut oil can clean and whiten your teeth while helping to remove tooth decay. It is particularly effective at killing an oral bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans, which is a major cause of tooth decay.
Here’s how to use coconut oil for your teeth:
- Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and put it in your mouth.
- Swish the oil around your mouth for 15 minutes, pushing and pulling it between your teeth.
- Spit out the oil from your mouth into the trash or toilet, since it can clog sink pipes.
- Brush your teeth.
The acids in the oil attract and catch bacteria so each time you pull and push the oil in your mouth, you are removing harmful bacteria and plaque from your mouth.
It’s best to do this when you get up in the morning before you drink or eat anything.
7. Give yourself the Perfect Pout
Get rid of chapped, flaky lips or even add a pop of colour to your pout with a homemade tinted gloss made from coconut oil. To make it, simply mix pieces of an old lipstick with some coconut oil. For lips that need a little more attention, make a smooth lip scrub by changing the lipstick bits with some brown sugar and honey. Take the mixture with a clean brush and then apply in a circular motion to lightly exfoliate your lips. Let the mixture stay on your lips for a minute and then remove it with a damp cloth.
8. Blood Sugar Stabilizer
Coconut oil can help maintain blood sugar levels and has been proven to improve diabetes. Coconut oil can help balance blood sugar levels by providing efficient secretion of insulin from the pancreas. In a study, researchers found that medium-chain fatty acids may, therefore, be beneficial for preventing obesity and insulin resistance.
9. Make Healthy Mayonnaise
Use the oil to prepare a homemade mayonnaise mixed with egg yolks. In a blender, combine the egg yolks, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a half teaspoon of dried mustard. Blend until mixed properly. While the blender is still running, slowly add one cup of melted coconut oil and a half cup olive oil to create a mixture. If you add the oils all at once, the mayor will not come out smooth. It can be use with egg diet.
10. Cancer Protection
Coconut oil and medium-chain triglycerides have been proved to create an effective anti-tumour effect and support for a healthy immune system, including the belief that coconut oil can protect and prevent from certain types of cancers.
11. Digestive Support
Coconut oil is easy to digest and contains compounds that kill the bad bacteria, increase the growth of probiotics and helps in healing the leaky gut. Coconut oil promotes the growth of healthy probiotics in the digestive tract. The antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties help to control parasites and fungi while aiding in the efficient absorption of essential nutrients.
12. Soothing Foot Rub for Cracked Heels
Find relief for your dry, cracked heals naturally by rubbing them with coconut oil and allowing the oil to penetrate your skin. Try using two tablespoons of oil for both heels, and feel free to add other essential oils like lavender oil which can help to further reduce the dryness and bacteria, plus give your feet a nice and relaxing fragrance.
13. Combat Candida
Coconut oil contains an acid called caprylic, which has anti-microbial properties that can kill yeast and candida. In a recent study, researchers found that coconut oil was active against species of Candida at 100 percent concentration, greater than the drug fluconazole. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to your diet, and apply pure coconut oil directly to affected areas twice per day, until symptoms resolve.
14. Reduce Belly Fat
The compounds found in coconut oil have been proven to support weight loss and help your body burn fat for energy. Sounds weird right? Adding fat to your diet to burn fat, that sounds funny. But the truth is not all fats are created equal. Add a tablespoon a day to reap the benefits of these fatty acids that may help to reduce abdominal fat. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consumption of coconut oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than any other oil.
15. Massage Your Newborn
When your baby suffers from painful diaper rashes, rub some coconut oil around the affected area to soothe the swelling, redness, itch and burn. Try using one tablespoon to start and allow it to seep into the skin.
16. Stretch Mark Reducer
Try rubbing coconut oil all over your stomach during and after the baby is born, to reduce the stretch marks that occur when the elasticity of the skin is compromised. The oil helps to remove dark marks, discoloration and redness, plus it hydrates the skin and allows it to heal more quickly.
17. Improve Wound Healing
Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years to speed healing of rashes, burns and open wounds. To make a homemade wound salve, mix coconut oil, frankincense, lavender and melaleuca oil. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of coconut oil help to keep the area free of infection and the lauric acid in coconut oil helps to speed healing.
18. Boost Bone Health
Free radicals and oxidative stress are linked to the development of osteoporosis, a metabolic disorder. According to researchers, virgin coconut oil is effective in developing bone structure and preventing bone loss in estrogen-deficient rats. The report specified virgin coconut oil due to its high polyphenols and exerts antioxidant properties, and you should take three tablespoons daily for better results.
19. Make a Nontoxic Insect Repellent
Mix a tablespoon of coconut oil with some drops of rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree oil to repel flies, mosquitos, gnats and bees. This is a safe alternative to store-bought products and can be applied safely in all areas of the body.
20. Natural Throat Lozenge
Use coconut oil in place of store-bought lozenges that are usually made using artificial flavours and colours. Try swallowing a half or one teaspoon of coconut oil up to three times a day to reduce the pain of a sore throat or a cough, and combine licorice root tea with coconut oil for a natural throat soother. Licorice root, honey and lemon make for an extra immunity boost to fight viruses and colds.
21. Cooking at High Temperature
Coconut oil is great for cooking at a high heat because of its high smoke point. Many other oils like olive oil can oxidize when heated but because coconut oil is made up of healthy saturated fats it remains stable under high temperatures.
22. Increase Your Metabolism
It contains a different combination of fatty acids which affects the metabolism in a good way. Several researchers show that just by adding some amount of coconut oil to your diet, you can burn fat fast, especially the harmful fat in the abdominal area. Some metabolic ways are more effective than others and some foods require more stamina to digest and metabolize.
One important benefit of coconut oil is that it is thermogenic, eating it can increase energy and burn fat compared to the same amount of calories from other fats.
23. Rust Reducer
Rub some of the coconut oil on your silverware, outdoor metal furniture, car parts or anything else that is metal and prone to rusting. Coconut oil helps to fight rust when you spread a thin layer of pure oil over the metal and let it sit for one to two hours. You can either remove the oil off the metal or wash it afterwards and should notice the result right away.
24. Reduce Inflammation
Coconut oil is a great help for both a healthy liver and kidneys. According to the studies, virgin coconut oil made without chemical or with a high-temperature treatment provides an inhibitory effect on chronic inflammation. As inflammation is one of the major causes of many chronic diseases, this study supports regular intake of virgin coconut oil to help in getting rid of inflammation.
25. Natural Deodorant
Coconut oil’s natural antibacterial properties help to keep body odour away. It is an amazing natural deodorant, or if you want to combine it with something else make a paste with baking soda and essential oils for more benefits.
26. Boost Immunity
Coconut oil’s unique nutrition profile that is rich with lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid provides for strong antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that have an immune-boosting effect. By fighting these elements present in the body, the immune system is better equipped to respond properly when attacked.
27. Heal Ragged Cuticles
Apply coconut oil to your finger beds to decrease the risk of having fungal infections and to make it easier to push back your cuticles in order to make your nails grow naturally. If you go to a manicure salon to get your nails done, you may be at risk for coming into contact with harmful bacteria and viruses that often live on their equipment, so coconut oil offers a perfect layer of defence.
28. Furniture Polish
Use coconut oil on the furniture like wood or granite countertops and metal surfaces to give your furniture a clean and shiny look. As a plus point, it will help in reducing dusk, covering up the scratches and clean your home surfaces and furniture.
29. Laundry Detergent
Combine coconut oil with water and essential oils of your choice to create a toxic-free soapy liquid that is perfect for cleaning clothes. The mixture will not irritate your skin or will not provide a negative effect on the clothes as many store-bought detergents will. This is a great solution for sensitive skin and those who suffer from allergies.
30. Help Unhealthy Pets
This oil is not only a caretaker for humans but as well as for pets, dogs and cats can benefit from the use of coconut oil in their diet. Pets with an upset digestive system can benefit from one teaspoon or two teaspoons of coconut oil mixed with their food. Akin problems like allergies, irritations and wounds can be healed, while the results can be accelerated with a topical application. Unlike other things, since it is an edible oil, there is no health risk if they lick it off.