My apologies to my husband, but I have fallen head-over-heels in love with coconut oil.
(What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants!)
In all seriousness, this stuff is sort of awesome.
This is the big tub I purchased from my Costco (gotta love Costco, right?). Make sure when you purchase coconut oil, it’s unrefined and organic; otherwise, it’s not so good for you.
Before I go on: COCONUT OIL IS NOT PERFECT. It contains over 90% in saturated fats (yikes!) and you vegetable and/or olive oil are healthier choices. BUT it is a better option than butter or trans fats. As with everything in life, coconut oil is best in moderation.
Benefits of Coconut Oil:
According to the Huffington Post, coconut oil (in moderation) can:
- Help lower cholesterol by increasing good cholesterol levels
- Cut down on abdominal fat
- Improve skin and hair
- Boost your immune system
- Potentially improve blood-sugar control
Not bad, right?
Uses for Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil at room temperature is a somewhat grainy solid akin to lard or shortening.
It is very sensitive to heat, however, and (as many of you probably know) becomes a liquid almost instantly to your touch.
The taste is not overwhelmingly coconut-y, but it definitely has a sweet, nutty flavor. (I personally think it’s delicious, but my husband thinks it’s a bit too sweet.) Also, it is very easy to cook with because it has such a high smoke point.
But you can do so much more than just cook with coconut oil.
Here are some of the ways I’ve used it:
- To remove eye makeup
- It was super effective, but left a greasy residue. But I guess that’s moisturizing?
- As a hair mask
- I rubbed it all over my hair and let it sit for about an hour before showering. It made my hair super, super soft!
- To replace butter in my cooking
- To moisturize my hands
- As a lip balm
- My lips have never been softer! I actually filled an old eye cream container with the stuff and carry it around in my purse!
- As a sweetener in my coffee
- As spread on toast
- I use just a touch on my toast in the mornings and it’s delicious!
And that is apparently just the tip of the iceberg. Here are over 100 uses for coconut oil.
Overall, I admit, this coconut oil thing is a bit of a fad (and its benefits are definitely overstated) but it is a delicious alternative to Trans fats and a really great beauty product.
So tell me: what do YOU think of coconut oil? And how do you use it?
Peace, love, and health,
