Friday, September 23, 2016

Health and Fitness Tip #95 - Coconut Oil 411

Facts You May Not Know About Coconut Oil


Coconut oil. You know, that clear stuff that smells like coconuts. Coconut oil turns hard when it cools below room temperature, and has a certain inherent sweetness that goes nicely in baking. You might have a jar of it in your cupboard, gathering dust. You may bust it out occasionally to do some Asian-style cooking, or when you want to bake a few healthy muffins.

Well, it’s time to dust off that jar and start making it a very big part of your life, because there’s a whole world of health benefits that coconut oil can provide, and chances are you haven’t heard of many (or any!) of them. Here are four wonderful things you’ll probably appreciate learning about that dusty jar of coconut oil in your cupboard.




1. Use it as a moisturizer

Coconut oil can literally replace every single moisturizer, exfoliator, and toner you have. It’s a one-stop skincare shop due to the fact that it possesses the very useful ability to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin. It absorbs into the skin quickly and efficiently, leaving very little oily residue, hydrating dry or cracked areas, and encouraging the skin to produce collagen, which helps to keep skin elastic and wrinkle-free.

What’s more, it smells freakin’ amazing, and it doesn’t matter if you end up with some left on your hands — just put it in your mouth! Coconut oil is really good for you internally as well, so your digestive system will be just as thankful as your epidermis.




2. Use it as a carrier oil
 
If you’re serious about your health, you’ve probably invested in at least a few bottles of essential oil. Whether it’s the super-versatile lavender essential oil or the headache-curing peppermint essential oil, there’s an oil for just about every occasion.

The thing is, though, your skin isn’t always able to tolerate these super-concentrated plant oils. Certain oils may irritate your skin if applied directly without a carrier oil. Coconut oil can dilute the essential oil to ensure your skin doesn’t get irritated. The skin-penetrating powers of coconut oil also ensure the essential oil works its magic.




3. Use it to style and care for your hair

It’s a sad fact that most conventional hairstyling and care products are absolutely loaded with toxic chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients that are bad news for your health. Many of these common ingredients have in fact been linked to serious diseases and health conditions, so it’s time to put down your jar of wax or can of hairspray and seek out something a little more nurturing for your hair and health.

Once again, all you need for your hair is coconut oil. It works great in the summer, but even better in the winter. Also you can use coconut oil to add some body to your hair and keep it hydrated and protected from the sun.




4. Use it as a massage oil

Why not finish things off with something a little more racy? If you’re planning on spicing things up a little in the bedroom and massaging your partner into a state of heightened arousal (or relaxation, depending on your goals), coconut oil makes an excellent massage oil. Unlike many oils, it is solid below room temperature, meaning it’s not overly messy. However, it can be easily warmed up between your hands or once you start massaging it into your partner. The bonus is it smells amazing, conjuring up the alluring fragrance of the Caribbean, and it doesn’t contain the nasty fake perfumes many other massage oils have.

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