The buzz surrounding coconut oil has taken flight. Talk shows, health magazines, and bloggers rave about the amazing benefits of this oil that competes against olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, soy bean, oil safflower oil, and the list goes on and on. So what is the hype about this tropical oil and why should you incorporate it into your diet?
Before we begin, always check with you doctor before using coconut oil because some may be allergic to it.
For starters, coconut oil is made up of saturated, polyunsaturated, and mono saturated fatty acids. Don’t let the word “fatty” scare you off just yet! The health benefits will make you believe that fats aren’t as bad for you as you may think.
Coconut oil is great for your skin. According to organicfacts.net, it can help with wrinkles, eczema, and other skin issues. Personally, I slather pure coconut oil on my face every night (put it on in the morning and your face will look uber oily). It leaves my skin soft and moisturized when I wake up in the morning; along with the added benefit is it will delay signs of aging (hey, it’s never too early to stop wrinkles in their tracks). Always (except when I am way too lazy and sleep deprived) when I step out of the shower, I mix coconut oil with my favorite body lotion so my skin is smooth and has a coconut smell. Often, I get asked what perfume I am wearing when in fact it is just coconut oil and my lotion!
To make coconut oil better even more appealing is the benefit that it can aid weight loss (woo hoo!) and help your digestive system. Although most believe that eating fats will make you fat, coconut oil increases your metabolism and takes off the extra pounds from it’s medium chain fatty acids. If you have diabetes, it is said to help control your blood sugar. A way to incorporate coconut oil is by cooking with it instead of other oils. When I whip up a smoothie, I add a dollop (aka a tablespoon) of coconut oil into the mix; it gives my smoothies a deliciously tropical boost.
Now, coconut oil is a solid and is not liquid like most other oils. To get it to melt, I run the jar of oil under warm water for it to melt if I am using it on my skin. When you scoop the oil into your hands, the heat from your hands causes the oil to also melt a bit. When cooking it, just get it out of the jar and it will melt on the stovetop, oven, etc.
P.S.: Apply coconut oil to your hair! It gives your hair great shine and leaves it moisturized. Just melt a bit of coconut oil and apply it all over your hair. Twist up your hair and put on a shower cap. Then, leave the oil in your hair for about 20-30 minutes. Then, wash your hair with shampoo and get ready to see your hair gleam!
Source: Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
