Leesa Michaelson

For the last few beauty seasons, coconut oil has been in the limelight as a versatile health product. It’s the favorite child of the oil family, pushing olive oil to a distant second. Its variety of uses has made it a best seller for health nuts and the non-health conscious alike. Coconut oil can be used for coffee creamer, skin lotion, hair oil, eye make-up remover, toothpaste, baby-bottom cream, stretch marks, natural SPF, foot fungus, chap stick, regulating insulin levels, cooking oil, antibacterial salve, and natural deodorant, just to name a few. Here are some healthy lifestyle tips and facts about this viscous wonder oil.

4.16.TW

The science behind it

Conventional thought is that fat is bad. Oh no, not this kind of fat! Coconut oil primarily contains a kind of fat called lauric acid. Lauric acid is a saturated fat that is shown to increase the good HDL cholesterol in your blood.  Coconut oil also promotes cholesterol’s conversion to a molecule called pregnenolone, which is needed by most of our bodies’ hormones. As a result, this oil helps produce normal thyroid function. 

Another myth buster about coconut oil is that it contains special fats called MCT’s (medium chain triglycerides) that help our bodies burn energy more efficiently,  thus causing us not to gain weight but speeding up our metabolism so that we are able to loose weight. A few studies have also proved that coconut oil aids in combating pesky belly fat! I have been using coconut oil regularly for about 2 years and I have noticed that it curbs my appetite and helps me to stay fuller longer when I put it in my coffee, spread it on my toast or mix it into my oatmeal. It has helped me break my “fat fear.” Now I am able to take advantage of the scientifically proven benefits of other healthy fats.

bSmart Tip: Do a little Internet fact search about coconut oil. The oil’s many uses and benefits will amaze you!

The health in it:

Coconut oil is a fantastic kitchen ingredient.  Unlike most cooking oils, coconut oil can be heated at high temperatures while maintaining its structure. Other oils like vegetable or olive become rancid and carcinogenic at high temperatures thus causing oily or fried foods to do harmful things to your body. But coconut oil can be safely used with many foods while adding an exotic and fragrant taste to plain dishes like scrambled eggs or fried potatoes. 

It is also a healthful replacement for butter. I like to add a little salt to the oil spread on toast and this little treat is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It is also known for its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial qualities. Mixed together with a small amount of baking soda, I use it as an effective and yummy tasting tooth powder. The oil is found to have a positive antioxidant action in the body. This means it helps to stop the damage and deterioration of healthy tissue and fats.  By incorporating it in our diet we are fighting the aging process!

bSmart Tip: Try a tsp. or two of coconut oil in your coffee. It gives the coffee a smooth, easy-to-drink taste and you won’t even need cream or sugar!

The beauty of it

The area of my life that has been most transformed by coconut oil is my beauty regiment. Unlike other moisturizers on the market that are made mostly of water, coconut oil provides deep moisture to your skin without leaving you feeling greasy. I say this from experience. I was hesitant to depend on such a dense substance for a full body lotion because I thought it would stain my clothes and leave me feeling oily. I apply coconut oil directly to my wet skin while I’m still in the shower. It locks in moisture and dries with a smooth (not greasy!) finish.  I have stopped using lotions completely. I would take the silky feeling of coconut oil over the sticky finish of lotion any day! The antioxidants in the oil also promote healing of the skin, and I have noticed a visible reduction in scars. 

It also acts as an effective make-up remover and natural SPF. Coconut oil can also be used as a deep conditioner for dry winter hair.  Just apply an ample amount to your scalp and hair, let sit overnight or for 15 minutes, and wash and condition hair as normal. Your hair will have a yummy tropical smell and look gorgeously shiny.

bSmart Tip: After flat ironing your hair, run a half-dime sized amount of coconut oil between your palms and run your hands through your hair to reduce static, tame fly always, and moisturize split ends.

Be sure to buy organic, extra virgin, or expeller pressed coconut oil in order to receive the purest benefits of this amazing oil. I like to buy mine at Trader Joe’s or order it online to get the best prices. So there you have it - another simple, inexpensive, and beneficial lifestyle tip that will have you feeling great and looking even better.  Be well and bSmart!

 

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