The coconut is an amazing thing, and luckily for us at Hartig Yoga, living in the tropics they are hanging everywhere.
Foods grow in places where they should be eaten. Coconut water is full of electrolytes and salts that our bodies need to stay hydrated, which you really need in this humid climate.
But even if you don’t live in the tropics, coconut products offer wonderful benefits for the whole body.
Everyday Uses for Coconut Oil
Deep- conditioning hair product
If you have afro hair, coconut oil can be rubbed through it for instant conditioning. If your hair is finer, you can use it as a natural deep conditioning hair mask. Rub coconut oil onto wet hair. Leave it to soak in for a while (at least 30 minutes, or all night if you like!) and rinse it off.
Skin Moisturiser
Coconut oil can also be rubbed directly onto the skin as a moisturiser. Skin care is something that we often over look. We eat all these healthy foods and juices in an attempt to do good to our bodies, yet still using an array of lotions, potions, moisturisers and fake tans on our skin. Everything that we put on our skin is absorbed and digested by the body. That’s why coconut oil (and other natural skin oils such as sweet almond, avocado and sesame) are so good for you. Not only do they condition the skin, they also nourish our bodily tissues at a cellular level. Would you eat your moisturiser?
Sun Protection
If you rub it into you skin before going out into the sun, it also acts as a mild sun protector (SPF 5- not recommended if you are going to be lying in the sun all day, but good for a short amount of time and where/when the sun isn’t too strong).
Face wash
Now this suggestion may sound strange, but it really works. Wash your face with warm water to open your pores. Rub coconut oil onto your face. Place a warm face cloth over your face for 5 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
The oil acts as a magnet to draw oil and dirt out of the pores. i didn’t believe it either, until i tried it. Once you have removed the oil from your face and towel dried it, its clean and moisturised in one easy action. Even if your face is oily- which mine often is, it doesn’t add to the oiliness as you would think it would. Its great for dry skin too. WIN WIN.
Massage Oil and Lubricant. Need I say more?!
Cooking and eating
Coconut oil can be used for frying. It is one of the only oils known to not reduce in nutritional value as it heats up. It’s delicious when used in curries and stir fries and other asian cuisine, and also in desserts as a replacement for butter.
Unlike other fats, the body can metabolise coconut oil and use it as energy, instead of storing it as fat.
Dietary supplement
Research has shown that taking one-four teaspoons of coconut oil daily (melted) supports the immune system, eases digestion and irritable bowels, helps to manage type 2 diabetes, boosts metabolism and can help you to loose weight.
Teeth Whiting and diminishes bad breath
If you hold a tablespoon or so of coconut oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes the oil ‘pulls’ and holds bacteria, old bits of food and toxins from your whole mouth – teeth,tongue, gums and cheeks. After you have spat the oil out, brush your teeth as normal. Look at them shine! This whole process is called ‘oil pulling’ and it can also be done with sesame oil.
You can buy a jar of coconut oil from any health food shop and most supermarkets. It’s definitely a handy thing to have around the house.
Do you use coconut oil for anything else? Let us know!