Coconuts often make us think of being on a tropical island with our toes in the sand and a warm breeze blowing through our hair. But even if the smell of coconuts doesn’t transport you to another time and place, there are still significant benefits to adding a little more coconut to your daily life.
Here are some of the potential benefits of coconut oil and how to use more of it on your body and in your diet.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
For thousands of years, Pacific Islanders have used coconut oil for medicine, nutrition, and skin care needs. This special type of oil is excellent for maintaining a good complexion, overall health, and antioxidant protection from free radicals. Since coconut oil contains healthy fatty acids, it has also been studied for its culinary uses to help support a healthy heart, aid digestion, and balance cholesterol levels.
How to Use Coconut Oil
Coconut oil often comes in a jar and is versatile to use for cooking, hair care, and skin care. These are some of the many ways that you can use coconut oil and reap its natural benefits.
Deep Conditioner for Hair
If your hair is dry and prone to breakage, coconut oil is a great product to have in your bathroom. It is deeply conditioning and easy to use for stronger and shinier hair. Organic and unrefined extra virgin olive oil is best to reduce your exposure to chemicals and additives. Once or twice per week, scoop out a tablespoon of coconut oil from the jar and melt the oil in the microwave. Wait about a minute for it to cool and not burn yourself. Then apply it to your hair with your fingers and allow to set for 20 to 30 minutes. Then wash it out with shampoo and water, but no additional conditioner following this deep conditioning treatment.
Salve for Wounds
You can also help soothe wounds faster and more naturally with coconut oil. For minor cuts and scrapes, you can apply coconut oil directly to the wound for a soothing sensation and to produce collagen for better healing. This is a good use for coconut oil after applying Seagate’s Olive Leaf Cut and Wound Remedy to relieve the pain, inflammation, and burning after you suffer a skin injury.
Stir-Fry Dishes
To switch up your stir-fry routine using extra virgin olive oil, you can experiment with using coconut oil every once in a while. Add a spoonful of coconut oil to your pan before sautéing vegetables, fish, or other ingredients. Coconut oil is ideal for cooking at high temperatures, but it has a high saturated fat content, so it’s best to only use occasionally and in moderation for cooking.
Seagate Smooth Skin
An easy and effective way to add coconut oil into your daily skincare regimen is to try Seagate’s Smooth Skin therapeutic skin ointment. It is rich in coconut oil, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil, natural vitamin E, and vanilla oil. It’s recommended for wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and as a daily moisturizer to refresh and enliven your skin. Just a tiny drop goes a long way on your face, arms, hands, and legs when used in the morning and at night.
In addition to these common uses, here are some other ideas for using coconut oil to inspire you:
- Massage oil
- Dandruff treatment
- Lip balm
- Ingredient in DIY shaving cream
- Ingredient in DIY deodorant
- Natural eye makeup remover