I can’t believe that I have not written this post yet!  If you aren’t already in on the best kept beauty secret around, you are in for a treat.  Coconut oil is basically a do-all-cure-all natural wonder.  Natalie, Katie and I were bonding over it at dinner the other night.

Beauty and Personal Care

I don’t really like to make my own potions and store them in tupperware.  I like fancy products in my bathroom; it’s just more fun and luxurious.  I make a few exceptions, of course, and coconut oil is one of them.

The benefits?  I am glad you asked!

• Coconut oil is known to have anti-bacterial qualities, making it the perfect choice to keep skin clean and healthy
• Coconut oil provides natural antioxidant protection, preventing free-radical damage and stalling premature aging
• Coconut oil contains skin supporting squalene, soothing sterols, and vitamin E
• Coconut oil has natural SPF properties (but please do not slather it on, bake yourself for hours without sunscreen, and then blame me for your epic sunburn).
• Coconut oil has a long shelf life (some oils can go rancid easily) without being loaded with synthetic preservatives

Uses:

• Awesome makeup remover, duh.
• Double-Cleansing.  Let me explain: rub coconut oil into your face in circular motion with fingertips.  Get in a warm shower or lay a warm, wet washcloth over your face for a minute.  Then, cleanse as usual.  Your face will feel clean and moisturized, not stripped.
• Great for healing little scratches, blemishes, scrapes, etc.  It really helps prevent scarring.
• Can be used to treat Eczema
• Shaving cream
• The cleanest, cheapest moisturizer available.  Period.

Nutrition and Cooking

Coconut oil used to be considered an unhealthy fat that contributed to heart disease.  We now know that this is not true; in fact, it can help your body run more smoothly in many ways.

The benefits:

• Again, coconut oil prevents free radical damage from the inside out.
• Coconut oil intake can help the body mount resistance to bacteria and viruses.  It also fights off yeast, fungus, and candida.
• Coconut oil can positively affect our hormones for thyroid and blood sugar control.  It also aids digestion by helping the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins
• Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides, which are special, healthy fats that aren’t found in many other foods.  MCT’s are metabolized quickly and sent right to the liver for energy production
• The lauric acid in the medium chain triglycerides can help lower cholesterol

Uses:

• Cooking.  If you are using olive oil for cooking over medium to high heat, you aren’t doing yourself any favors.  Once it reaches a certain temperature, olive oil loses its health benefits and can even be carcinogenic.  Coconut oil, however, is perfect for medium to high heat cooking, as it has a high smoking point.
• Smoothies.  Add a tablespoon to your next smoothie to make it creamier and more filling, all while boosting your energy and metabolism
• Baking.  It can legitimately replace butter.  Seriously.

**Whether you are buying it for skincare or cooking, only buy organic, virgin, cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil if you want all the nutrients and none of the pesticides.**

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