Sept. 2 marks World Coconut Day, and when I think of coconuts, I automatically think of coconut oil. Coconut oil offers a tremendous amount of health benefits in a wide variety of ways. If you’ve ever watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” instead of putting Windex on everything, just put some coconut oil on it. Here are some useful and clever ways to use it.
Put it on your skin
Whether you’ve got a fresh tattoo, wound or scar, put some coconut oil on it! Because of the medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil, it can reduce inflammation and help your skin heal. This is because it has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and restorative properties, as stated by the Natural Medicine Journal. According to Healthline, coconut oil also has proven benefits in treating skin disorders like eczema, dermatitis and irritation. It even helps with acne and can act as a moisturizer, helping to repair cracked and dry skin.
Put it on your teeth
If you’re the type of person who sometimes goes to bed without brushing your teeth, doing a coconut oil pull or brushing your teeth with coconut oil can be beneficial. Coconut oil does a good job of removing harmful bacteria from your mouth. In a study done by the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s National Institutes of Health, coconut oil was found to help reduce plaque buildup, fight gum disease and even prevent tooth decay. Using coconut oil as a mouth cleanser can also help you have better breath and fewer cavities. It may feel a bit strange to slosh some coconut oil around in your mouth, but it’ll definitely leave you feeling new and fresh.
Put it in your hair
Did you cut your hair during quarantine and now wish it were longer again? Well, putting coconut oil in your hair has been proven to stimulate hair growth. According to Love, Beauty and Planet, a company dedicated to providing customers good-quality skin and hair products that are natural and also good for the environment, applying coconut oil to your hair also helps your hair to not only grow back faster and longer, but thicker too. This is because of the high fatty acid contents in the coconut oil, which help nourish the scalp and remove buildup from hair follicles. If you’re used to putting a lot of product or heat in your hair, coconut oil can even help repair split ends and add shine. Try incorporating coconut oil into your hair routine at least two or three times a week. It won’t be long before you start seeing results.
Coconuts are a holy grail. They’re not only edible and even drinkable, but they’re nature’s medicine too, providing us natural ways to heal and better our health. You can eat it, cook with it, drink it, put it in your hair, put it on your skin, put it in your mouth and so much more. No matter what’s happening, coconuts and coconut oil can make things a little better, and if you’re skeptical, just put some coconut oil on it!
