Coconut oil is quite versatile in nature. Most of us use popular commercial products for our beauty needs and household chores. However, we often tend to ignore the fact that these products are full of chemicals that can be harmful to our health. You may be surprised to know that coconut oil can easily take care of some of our needs and can, in fact, replace many of these commercial household products. Read on to find out about the incredible and versatile ways we can use coconut oil.
Coconut Oil For Your Beauty Needs
Coconut oil has been used since ancient times for beauty and rejuvenation. Add coconut oil to your beauty regimen and reap all its benefits while you beautify your skin and hair.
Moisturize Your Skin
Coconut oil can be your go-to moisturizer all the year round. It is reasonably priced, natural, and an extremely effective whole body moisturizer. Just keep a jar in your bathroom and apply it while your skin is warm to soak in all the goodness of coconut oil. 1
Fight Frizzy Hair
There are some of us who wake up with our hair in order, but most of us need to show our hair a little love and attention before we start the day. Instead of spraying chemical-loaded hair sprays that ultimately gets absorbed into our blood, try massaging your hair with a small quantity of coconut oil. Start at the ends of your hair and slowly massage upwards if needed. Just a little bit of oil is enough if you use extra-virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil. Coconut oil can do wonders for your hair.2
Treat Cracked Heels
Those cracked heels can make you feel quite uncomfortable and expose your skin to infection. Instead of foot creams, you can use coconut oil to moisturize your heels regularly and put on an old pair of socks to avoid slipping. 3
Use As A Natural Shaving Lotion
Bid goodbye to chemical shaving gels and shaving creams and greet coconut oil into your bathroom cabinet. Apply a coating of coconut oil and slide the razor over your legs. You will not only easily shave your legs and get a silky close shave but also nourish them in the process.
Coconut Oil For Household Chores
Did you know that coconut oil can polish your shoes as well as your furniture? Read on to find out how to use this wonder oil to make your shoes and furniture shine.
Furniture Polish
Are you in the habit of using commercial furniture polishes and waxes to maintain the furniture at your house? You won’t have to spend money on them anymore because coconut oil can do better. Instead of using commercial furniture polish and getting our skin and lungs negatively affected by them, use coconut oil to give them the required shine. Just do a patch test on the surface before you use it.
Shoe Polish
If furniture, then why not shoes? Coconut oil can be your natural and cost effective alternative to shoe polish. Just take an old piece of rag and dab a small amount of coconut oil with a bit of elbow grease on it. Do a patch test before you polish your shoes. Most leather shoes can easily be polished with this amazing, natural shoe polish.
Coconut Oil For Kitchen Chores
Apart from being a healthy fat and a great cooking oil, the kitchen can benefit from coconut oil in other ways too.
Chopping Board Conditioner
Are you in the habit of cleaning and conditioning your wooden chopping board? If the answer is no, it’s time to do so. When you use it to cut the fruits, vegetables, and other foods, germs get accumulated on it if you don’t clean it regularly. Wooden chopping boards, if conditioned from time to time, can last longer and carry lesser germs. Just spray the board with a little vinegar and wash it with warm, soapy water. Once it dries, massage a small amount of coconut oil on it to give the wood protection and a shiny finish.
Non-Stick Baking Grease
Next time you bake, go dairy-free and use coconut oil instead of butter to grease the container. If you are a vegan, there can be no better news for you. Simply grease your trays, cake tins, and roasting containers with a thin film of coconut oil to make sure that the food does not stick to the surface of the cookware.
Coconut Oil Remedies
Coconut oil can benefit your oral health and soothe a sore tummy as well. Read on to find out how you can use coconut oil remedies for certain health issues.
Dental Care And Mouth Freshener
Coconut oil can work as an effective carrier oil to mix with clove essential oil and oregano essential oil to brush your teeth with. Using these oils can give your teeth a break from commercial, chemical-loaded toothpaste. This mixture can support dental health and also brighten your teeth.
To freshen your breath, just brush your teeth and tongue with a mixture of coconut oil and a little baking soda. This mixture has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties that protect the mouth against bad bacteria in the mouth. For a fresh and clean feel in the mouth, just rinse with a little sea-salt mixed water after the coconut and soda treatment. Oil pulling and oil swishing using coconut oil has shown a significant decrease in plaque issues as well.4
Medicine For Tummy Ache
If you are suffering from a sore tummy, just make 2 teaspoons of coconut oil the carrier for a few drops of pure peppermint oil. Take the mixture in your palms, and gently rub your stomach with it. This will soothe the spasm in the stomach. While this is an old home remedy, research has found that coconut oil contains caprylic acid that relieves a person from inflammatory bowel disease.5 So, you can also have a tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil regularly to keep your gut healthy.
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