42 ways to use coconut oil

From a nutritional point of view, coconut oil is a dubious product Vegetable oil, coconut: it contains almost no vitamins, very few minerals and trace elements. But there is a lot of saturated fat: there are about 12 grams of Coconut Oil in one tablespoon, which is more than half of the maximum recommended daily value.

But from a household point of view, coconut oil is simply irreplaceable. It can be used in dozens of different ways. And each of them has a scientifically proven effect.

How to use coconut oil for health

1. Prevention of sunburn

One study, Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation, found that coconut oil blocks up to 20% of the UV light that gets on the skin. According to scientific data In vitro sun protection factor determination of herbal oils used in cosmetics, this corresponds to the SPF7 sun protection factor.

2. Fight against tooth decay

Coconut oil is a powerful weapon against bacteria that cause plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. Scientists have found The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash that if you rinse your mouth with liquid coconut oil for 10 minutes, the number of pathogenic microbes in it will decrease as significantly as when using a special antiseptic funds.

3. Removal of halitosis from the mouth

All the same antibacterial properties of the oil will help to cope with the bacteria that cause bad amber.

4. Helping irritated skin

A number of studies The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis proves that coconut oil moisturizes and regenerates the skin with various dermatitis at least as well as the traditionally used mineral oil and other products.

5. Fight against dandruff

Coconut Oil Reduces 25 Coconut Oil Uses That Benefit Your Hair and Skin, According to Doctors, the yeast bacteria that are a common cause of dandruff. Heat two to three tablespoons of the product over low heat until warm and rub into the scalp. Leave for 30 minutes under a plastic cap, rinse with shampoo. Repeat once a week.

6. Rapid wound healing

The healing properties of coconut oil have been confirmed at least by experiments on rats Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats. In those rodents whose scratches were treated with this product, the wounds were less inflamed, and the skin healed faster and better - with less risk of scarring.

7. Scare away insects

Certain essential oils (eg citronella, tea tree, lavender, peppermint) are natural remedies for insect bites. But they cannot be applied to the skin in their pure form (this can cause irritation) - only in a mixture with a base substance that is safe for the epidermis. Coconut oil is ideal for this base. In one study on Efficacy of Thai herbal essential oils as green repellent against mosquito vectors, its combination with essential oils-repellents provided almost 99% protection against mosquitoes.

8. Getting rid of itching after insect bites

Just rub a little oil over the affected area.

How to use coconut oil for beauty and personal care

1. Strengthening hair

Coconut oil is a natural alternative to ready-to-use masks and conditioners. Due to its unique structure, the fatty acids in its composition are able to penetrate Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage into the hair shaft like no other fat. This helps to reduce protein loss and reduce damage to the scales during brushing.

To strengthen hair, apply liquid coconut oil before or after shampooing and leave it on for a few minutes or half an hour to an hour. The product can be used neat or by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as Rosemary 25 Coconut Oil Uses That Benefit Your Hair and Skin, According to Doctors.

2. Skin care for hands and feet

Coconut oil can be a great alternative to moisturizers and emollients. Apply it to your heels, corns, or any other area where your skin feels too dry and irritated.

3. Fight against unpleasant odors

The antibacterial properties make coconut oil a good natural deodorant that can be applied to the skin, for example, if you sweat your feet or hands. To make the deodorant effect more pronounced, add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil - tea tree, mint, rose to coconut oil.

4. Cuticle care

The oil will help get rid of dry, flaky cuticles. Just rub it into the skin around the nail plates.

5. Lip care

Combine coconut oil with finely ground salt for an interesting lip scrub. It not only smoothes the skin, but also visually enlarges the lips. But the oil itself can act as a natural alternative to hygienic lipstick.

6. Preparation of tinting lip balm

If you have a favorite lipstick that is already over, you can take out the remains of the applicator from the applicator, mix with coconut oil, and you will get a tint balm. Which, in addition, will take care of the lips: retain moisture and even protect from the sun.

7. Scrubbing the skin of the face and body

To make a scrub, add some baking soda, coffee grounds, or brown sugar to the butter.

8. Fight acne

Coconut oil has a pronounced moisturizing and antibacterial Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile. Therefore, for problem skin, it can be used as a cream. Or as a homemade face mask: apply on clean skin for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water. Add honey, kefir or egg white to the butter, if desired.

9. Prevention of skin aging

The same coconut oil face mask is an excellent anti-aging Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.

10. Styling

If your hair tends to frizz in wet weather, apply two to three drops of coconut oil, rubbed into your palms, onto particularly stubborn curls.

11. Giving shine to hair

The same oil, ground in the palms, adds shine to the strands and makes them seem polished. Note that the effect will be more noticeable on darker curls. And do not overdo it with the amount of oil: literally two or three drops are enough for you, otherwise you will make your hair too heavy.

12. Removing wax

If you are using wax for hair removal, you can use coconut oil to remove residues from skin or other surfaces. Apply some oil to sticky areas and gently remove the wax with a damp washcloth.

13. Use as shaving cream

Coconut Oil in This Role 25 Coconut Oil Uses That Benefit Your Hair and Skin, According to Doctors improves the glide of the blades and moisturizes the epidermis. Especially good for people with sensitive skin.

14. Preparation of massage oil

Mix coconut oil with a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a great massage formula for your home spa.

15. Makeup remover

Apply a few drops of the oil to a cotton ball and gently rub it over your face until you've completely rinsed off your mascara, lipstick, foundation, or powder.

16. Strengthening eyelashes

Rub a couple of drops of oil into your fingers and apply along the lash line. You can also use a thoroughly washed old mascara brush for this purpose. Leave it on for a few minutes or even overnight. Will Coconut Oil Help Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Eyelashes? lashes recover from damage (which occurs, for example, when using a curler) and make them stronger.

17. Care of the skin around the eyes

With its moisturizing and protein-loss-reducing properties, coconut oil can help delay the appearance of wrinkles in this delicate area. Use it as an alternative to eye cream or serum.

How to use coconut oil for cooking

1. Safe browning

The high saturated fat content is one of the main disadvantages of coconut oil. But it turns into a plus when it comes to cooking fried foods. Saturated fatty acids retain their structure when heated to high temperatures by lipid peroxidation in culinary oils subjected to thermal stress. Unlike polyunsaturated, which are found in most vegetable oils (sunflower, corn, olive and others): when frying, they quickly decompose and turn into toxic compounds.

In general, if you want to fry potatoes or cutlets, coconut oil is a less unhealthy option than, for example, the same sunflower oil.

2. Lubrication of dishes

Use coconut oil to grease the dishes before baking to avoid sticking to the sides.

How to use coconut oil for household purposes

1. Cleaning the dishes

An exotic product will help get rid of food residues stuck to the baking sheet. Simply pour the coconut oil into a bowl, let it sit for a few minutes, then clean the surface with a rag.

2. Care of wooden furniture

Rub the wood surface with coconut oil - it will become shiny, as if polished. In addition, the product can act as a dust repellent 29 Clever Uses for Coconut Oil. Bonus: Unlike commercial furniture polishes with a bright, chemical smell, this vegetable oil has a subtle nutty scent.

3. Care of wooden kitchen appliances

Coconut oil will protect cutting boards, spoons, wooden scoops from drying out, give them a well-groomed appearance and, thanks to the antibacterial Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile properties, provide easy disinfection.

4. Taking care of your guitar

Coconut oil can be used to lubricate guitar strings.

5. Giving shine to leather products

Simply rub the surface of leather items with coconut oil to restore a subtle satin shine.

6. Grease for door hinges

WD ‑ 40 Lubricant is ideal for this purpose. But if you don't have one at hand, coconut oil is a worthy alternative.

7. Removing labels and sticky residues from plastic and glass

Apply the oil to the sticky area and let it sit for a few minutes. Dry with a cloth or paper towel.

8. Removing chewing gum

Coconut oil can help remove gum residue or stains from any surface, including carpets and even hair. Lubricate the affected area with this fat, wait a couple of minutes and proceed with the removal.

9. Cleaning the mixer, bath, shower

Mix the coconut oil with baking soda until a paste forms. Treat metal surfaces with the resulting mixture. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then wipe dry.

10. Removing rust

The effect is not guaranteed, but you can try. Apply oil to rusty metal areas, let it sit for a couple of hours, then wipe the surface with a soft cloth.

11. Giving shine to bronze products

Coconut oil is a great alternative to polish: when rubbed in, it will clean the bronze surface and improve its color.

12. Opening a jammed zipper

If you can't open your jacket or bag, dab some coconut oil on the zipper, wait a minute and try to pull on the dog.

13. Removing tight rings from fingers

Apply some vegetable fat to the swollen phalanges, massage them and try to remove the jewelry.

14. Removing dead insects from the hood of a car

With a soft cloth, spread the coconut oil over the surface, wait a few minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth.

15. Lighting a fire

Instead of chemical kindling, you can use cotton balls dipped in coconut oil.

This material was first published in June 2014. In August 2020, we updated the text.