{"id":5396,"date":"2014-09-02T13:41:41","date_gmt":"2014-09-02T12:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/?p=5396"},"modified":"2016-01-29T16:49:56","modified_gmt":"2016-01-29T15:49:56","slug":"many-uses-of-coconut-oil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/many-uses-of-coconut-oil\/","title":{"rendered":"All in one: the many uses of coconut oil"},"content":{"rendered":"

September is Raw Month at Amazingy Magazine. After all the indulgences of the summer it\u2019s time to get back to basics: Every week we\u2019ll be posting an article on a completely natural product and tell you all about their amazing properties, adding DIY tips and tricks as a bonus. The best part; you can incorporate these products in your beauty rituals, but also stock \u2018em up in your kitchen cabinets for a \u00a0health boost from the inside out.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Coconut Up until now I have only been using coconut in my kitchen; I\u2019ve added coconut milk to delicious Thai soups and fruity shakes and have sprinkled grated coconut over muesli and pastries. But I\u2019ve never paid much attention to coconut oil, let alone its use as a remedy for all kinds of ailments, or even as a beauty product. I clearly didn\u2019t realize \u00a0how many different ways this oil could be used.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During my travels through South East Asia I drank freshly harvested coconut water for the first time, which turns out to be \u00a0very low in calories but filled with minerals. \u00a0I also bought a bottle of cold pressed coconut oil from a coconut plantation. On the label of the oil, there were three obvious uses listed: \u00a0to be used as massage oil, as a suntan accelerator or on your hair as a mask, where you\u2019d simply let it soak in overnight, or just rub it daily into dry ends.<\/p>\n

Coconut oil: miracle cure<\/h2>\n

The health benefits of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids derived from plants is no longer a secret. The main components of coconut oil however – lauric acid and caprylic acid – have strong anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties.
\nUsed internally, the oil not only strengthens the immune and digestive system, but also improves \u00a0the bodies ability to concentrate and boosts vitamin intake. In addition, coconut oil has some external \u00a0First Aid uses: \u00a0it can be used for insect bites, skin fungi, rashes of all kinds and can even offer relief in case of oral herpes, more commonly known as cold sores.<\/p>\n

Oil Pulling \u2013 What\u2019s up with that?<\/h2>\n

In Ayurvedic medicine, oil cures have been used for thousands of years. The fundamental thought behind it is, that oil pulls toxins from the body, binds them and by doing so soothes many systematic illnesses such as migraines.<\/p>\n

A particularly valuable tip for oral hygiene is \u00a0to: swish around a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for around 20 minutes, just like you would do with any mouthwash. Afterwards, spit out the oil and rinse with a water and sea salt mixture. It\u2019s advised to do oil pulling in the morning before \u00a0eating breakfast. Brushing your teeth afterward eating \u00a0will \u00a0clean your mouth of remaining toxins.<\/p>\n

The antibacterial effect of caprylic acid and lauric acid have been proven to prevent plaque formation and caries. Some people familiar with the practice have also reported that oil pulling has a teeth whitening effect \u00a0to some extent.<\/p>\n