Great Ways To Use Coconut Oil

So you’ve bought the virgin coconut oil for a random recipe and now the jar is just sitting in your cupboard. What now?

Coconut oil is a wonderful resource in your home – don’t let it go to waste!

We’ve put together a small selection of ideas of what you can do with coconut oil. Coconut oil is so versatile it can be used for cooking, skin care, a metabolism booster, to assist in weight management, to boost your immunity and can even be of moderate assistance in managing type two diabetes.

Don’t let our suggestions limit your imagination, there are many books and web pages dedicated to exploring how valuable coconut oil can be.

 

Cooking With Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the least vulnerable of all the dietary oils to oxidation (which leads to damaging free radical formation) and is therefore extremely safe to use in cooking. Coconut oil has a high smoke point (the temperature at which oil begins to break down and produces a bluish smoke) and can be substituted for almost any other oil at a 1:1 ratio. Coconut oil that has been kept at room temperature for a year has been tested for rancidity and showed no evidence of it, so its shelf life is also very user friendly.

Some ideas on using coconut oil in the kitchen:

• On toast instead of butter
• In smoothies
• To fry eggs
• For popping corn
• To replace vegetable oil for baking
• Pan frying

 

Coconut Treats

(nutritious, high protein, gluten and dairy free)

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

1 cup of almonds or walnuts

1 cup of organic dates

3-4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

Shredded coconut (preservative free)

Method

1. Place all ingredients except shredded coconut in a food processor.

2. Roll into small bite size balls and roll into shredded coconut.

3. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set.

 

Coconut Fruit Smoothie

Servings: 1

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut milk or regular whole milk

1/2-1 whole banana

1/4 cup frozen fruit: berries, peaches, etc.

2 tablespoons linseed meal

2 tablespoons fresh ground nuts: almonds, pecans, etc

1 tablespoon shredded coconut

1 tablespoon liquid coconut oil

 

Method

1. Place all ingredients except coconut oil into a blender and blend.

2. Slowly pour coconut oil into blender while blending.

3. Blend until smooth and serve.

 

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup quick oats

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup liquid coconut oil

3/4 cup rapadura sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup shredded coconut

110gm semi-sweet 60% chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons milk

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 C.

2. In large bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking soda and salt; set aside.

3. In bowl of an electric mixer beat together liquid coconut oil and rapadura sugar until smooth. Add in egg, milk and vanilla; beat again for 2 minutes or until smooth.

4. Add in flour and oat mixture to the wet ingredients; mixing until well combined. Slowly add in coconut and chocolate chunks.

5. Drop dough by large rounded tablespoons onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges just being to turn a golden brown. Do not over bake. Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes on baking sheet. Transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. Makes 24.

 

Coconut Oil Boosts Your Metabolism

The Journal of Nutrition reported back in 2009 that coconut oil boosts our metabolism. Those participating in the study that took two tablespoons of coconut oil per day burned more kilojoules than those that consumed less. Take up to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil/day.

 

Coconut Oil to Support Weight Management

A single study has found that coconut oil may reduce abdominal obesity. Start with 1 teaspoon /day and gradually increase this to 1.5 tablespoons/day.

 

Coconut Oil and the Digestive System

Coconut oil is easy to digest. If you suffer from poor digestion or a bloated stomach, coconut oil has been shown to be useful in digestive disorders such as irritable bowel disease or tummy upsets caused by microbes. The fatty acids in coconut oil contain anti-microbial properties which can disrupt the effects of bacteria, candida and parasites.

 

Coconut Oil Supports Your Immune System

Coconut oil is made up of the healthy fats lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid which contain anti-fungal, anti-bacterial anti-viral prosperities to boost the immune system.

Lauric acid contains the highest concentration of medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s), approximately 75 per cent. The body turn this fat into monolaurin which is thought to possibly assist in the treatment of invaders such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, helicobacter pylori and candida.

 

Coconut Oil and Type 2 Diabetes

Initial studies indicate that coconut oil protects against insulin resistance and can reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes.

As MCT’s are so small, they can be absorbed into the cells where they are converted to energy. The results of this are twofold – it reduces the amount of fat we store and improves insulin sensitivity as it does not produce an insulin spike. So if you want a quick energy boost have one spoon (1 teaspoon – 1 tablespoon) of coconut oil.

 

Coconut Oil Skin Care

• Facial Scrub – Combine coconut oil with himalayan crystal salt or baking soda and apply to you face each night. Washing it off is optional.
• Makeup Remover – Coconut oil will gently remove your makeup – just make sure to rinse it off after! Place some liquid coconut oil on a cotton pad and rub gently in circles around your eye area to get rid of makeup.
• Nappy Rash Cream – Apply regularly to the baby’s bottom to improve skin health
• Stretch Mark Preventer. During pregnancy coconut oil can be applied throughout the day to help moisturise your stretching skin.
• Nipple Cream during breastfeeding – Coconut oil is a popular choice for nursing mothers with sore or cracked nipples due to its safety and efficacy.
• Massage Oil – Coconut oil is the perfect choice for a massage oil. Not too greasy and with a relaxing/ tropical scent.
• Fade Age Spots – Rub on hands or other areas daily.
• Dry Feet Treatment – Mix with himalayan salt to form a foot scrub.
• Leave-in Overnight Conditioner – Rub a small amount of coconut oil into your hair (mostly at the ends), comb through, put hair in a loose bun before bed and wash out in the morning.

 

Deodorant Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup arrowroot or corn starch
• essential oils (optional)

 

Method

1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot together in a medium sized bowl.

2. Mash in coconut oil with a fork until well mixed.

3. Add oils if desired.

4. Store in small glass jar or old deodorant container for easy use.

 

Around the Home

Rub a piece of coconut oil on to a spot on your upholstery or carpet. Coconut oil will loosen the stain. You can even mix the coconut oil with baking soda to make an effective stain remover.

 

Further Reading

• Is Coconut Oil Beneficial In Alzheimer’s Disease?
• Coconut Oil Boosts Weights Loss and Improves metabolic Function