The many uses of coconut oil

By Katie Visconti

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Coconut oil is known for giving movie theater popcorn its rich, buttery flavor. But the oil that has been hailed as the “healthiest on Earth” has dozens of other uses for cooking, health and beauty.

A pint costs $12 to $18 at supermarkets and health food stores and should last a long time. One thing to remember: A little goes a long way. (And that’s OK, because coconut oil also has a long shelf life.)

Beauty

• Makeup remover: Apply a dab on a cotton pad and wipe away mascara without pulling or tearing. For best results, wash your face first with a daily cleanser. The coconut oil works double duty to remove eye makeup while softening and hydrating the skin around your eyes.

• Hair mask: Apply coconut oil to split ends to deeply condition damaged and broken follicles. For best results, leave on overnight and wash your hair in the morning.

• Body scrub: Mix 3 tablespoons of coconut oil with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for a lavish exfoliating scrub. It’s all natural, smells great and is far cheaper than store-bought scrubs.

• Face and body moisturizer: Mix coconut oil with your favorite lotion to make a deep-hydrating body balm. For your face, rub coconut oil directly on your skin, under your everyday moisturizer. It might feel greasy at first but within minutes should absorb completely. Use about a tablespoon for your body and a half-teaspoon for your face.

Cooking

Coconut oil is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, and is a natural energy booster.

It contains triglycerides that help lower cholesterol and boost metabolism. The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil make it easier for your body to break down fat, providing quick, long-lasting energy.

It also has a higher smoking temperature, meaning it won’t burn as fast as olive oil or vegetable oil when cooking at high temperatures.

Some ideas for using coconut oil in the kitchen:

• Spread on toast instead of butter.

• Use to replace vegetable oil while baking.

• Add to coffee or smoothies as a sweetener.

• Drizzle over cooked grains or vegetables.

• Use as a rub when roasting chicken.

Health

• Throat, gums and skin: Coconut oil is popular among Asian and Pacific Island populations to heal sore throats, cure gingivitis and soothe sunburns.

The key is lauric acid. Fifty percent of the fat in coconut oil is lauric acid, which can kill bacteria and viruses. Human bodies naturally turn lauric acid into monolaurin, a monoglyceride that can destroy lipid-coated viruses.

Coconuts are the most abundant natural source of lauric acid available.

• Rogaine alternative: Coconut oil has been said to prevent hair loss and even promote hair growth. Warm a jar in warm water (the oil appears solid in the jar but melts when heated), dampen your hair and rub into the roots with your fingertips. Massage three minutes, leave in for a half-hour, then wash with shampoo. No conditioner is needed since the coconut oil will leave your hair soft and silky. Use 1 tablespoon for short hair, 2 for shoulder-length hair and up to 4 tablespoons for long hair.

• Alternative mouthwash: Devotees claim coconut oil can destroy bacteria and improve health without being ingested. As such, “oil pulling” has become a popular alternative health technique.

Oil pulling began in India and involves swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. Advocates say it helps clean and detoxify teeth and gums, wards off plaque and gingivitis, removes harmful bacteria from the entire body and can alleviate skin conditions, arthritis, headaches and infections.

The oil gets thick and milky as it mixes with saliva and will appear creamy white when spit out. Advocates say the color change signals toxins being extracted from the body.