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Why we love coconut oil
The humble coconut has had quite a renaissance, recently. You can find coconut based products in health shops, supermarkets and in magazine article from Hong Kong to Helsinki. People have literally gone coconuts for coconuts.
We especially love coconut oil, and here are some very good reasons why. We could have written 100. But here are some of the most useful ones โ without the hype.
Brighten up your teeth (and your mouth)
So you may have heard that coconut oil is good for removing stains from teeth โ there is much debate about whether this actually works or not โ with plenty of articles and โstudiesโ funded by big pharmaceutical companies (toothpaste makers) to say it doesnโt work.
But โoil pullingโ has been used in asia for thousands of years as a way of removing stains from teeth, and toxins from the mouth. Weโve found it effective at removing stains, especially if weโve just been drinking a lot of coffee or red wine.
It always generally soothes the walls of the mouth, removes toxins (and odours from cigarettes, if youโre a smoker), and gives teeth a bit of a sparkle.
If youโve got an especially talkative boyfriend that you need a bit of a break from, get him to try this. You need to swill the coconut oil around the mouth for about 20 minutes, which means a bit of peace and quiet at least.
Get super-soft skin
Coconut oil is a really fab moisturiser. If youโve been caught in the sun, if youโve got dry skin or even skin conditions like eczema, this oil will really give you a boost of moisture and vitamins fast. Itโs solid at room temperature, so get a small chunk and rub it between your palms. It goes to liquid very quickly. Leave it to do itโs magic for five minutes, then dab the excess off with a slightly damp flannel.
Lip-balm
If youโve got dry or cracked lips, youโll be amazed at how fast this stuff sorts them out. You can put it on as much as you like without any unnatural chemicals drying your lovely lips.
Sunscreen
Coconut oil has an SPF ratingโฆ Itโs only a 4, but if you need some emergency sunscreen, it might be just what you need. Weโve all been caught out by a sudden burst of sunshine or an unexpectedly hot sunny day, so this might be just what you need if youโve forgotten your regular sunscreen.
Hair styling
A bit of coconut oil can keep flyaway hairs in place, add shine and moisturize your hair. Especially good if youโve had it coloured or been using a hair dryer a lot recently. It depends on your hairstyle/length. Give it a try!
Lube
Yes, you read that right. Coconut oil is a really effective โpersonal lubricant.โ It smells good, it tastes good, it doesnโt get sticky, and itโs absorbed into the skin really fast. Weโll let you think of some specific uses…
But donโt use it with latex condoms as oils can corrode this material and make them break.
Extra tip: Coconut water
This slightly sweet, slightly salty drink โ that doesnโt have an especially strong coconut taste โ is not as delicious as it sounds. Coconut water is great for a hangover because of all the electrolytes it contains, just the thing you need for rapid rehydration.
You can get at this stuff yourself by drilling into a raw coconut, but thatโs messy and a bit tricky, especially if youโve already got a headache. So just buy it from the store. Itโs a bit more expensive than sodas or energy drinks but itโs worth it, trust me.