There are three types of trends. Type 1 trends have long term relevancy. Type 2 trends have temporal relevancy, like top hats, powdered wigs and crocs. Type 3 trends are not trends at all, like touting kale as the new lettuce…as if kale hadn’t existed prior to its current popularity.
(Image from mentalfloss)
Coconut oil is a Type 3 trend. Initially dismissed by nutritionists as a saturated fat and grouped in the same category as delicious, yet treacherous butter, coconut oil hadn’t received the place it deserves in the superfoods hall of fame until recently.
Now recognized for its unique medium chain triglyceride structure (MCT) which breaks down into ketones, an energy source used by the brain and produced by the liver, coconut oil has earned its place back on consumer shelves. Your brain uses this source of energy when your body is in ketosis. You can think of ketosis as the last stop on the get energy fast express because it happens when there is no easy available energy source. Coconut oil is a game changer because it provides a non-carbohydrate energy source for health enthusiasts who prefer a back to the basics Paleolithic diet consisting of foods eaten by Paleolithic people during pre-agriculture Neolithic days.
(Image from JHS.com)
Regardless of your fancy for the lifestyle of Paleolithic, Neolithic, or any other stone “lithic” period, coconut oil’s saturated fatty acid, lauric acid, can raise your HDL or good cholesterol levels. However, unlike other vegetable oils such as olive oil, coconut oil can raise your LDL or bad cholesterol levels, so enjoy it like anything delicious in moderation.
Additionally, it has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, important features when you live on a college campus with hundreds of other people all touching the same doors, books, drinking fountains, and sitting in the same chairs you are throughout the day. On that note, here is some sage advice from Maggie Smith.
(Image from quickmeme.com)
So here are 5 different ways you can utilize the health benefits of coconut oil:
1. Bulletproof coffee
Perhaps it’s just me, but joining words like bulletproof and coffee conjures an image of a suit of armor walking down Kingman’s Way carrying a mug inscribed with #warrior or #bosslady in blood red in my mind.
Thankfully you don’t need be a knight or wear armor to drink bulletproof coffee, you just need a really fabulous blender.
Bulletproof coffee is traditionally made with coffee, coconut oil, and butter. Yes, you read that correctly, butter. The idea behind this culinary invention is reducing the grams of sugar you would ingest by adding milk to your cup of joe, or to serve as a milk replacement for vegan diets, lactose intolerance, and people who just really hate milk.
There are several reasons why I included a modified version of bulletproof coffee without butter. First, it is not necessary, nor good for your heart to have multiple servings of saturated fats. Second, coffee is not a meal replacement; the caloric value of this coffee doesn’t give ample room for you to eat nutritionally dense food. Third, it’s very rich and could make you feel sick in the morning.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of joe
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
(Image from paeloplan.com)
The magic in this recipe is blending! I’m going to be a stereotypical health enthusiast and argue that a NutriBullet is a million times better than a hand blender because bulletproof coffee can be a barista’s foamy, frothy dream or a puddle of oil in coffee too dark to enjoy…unless you are one of those black coffee or bust, too cool for cream, sugar or milk kind of people who judges latte and whipped cream lovers.
2. Hair So Luscious
Why buy an expensive serum formulated with a dozen ingredients that you can’t even pronounce when you have a terrific hair product in your kitchen? Coconut oil’s fatty acids adhere to hair’s primary protein, keratin, and decreases breakage.
Work a dime amount of coconut oil into the ends of your hair as a styling product for straight hair, or an entire bottle for curly hair.
Just kidding fellow curly haired readers, I wouldn’t recommend that, but you can add more than a dime if you fancy.
(Image from kappit.com)
3. Shoe and Furniture Shiner
Forget the shoe and furniture polish, shine up your leather shoes, heels, wood furniture, or countertops with a bit of coconut oil.
It’s a natural and yummy smelling alternative to chemical polishes which prevent dust from accumulating.
4. Gum Remover
Do you have an irrational fear that if someone chews gum behind you in class, you might end up with gum in your hair? Well if you didn’t realize before, that’s a legit phobia.
Now you will also know that setting a bit of coconut oil on the part of your hair or the piece of furniture to which the gum is stuck to will loosen its death grip.
5. Deodorant
Ran out of deodorant? No problem. Because of its antibacterial properties, a pinch of coconut oil reduces the bacteria count that feeds on the fat from our sweat which produces a not so ideal smell. This will help you leave behind your sweat at the gym, instead of walking to class.
(sweetpotatoesandsocialchange.com)
Hopefully with your newfound knowledge of coconut oil you will not begin acting like Mr. Portokalos because coconut oil and Windex are pretty swell but neither has magical properties.