Today, I am off to a tropical destination for a little R&R – in Hawaii to be exact. One of my absolute favorite parts of being in Hawaii is the delicious smells, like plumeria and mm-mm COCONUTS. Coconut oil is such a diverse product (not to mention cheap), you should probably have a jar in every room of your house. I say “the brains and beauty” because not only is coconut oil a great health food, it’s a genius beauty product. Yes folks, the smart will once again collide with the sexy here at Babe in Soyland.
Yes, it’s true. Coconut oil does haves saturated fat. But it is NOT the same as the bad saturated fat from foods like animal products. Because you see, the some of the fat in coconuts is medium chain triglycerides. Say it with me, kids: medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). They include lauric acid, which can help the body deal with viruses and bacteria. These MCTs are medium chain fatty acids, and they’re are absorbed straight from the GI tract to the portal system without modification. And the portal system has to do with capillaries and veins – important stuff if you want your blood pumpin’ smoothly.
Here’s a few more of coconut oil’s benefits:
* Polyphenols: has gallic acid, which is anti-fungal and anti-viral;
* Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects skin for UV light, guards your body against free radicals, and can help prevent prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s;
* Vitamin K, which helps protect bones, arteries, and might even protect against liver and prostate cancer.
Like I said before, coconut’s fat needs no modification, it gets absorbed right into the body and used as energy, like carbs. Which might be why a little birdie told me vegan triathlete and hegan hottie Brendan Brasier likes to drizzle coconut oil on some dates as a pre-workout snack.
Besides being awesome food-wise, coconut oil has great beauty benefits. Did you know you can use (melted) coconut oil as a hair treatment? Just slather that crap on, wait a few hours for it to soak in (maybe do some chores around the house or kick back with a magazine and some vegan snacks), and then shampoo like you normally do. Voila! Silky smooth hair.
This miracle moistener is also the foundation of Pacifica’s solid perfumes, which come in delish tropical fragrances and are ideal for traveling. You can stick a little pot of Tahitian Gardenia in your pocket and have the scent of the tropics at your fingertips.
You can also use coconut oil as an all-over body moisturizer. Mix it with salt or brown sugar for a homemade body scrub. We hear you can also use coconut oil as a convenient cuticle cream or a makeup remover! And especially if you get Virgin Coconut Oil, these home treatments will make you smell like you just stepped off some white sandy beaches. So if you can’t kick back with some pineapple and a piña colada, try slathering on some coconut oil and pretend you’re far away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Stir fry some veggies in a little coconut oil and take a culinary trip around the world. Or hey, use it as a base to some yummy frosting, like Babycakes NYC does. Any way you use coconut oil, you’ll be swept away in no time.