Coconut oil is already well-known in the culinary world, but did you know that it has other benefits like beauty uses and household tricks? Learn all about the different uses and benefits of coconut oil here without getting dragged down by all of the technical chemical explanations.

“Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning.” - Samuel Butler

Cooking with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has many benefits for our health when used in cooking!
Coconut oil has many benefits for our health when used in cooking! Image source: The Cut

We all know coconut oil is awesome when cooking - not only does it help with weight loss, but it’s also one of the healthiest options when compared with other types of oil. We won’t be getting too technical here to explain the chemicals involved in the situation, but we can tell you that coconut oil is also good if you want to:

  • Reduce belly fat
  • Increase your energy
  • Get a little help with digestive health

In addition to that:

Unlike other types of oils, when submitted to high temperatures, coconut oil doesn’t break and it’s a source of healthy fats!

Just one more thing:

One teaspoon of coconut oil in your coffee: YUM! It’s healthy and delicious, what more could you ask for? This recipe using coconut oil for a special coffee here is just amazing!

Indoor Plants Care

Plants can benefit from coconut oil too, just rub a drop of it onto the leaves!
Plants can benefit from coconut oil too, just rub a drop of it onto the leaves! Image source: The Finder

Your plants deserve the best too! One single drop of coconut oil can make your plants healthier and shinier - pour a small amount onto a cloth and use the cloth to rub the leaves of the plant.

Skin Care

Restore and hydrate dry skin with coconut oil!
Restore and hydrate dry skin with coconut oil! Image source: DLT Beauty

If you ever wondered what does coconut oil do for your skin, then this is the time to answer that question. Alongside with using it for hair treatment (as you’ll see on the next topic), skin care is one of the best beauty uses for coconut oil!

This is how it can help you:

  • Coconut oil is amazing to restore dry skin
  • It helps loosen up cuticles so it’s easier to push back or cut them
  • It hydrates and deep cleans your face by helping kill any bacteria

Of course, these are just a few of the many coconut oil uses for skin - which you can read more about here!

Hair Treatment

Your hair will look so beautiful after a coconut oil treatment!
Your hair will look so beautiful after a coconut oil treatment! Image source: Wiki How

There are several coconut oil uses for hair as well, among them:

  • To protect from the sun
  • As an everyday detangler
  • To help your hair grow healthier

For Pets’ Health

Make treats for pets with coconut oil and they'll be really healthy!
Make treats for pets with coconut oil and they'll be really healthy! Image source: Thyme is Honey

We’ve already talked about coconut oil and its benefits when we made a selection of some delicious dog treats. However, it’s good to reinforce its benefits here and also mention that it’s good for cats as well.

These are the benefits of coconut oil for dogs:

  • Increase energy levels
  • Improve skin and coat
  • Improve digestion
  • Reduce allergy risk

And the benefits of coconut oil for cats:

  • Reduce allergic reactions
  • Improve dry skin
  • Reduce itchiness
  • Improve coat health

For both pets, you should always give small amounts of coconut oil each day. For small dogs, ¼ teaspoon two times a day should be enough. While for big dogs, 1 teaspoon (or even 1 tablespoon, if it’s a reeeeally big dog) is good to give them the benefits. As for cats, ½ teaspoon a day is a nice quantity!

More than that:

Apply and rub a bit of the oil onto their coats to strengthen and keep their skin and fur healthier.

Renew Wooden Surfaces

Refinish old wood with a cloth and coconut oil!
Refinish old wood with a cloth and coconut oil! Image source: Today

Refinishing old wood can be really simple when you have coconut oil at home. You’ll clean and sand the piece of furniture, then using a cloth apply the coconut oil - it’ll look brand new! In fact, if you just apply the oil directly onto the surface the effect will still be amazing!

Improve Dental Health

Coconut oil can make your teeth cleaner and whiter!
Coconut oil can make your teeth cleaner and whiter! Image source: Mercola

There are two ways coconut oil can improve your dental health:

  1. Use the “coconut oil pulling” technique.
  2. Make a natural coconut oil toothpaste.

The second option is probably the best since it’s chemical free and very easy to make, but you know, it’s up to you!

Remove Stains

Remove stains from fabrics with a bit of coconut oil!
Remove stains from fabrics with a bit of coconut oil! Image source: Reader's Digest

When you combine a bit of coconut oil with baking soda, you get a powerful stain remover! Apply the solution to the stain in question, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then wipe it off.

Important to mention here:

This trick can be used in almost any fabric, from T-shirt to carpets, but you should always test the mix on a small (maybe hidden) part to see how the fabric will react. Also keep in mind that you mustn’t use this on walls, leather, or vinyl furniture.

Isn’t it just fascinating how one simple type of oil can perform all of these benefits? If you have any extra tips or questions, please let us know! You can use the comments space below or talk to us on Facebook, it’s always good to hear from our readers.

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In this article: Coconut oil Coconut oil uses How to use coconut oil Coconut oil uses for skin How do u use coconut oil Coconut oil uses for hair Eat coconut oil Cook with coconut oil
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