Coconut oil is the perfect ally of a beauty tout-court, capable of giving hydration and shine to skin, nails, and hair. But there is more: for its high nutrient content, it is also used in the food sector, while in the medical field, it is appreciated for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
If you do not know how to choose a good coconut oil among the many offers circulating on the market, comparing the best-selling products on which our guide is based could be an excellent starting point for making a targeted and compliant purchase—your needs.
Table of Contents
Guide to buying a coconut oil
Benefits and uses
A few years ago, coconut oil was considered bad for cardiovascular health due to its high saturated fat content. However, some scientific studies have recently shown that the substance can provide the body with numerous nutrients, confirming its multiple properties and possible uses for health and beauty.
Its use in the food sector, this is a subject that is still debated: there are still those who advise against it due to the high concentrations of saturated fats and those who, on the other hand, promote its use because it is rich in lauric acid, which helps to reduce the formation and accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the blood.
In any case, coconut oil can be used in cooking as a substitute for butter and other fats of animal origin, thus becoming a valid alternative for vegans and lactose intolerant. Also, it gives dishes an exotic touch capable of enriching any recipe and pays well for frying, as it has a fairly high smoke point and can withstand high temperatures well.
Of all its beneficial properties, it is also widely used in cosmetics to treat cellulite, provide hydration to the skin, and even provide the care and well-being of hair, teeth, and nails.
Contraindications
After analyzing the benefits and properties of coconut oil, it is good to say a few words about contraindications and potential health risks. First, its application topically and externally has no particular side effects. It is well assimilated and tolerated by the epidermis, except for some rare hypersensitivity to the substance.
Experts recommend careful and thrifty consumption in the food sector. It is still a high-calorie vegetable fat (about 800 calories per 100 grams) and rich in harmful saturated fats for the cardiovascular system. To limit any possible health risk, it is advisable to prefer biological origin and cold-pressed oil to preserve all the beneficial properties.
The workmanship also determines quality.
When choosing coconut oil, regardless of the area of use, it is important to read the reviews that other users make to find all the information relating to the product’s quality, effects, and cost. Still, even more carefully, it must be the evaluation of the list of selected ingredients, generally reported on the packaging, in the case of cosmetic and food products, or on the package leaflet for supplements and slimming treatments.
The processing process mainly determines the quality of coconut oil it has undergone: the best method is cold extraction through a particular pressing process capable of separating the pulp’s essence.
In this way, all the fruit’s nutritional properties are preserved without exposing it to the harmful action of the heat of solvents and other potentially harmful substances. In addition, the best oil is classified as extra virgin, as they are obtained from the purest part of the walnut and processed to split the raw components.
Refined oil is obtained by subjecting the dried pulp to deacidification and bleaching treatments, in addition to causing a significant loss of its beneficial properties, subjecting it to the action of solvents and acidity correctors, which makes the final product, for obvious reasons, even cheaper from an economic point of view.
Why choose an organic product?
The first thing to consider when buying products of this type is the amount of coconut oil. Only when present in concentrations equal to 100% can you be sure that no other chemical compounds have been added?
To ensure the best quality, one should focus on organic products compatible with the ethical principles envisaged in agriculture. This is not only a question of morality or respect for animals but, above all, because, in this way, there will be a greater guarantee of the absence of harmful substances still used today in agriculture.
Frequent questions
Where to buy coconut oil?
To understand where to buy good coconut oil, one must distinguish between food use and cosmetics products: the former are easily available at local supermarkets and delicatessens, identifying the most suitable among the various possible alternatives.
Therefore, the speech is slightly different about your needs and spending possibilities about cosmetics, as is the purpose and type of product.
In any case, it should not be difficult to find creams and serums for body care on the web and in hypermarkets. However, as these are generic retailers, you must pay the utmost attention to what you buy and avoid too cheap products that do not guarantee the ingredients contained.
Those looking for the best brand can also visit specific shops, such as pharmacies and herbalists dedicated to body and hair care. From this point of view, those who compare prices and features will choose the right cosmetic among all those available on the market.
How to use coconut oil on hair?
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, you can use coconut oil in cooking, body care, and hair care. It is available in different variants: shampoos, conditioners, masks, and lotions, each corresponding to a different result and effectiveness, although the best solution remains pure and unrefined oil.
Must apply generic products following the instructions for use indicated on the package. Simultaneously, pure coconut oil must be placed directly on the scalp accompanying the drafting with a massage to favor absorption.
What is coconut oil used for?
Coconut oil is widely used in cosmetics and food for many benefits to the body. To benefit most are the teeth, the substance’s ability to facilitate calcium absorption, and the brain because the fatty acids contained can optimize cognitive performance and brain functions.
Furthermore, these fatty acids also have an important antifungal and bactericidal action and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is a versatile substance capable of ensuring the correct assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins essential for our body, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, thus improving the immune system and the health of bones, nails, hair, and epidermis.
How to use coconut oil for weight loss?
Although coconut oil comprises 90% saturated fatty acids, several scientific studies have shown that the substance can positively affect health and metabolism. For this reason, the product has become very popular in various diets aimed at reducing fat deposits and losing extra pounds.
This is because, unlike other oils, the structure of its fatty acids is made up of about 50% of MCT (medium-chain triglycerides), which are metabolized differently than long-chain fatty acids: the body does not store them as a reserve, and they are assimilated directly by the liver to be transformed into energy.
In addition to being used as edible oil, it can also ingest in supplements and tablets. Still, you must always pay close attention to the substances contained and the possible side effects.
How to take coconut oil?
Its multiple application and intake methods could cause some confusion for those who have never used coconut oil. For example, pure and unrefined oil can be used as a condiment to make dishes more nutritious and tasty to enjoy all its nutritional benefits.
It is a healthy alternative to butter of animal origin, making it an excellent substitute for vegetarians and vegans. As far as cosmetic use is concerned, the application methods are similar to traditional body care products. However, many mistakes apply an excessive amount to the skin with the consequent risk of creating too oily or shiny.
How to use coconut oil
Suppose you are looking for an alternative solution after trying different natural products. In that case, the time has come for you to try coconut oil, which is a perfect ally for body and hair care and can also be used in food preparations. Its uses are many, and probably a single guide is not enough to list them all, but we will still try to analyze the most common and valid ones.
In the kitchen
Let’s start, with its use in the kitchen, remembering that, in this case, it is necessary to opt for a product suitable for food use. For example, pure coconut oil and extra-virgin olive oil are valid substitutes for animal-origin products based on fat or butter. They can also be safely consumed by vegetarians, vegans, and lactose-intolerant people.
It is also suitable for frying, dressing salads, and preparing desserts and other baked goods that require solid fat.
In front of the mirror
Coconut oil, of its moisturizing and soothing properties, is widely used in the cosmetic industry or to make do-it-yourself home remedies.
Those who suffer from dry skin, in particular, will benefit from applying the substance, obtaining softer and silky skin. It is sufficient to apply a small amount to be treated after a bath or shower and accompany the drafting with a massage to favor its absorption.
Many claims to use it profitably as a scrub and facial cleansing, but it is also effective as a natural make-up remover and soothing after waxing. You can add it to the tub water to make an emollient bath or facilitate shaving if you prefer to use a razor instead of waxing.
Of the high concentration of antioxidants, coconut oil is even beneficial against skin aging, especially when, with advancing age, the first wrinkles and other annoying defects caused by sagging skin begin to appear—epithelial tissues.
On the hair
With coconut oil, you can prepare packs to give the hair shine and vitality, and it is also ideal for eliminating the many hated split ends. This is due, in particular, to the high content of saturated fats and, specifically, of lauric acid, which has a nourishing and repairing action on the hair fiber.
It is no coincidence that many masks and conditioners are based on this prodigious ingredient on the market. In addition, some lotions aim to prevent and reduce hair loss by promoting natural hair regrowth.
Other particular uses
Did you think it ended here? And, instead, there is more! It is hard to believe, but coconut oil has also proved effective in dental care: many use it to complement oral hygiene, prevent the appearance of plaque and cavities, and counteract bacteria and bad breath formation.
It contains a high amount of lauric acid with antibacterial and antiviral properties. In addition, a supplement helps strengthen the immune defenses to lose weight by promoting fat mass reduction.
Finally, another use that, with respect speaking, seems bizarre to us but which has proven very useful in the home is that related to cleaning furniture and silverware: a few drops of pure coconut oil on a sponge or microfibre cloth to make the surfaces of the house shine and remove dirt residues and encrustations.
The Best Coconut oils
Let’s see the most effective currently on-sale ranking to choose the best coconut oil.
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