May 10, 2022

Oh coconut, oh coconut you are so beautiful

Coconut oil is a popular ingredient in organic cosmetics for a reason. It's almost unbelievable what it can do for your skin, your hair and your health. Did you know you can even lose weight from coconut oil?

Just type in Cocos Nucifera (the Latin name for coconut oil) on our site/webshop. And you get this list of over 60 coconut oil products. Make up, lip balm, face creams, face masks, hand cream, deodorants, body scrubs, toothpaste, hair conditioner, body oil/milks, sun protection. After reading this blog, it is completely clear to you why it is in it.

Have you ever considered moving (temporarily) to a tropical island, another extra reason to actually do this 😊. You can survive there with only coconut.

Why can't you do without coconut oil?

  • This sounds very appealing - and it's really true: coconut oil can increase your energy consumption, so you burn more fat! Belly fat in particular benefits from this. In 24 hours, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut can increase your energy consumption by no less than 5%.
  • Another advantage if you want to lose a few pounds: the fatty acids in coconut oil can reduce your appetite.
  • They also ensure a more stable blood sugar level, which prevents binge eating, tasty appetite and energy dips.
  • Coconut oil ensures that other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are more easily absorbed by your body.
  • Population groups that eat a lot of coconut are among the healthiest on the planet. For example, residents of Tokelaua in the Pacific Ocean get more than 60% of their calories from coconut. And are super healthy. Heart disease does not occur. One of the reasons: coconut oil can positively influence the cholesterol level in your blood.
  • Lauric acid and caprylic acid in coconut have an antibacterial effect. They can kill bacteria, fungi and viruses.
  • Coconut oil can protect your hair. A must for the care of dry, frizzy hair. That's why it's in Klee Kids Magic Antitangle & Enchanting Conditioner , for example, and in the dr Hauschka Conditioner And in a lot of hair care products for frizzy hair.
  • It improves the moisture content of your skin and your skin's protective layer. Great for dry or extremely dry (eczema) skin!
  • Clean, fresh armpits! The antibacterial effect of coconut ensures that the stink bacteria under your armpits don't get a chance to do their job! The coconut also has a nurturing effect on your skin.
  • Suffering from bad breath? Coconut oil helps! Have you ever heard of oil pulling ? An Ayurvedic custom to literally 'rinse' your mouth clean with the help of coconut oil, for example. This way you kill some of the bad bacteria in your mouth, get healthier teeth and a less unpleasant breath odor. Dr Bronner toothpaste makes good use of this.

My coconut favourites

Face & skin care

My coconut oil use starts early in the morning. With my morning facial cleansing ritual. For that I use the Abloom Purifying Cleanser . Guess what, the 3rd most common ingredient in the cleanser is coconut oil.

You can also let this cleanser work as a mask for a while before removing it from your face. To let all those delicious ingredients do their job extra well.

My morning care ritual ends with my favorite deo, the coconut powder deo from OHM . Works great, and has a not too strong delicious coconut scent. And no, a powder deodorant is not clumsy - I think. Shake a little on a slightly greasy palm (after applying face cream or body cream / oil, they are often still a bit greasy), under your armpits and you're done. If you think 'that's fine, but just give me a stick', then the Loveli deo is a godsend. All with coconut oil as the main ingredient. You probably understand why 😊

I make sexy soft lips in no time with the Lipstick pencils from INIKA . Lip pencil and lipstick in one. With the main ingredient ... 3 x guess ... coconut oil.

I can't live without banana bread

In the morning I can't go without my thick slice of (refined) sugar-free banana bread 🍌. With coconut oil as one of the ingredients. Just warmed up in the steam oven (can also be done in the toaster) and then with a thick layer of coconut oil on top. I personally like the Extra Virgin from Royal Green the best in terms of taste. I'm not the only one, it turns out, given the 'best taste' prize they won

My favorite banana bread recipe

Out of necessity - our oven was broken and I can't live without my sandwich - I started experimenting with steaming my banana bread instead of baking it. And actually liked this much better. Now we have a steam oven where I bake the bread in an hour at 100% steam. But when the oven broke down, it just went into a steamer basket (batter in a parchment-lined glass or stone bowl) on the stove.

Necessary

For a sandwich of about 10 thick slices

  • 200 grams of ripe banana - finely mashed
  • 35 grams of melted coconut oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tsp (tartaric acid) baking powder
  • 140 grams nut flour (I grind almonds or a nut mix into a bit of coarse flour, which gives the bread a nice bite)
  • 20 grams linseed (I use whole, broken is also allowed)
  • Spices of your choice: I vary with a mix of ginger powder, gingerbread spices, cinnamon cinnamon, cardamom
  • Grated coconut

To make

  • Beat the mashed bananas, coconut oil, lemon juice, eggs with a whisk to a light batter.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients in a few strokes until well blended.
  • Pour into a mold lined with baking paper. Sprinkle with grated coconut.
  • Steam your banana bread for an hour
  • Remove the bread from the tin with baking paper and let it cool down for a while.
  • Delicious warm with coconut butter

coconut hair oil

A recipe from aromatherapist guru Ellen Wagenaar

Necessary

  • 45 ml coconut oil
  • 5 ml jojoba oil
  • 5 drops of ylang ylang

Make & use

  • Melt the coconut and mix with the other ingredients
  • For extremely dry hair, use as a hair mask. Let it work overnight. Then don't forget to put a towel on your pillow so that your pillow doesn't get greasy. Wash it off the next day.
  • For frizzy hair, knead a few drops into your hair daily.

What is or will be your coconut favourite? I'm curious!

Sources: Ahealthylife, 10 proven health benefits of coconut oil; Esthe April/May 2022, pp. 54-55, Ellen Wagenaar; health nutrition.nl

Written by Jeanine Wolthuis