11 Fun Facts About Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has become an extremely popular cooking and beauty oil in recent years. Once shunned for its high saturated fat content, this versatile oil is now praised for its many health and beauty benefits.

Keep reading to uncover 11 fun, fascinating facts about coconut oil that may surprise you!

Fun Facts About Coconut Oil

Coconut oil comes from mature coconuts and contains unique fatty acids and nutrients not found in other oils. Here are 11 interesting tidbits about this trendy oil:

1. Coconut oil comes from mature coconuts. Coconuts go through a 12-15 month maturation process before they can produce oil. The white “meat” inside a mature, brown coconut is dried and then pressed to extract the oil.
2. It’s very heat stable. Coconut oil has a very high smoke point of 350°F, meaning it can withstand high heat without oxidizing and producing free radicals. This makes coconut oil great for sautéing and stir-frying.
3. The fatty acids are unique. Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), whereas most other oils contain long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). MCTs are directly absorbed and metabolized differently than LCTs.
4. Lauric acid has anti-microbial properties. Coconut oil contains 48% lauric acid, a fatty acid that forms monolaurin in the body, which has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal benefits.
5. It was used in WWII. When imported oils were scarce in WWII, the people and industry of the Philippines relied on coconut oil for everything – even running machinery and buses!
6. Coconut oil pulls toxins. An ancient Ayurvedic technique called “oil pulling” uses coconut oil to cleanse the mouth of toxins and improve dental health.
7. It can boost skin and hair health. Applying small amounts of coconut oil topically can moisturize skin and improve skin infections. The fatty acids also nourish hair follicles for shinier, stronger hair.
8. The uses are nearly endless. Coconut oil can be used for cooking, as skin and hair care, wood polish, intimacy lubricant, baby oil, insect repellant, and even to clean pets!
9. Quality varies. Not all coconut oils are created equal; look for organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil for the full benefits. Mass-produced and RBD (refined, bleached and deodorized) coconut oils lose nutrients.
10. It might aid weight loss. The MCTs in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver to be converted into energy, ultimately firing up metabolic rate and promoting feelings of fullness.
11. Coconut oil pulls contaminants. Oil pulling with coconut oil for 20 minutes significantly decreases plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath by pulling toxins from the mouth.

So there you have it – 11 fascinating facts about coconut oil that explain why it has become so enormously popular. From its heat stability to its antimicrobial effects to its many uses, coconut oil is one versatile substance with proven health benefits.

Next time you spy on that iconic jar of coconut oil in the grocery store, remember these fun facts and consider adding it to your kitchen!

Conclusion:

Coconut oil truly is a versatile substance with an array of health, medicinal, and cosmetic benefits. With its unique fatty acid profile, smoke point stability, anti-microbial effects, and endless uses, it’s easy to see why coconut oil has earned its reputation as a superfood.

Whether you use it for cooking, as a facial moisturizer, a wood polish, or an intimacy lubricant, coconut oil can be employed in some fun and effective ways. Just be sure to choose high-quality, organic, unrefined virgin coconut oil to reap all the benefits this oil has to offer.

So go ahead – try using coconut oil in creative ways and take advantage of all this oil has to offer for mind, body, and home!

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