Coconut oil

Coconut They are also used to obtain valuable coconut oil, which has many beneficial properties. That is why it is in demand in cosmetology, and in cooking, and in everyday life.

The oil is extracted from the copra of coconut palms, the white fleshy flesh inside the nuts. It must first be separated from the shell, then dried and, after grinding, sent under the press.

Coconut oil is often obtained by hot pressing. The oil yield with this processing method is at least 300 grams from 1 kg of pulp (copra).

The oil may be sold unrefined, but they also sell a product that is refined under high pressure (it is called refined).

See below for details.

• Coconut oil will melt at about 25 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is lower, it becomes a hardened mass.
• Coconut oil contains a large amount of saturated fat, so the product does not oxidize much and has a long shelf life.
• Coconut oil is without a doubt a natural product.No fragrances, thickeners or other chemical additives are used in its production.

Medicinal and beneficial properties of coconut oil:

• strengthens and heals hair;
• helps to lose weight;
• maintains skin health by moisturizing it, as well as stimulating wound healing;
• strengthens the immune system;
• relieves inflammation;
• provides skin protection from negative influences - ultraviolet radiation, dust particles, viruses and others;
• helps to get a beautiful and even tan;
• takes care of the hardness and health of nails;
• improves well-being;
• has a bactericidal and antifungal effect;
• improves the function of the thyroid and pancreas;
• accelerates the healing of damage to the digestive tract;
• is a prophylactic against obesity, osteoporosis, joint damage, caries, atherosclerosis, cancer and other diseases.

You can learn more about the benefits of coconut oil in the following video.

Eating large amounts of coconut oil increases the risk of food poisoning or an allergic reaction. Excess fat in food can also adversely affect the state of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, exacerbate cholecystitis and pancreatitis.

Also, many fear the harm of saturated fats, which are rich in coconut oil (they are up to 90% in its composition). However, the facts of the use of oil and studies show a large number of positive effects. For example, coconut oil is not the cause of atherosclerosis, but rather prevents it.

There are practically no use cases for coconut oil. A health hazard can only appear in individuals with individual intolerance or with excessive consumption.

Coconut oil is sold in all countries where there are coconut trees. You can purchase it in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and other hot countries. The product is so popular that it is exported to many countries, including Russia.

Buying coconut oil online comes with the risk of getting a "pig in a poke", because you can't see the consistency and color of the oil, or smell it. Look for oil in perfume and cosmetic stores in your city. If you decide to buy online, choose well-known stores and read reviews.

Criteria for choosing coconut oil:

1. Preparation method. The refined product is more refined but lacks some of the nutritional benefits of the unrefined product. Oil is produced by hot and cold pressing - with the latter it is more useful.
2. Smell. A good unrefined product should have a pleasant natural coconut smell. Refined oils have no odor.
3. Color. It is advisable to buy oil in a transparent container, then you will see its shade. If it is dark yellow, then the oil is poorly refined. A quality product has a clear to pale yellow hue.
4. Consistency. If the temperature is less than +25 degrees, the product hardens, but this does not impair its qualities and properties.

Coconut oil is rich in:

• fatty acids;
• vitamins - E, C, B1, K, B2, A, B3;
• minerals - calcium, iron and others;
• betaines, polysorbates, polyols and ethoxylates of esters, monoglycerides, etc.

In this oil, fatty acids are saturated (mostly lauric), monounsaturated (oleic), polyunsaturated (about 0.5%).

Each of the acids has its own benefits, for example:

• Lauric acid (more than 50%) stimulates the healing of skin lesions and has antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral effects.
• Myristic acid improves the absorption of cosmetics into the skin, stabilizes proteins important for immunity, while oleic acid enhances the barrier function of the skin, prevents dehydration, accumulation of fat deposits and atherosclerosis.

Most often, to obtain oil from coconuts, dried fresh pulp is pressed at a high temperature, and cold pressing is used less often. Cold pressing is a more gentle processing method that retains more useful properties. However, its disadvantage is the low oil yield - up to ten percent. This affects its price.

To obtain unrefined oil, only mechanical (primary) filtration is used, and the use of additional purification leads to the production of refined coconut oil.

This oil has a light yellow tint and a distinct coconut smell. At room temperature, its consistency is solid, oily.

Both types of oil have a beneficial effect and the same composition, so there is not much difference in their nutritional properties.They differ in consistency (unrefined product is more saturated), color (refined product is transparent), smell (refined product does not have it), and shelf life (refined product is stored longer).

Coconut oil in dry form is a component of dried vegetable cream. It is combined with palm and palm kernel oil to form a product that replaces milk cream.

Compared to cream from milk, vegetable cream has less calories and fat content, and a longer shelf life. They do not curdle when mixed with other ingredients, so they are in demand in the confectionery industry.

To make coconut oil at home with your own hands, you need to prepare:

• coconuts;
• dense fabric;
• a hammer;
• mixer or meat grinder;
• saucepan.

1. Make two holes in the coconuts and drain the juice. After wrapping the nuts in a dense cloth, break them with a hammer, then separate the coconut pulp from the shell and cut it into pieces. How to open a coconut, we wrote in a previous article. It describes everything in detail.
2. Grind the pulp in a meat grinder or mixer and transfer the resulting coconut flakes into a saucepan. After filling with hot water (not boiling water, but almost boiling), put the container in a cool place, and when the contents have completely cooled, place in the refrigerator.
3. After a while, you will see a white crust on the surface of the water. Carefully separate it, being careful not to scoop up water, and placing it in another saucepan, then melt it so that the oil can be strained (optimally in a water bath). After pouring the oil into a jar, cool it and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

You can watch the process of making coconut oil in the following video.

The disadvantage is a rather small yield of finished oil.

But you can usefully use everything that is left after extracting coconut oil with your own hands:

• Water can be added to the bath or drink,
• coconut flakes applied in many cases.

Coconut oil in its pure form is used:

• as a replacement for lotions (apply to the body after a shower);
• as a substitute for cream;
• for an even tan
• to soothe and soften the skin after shaving and other manipulations;
• for hair.

Coconut oil can be used to make many cosmetic products. Its addition to nourishing and moisturizing products improves their absorption.

You can apply the oil directly to your skin. If the oil was stored in the refrigerator and has a dense consistency, it will begin to melt on the skin. Lubricate the skin with massaging movements.

When planning to mix coconut oil with a cosmetic cleanser (milk, tonic, lotion) or ready-made cream, you need to add melted butter to a single portion of the cosmetics used. For example, you can melt coconut oil (a small piece) in your hands, lubricate the skin, and then treat with a cream or cleanser.

Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, so skin care products are created on its basis - creams, soaps, lotions and others.

Coconut oil consumption:

• prevents the appearance of wrinkles;
• prevents sagging;
• eliminates peeling;
• Helps treat eczema and other skin conditions.

Coconut oil is quickly and completely absorbed by skin cells. The result of its application is velvety, soft and smooth skin.

Coconut oil is non-allergenic and does not clog pores, which allows you to use it in its pure form. Holding a piece of oil in your fingers, apply it to your face. Contact with the skin will cause the coconut oil to melt while you distribute it evenly over the skin.

By using coconut oil instead of a cream, you:

• provide nourishment to the skin at night;
• protect your face in sunny weather;
• provide protection from wind and frost;
• smooth the skin and soften it;
• prevent wrinkles;
• improve skin elasticity.

Benefits of using coconut oil for tanning:

• it perfectly moisturizes the skin, preventing it from drying out;
• prevents wrinkles;
• provides an even tan;
• hypoallergenic product;
• softens the skin;
• quickly absorbed;
• at burning weakens a burning sensation.

Coconut oil should be applied both before going to the solarium and after the session.

In order for a mask made from coconut oil to bring the desired effect, some rules should be followed:

• make a mask once a week;
• it is best to apply it after a bath - on the skin, which is steamed;
• keep the mask up to fifteen minutes;
• wash it off with cool water.

Good mask recipes:

1. Classic: only coconut oil.
2. Nutrient: tea. a spoonful of coconut oil + two tables. spoons of rice flour + green tea (necessarily freshly brewed).
3. For the skin around the eyes: 10 milliliters of vitamin E in liquid form and 50 milliliters of oil.
4. Cleansing: tea. a spoonful of coconut oil + a table. a spoonful of coffee grounds.
5. For people with sensitive skin: tea. a spoonful of coconut oil and two tables. tablespoons of milk, as well as wheat bread (soak a small slice in milk).
6. For aging skin: tea. spoon of coconut oil + tsp. a spoonful of blue clay + three drops of orange aroma oil.
7. Anti-aging: in tea. a spoonful of coconut oil, heated in a water bath, add three drops of rosemary aroma oil.
8. Honey: tea. l. coconut oil + table. spoon of honey + st. a spoonful of sour cream.
9. Egg: half a glass of coconut oil (in liquid state) + table. spoon of honey + beaten egg. After mixing the ingredients, hold in the refrigerator overnight.
10. To moisturize the skin, cleanse it and increase elasticity: Art. l. coconut oil + 50 g dark chocolate. The ingredients must be heated in a water bath.
11. For normal skin type: pulp of one persimmon + beaten egg white + tea. spoon + liquid honey + tea. spoon of coconut oil + tsp. a spoonful of starch.
12. For the treatment of acne: a table. l. coconut oil + 1/2 tsp. spoons of lemon juice + tea. a spoonful of honey + 2 drops of lavender essential oil + 3 drops of tea tree essential oil.
13. Moisturizing: table. a spoonful of coconut oil + a table. spoon of honey + 2 table. tablespoons of avocado pulp
14. Against inflammation and skin irritation: 100 ml of chamomile infusion + 3 table. spoons of hercules + 2 table. spoons of liquid coconut oil + tsp. spoon of liquid honey + tea. spoon of natural yogurt + tea. a spoonful of cucumber juice.

Coconut oil is a prophylactic against stretch marks due to the presence of vitamin E in its composition. This vitamin is a strong antioxidant that protects cell membranes. And since coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, it is also a positive factor for influencing the problem of stretch marks.

• Oil, which is obtained from coconuts, is used in cooking in Asian countries. It is added to vegetable salads, rice dishes, seafood and meat.
• Since this oil is resistant to temperatures, as well as to oxidation, it is used for frying.
• For the presence of coconut aroma, the oil is in demand in the preparation of cottage cheese casseroles, pancakes with filling, sweet pastries.
• The nutritional value of oil obtained from coconuts makes it possible to replace butter by adding it to porridge and other dishes, spreading it on bread.
• Due to the hypoallergenicity of coconut oil, you can safely use it in the diet of children.

• Soap making.
• Cosmetic industry.
• Food and confectionery industry.
• alternative fuel.
• Production of medicines (suppositories, ointments).

To melt thickened coconut oil:

• holding the jar under a stream of warm water;
• heating in a water bath;
• by putting a piece of butter in a plate, which is put under the sun's rays.