My love of coconut spans back many years. My first memories of coconut were from apricot logs which are covered in grated coconut and drinking coconut water in India on the beach with my mum many moons ago. Now fast forward 30 years and coconut water, coconut flesh and coconut oil has almost taken over the world, everyone is drinking it, using it for cooking and making all kinds of vegan produce with it from cream, ice cream, cakes, yoghurt and more!
The common coconut can be found growing in abundance all over Asia and some parts of the west depending on the climate. If you have travelled and sampled many coconuts in all parts of the world you will know that the Thai coconuts are smaller than the ones in Bali and the Malaysian coconuts are not as sweet either.
I really miss coconut oil and water when I am in Europe. Sure, I can buy coconut water in the shops but it just doesn’t compare to drinking it straight from the coconut itself through a bamboo straw then scooping out the flesh and eating it!
There have been times when I am unable to find any coconut oil in the supermarkets or local shops, which can be a little devastating! I can be quite picky too when it comes to buying the oil, for example I wont buy coconut oil in a plastic bottle and prefer it to be organic and unrefined.
Along with drinking coconut water daily I seriously lather myself in this incredible oil. I rub it on the ends of my hair, massage my joints with it and add it to my smoothies. I oil pull and cook just about everything with it. As I use it internally and externally I make sure it is organic, locally produced and has no added surprises.
Coconut oil as a moisturiser not only hydrates your skin and makes you smell nice but according to Ayurveda it is also has cooling properties, which is fantastic for Pita (fiery) type personalities. It acts as a cooling agent on the skin, which also helps with any inflammations or bits.
I oil pull a few times a week, this is also a Ayurvedic practice to help keep the teeth clean, free from cavities and there are stories of teeth actually healing instead of having them removed. The teeth are porous, which means the oil actually gets inside the teeth and gives them a good clean out.
To begin, use a heaped teaspoon and if the coconut oil is hard then it will take a few moments for it to liquefy inside your mouth as it mixes with your saliva. Oil pulling is generally done first thing in the morning and after a few times when you feel ready graduate yourself to a flat tablespoon amount of oil or more! Once the oil is in your mouth begin to swish and swirl it around, pull it through your teeth and concentrating on different areas at a time. I normally do this for about 10 – 20 minutes then spit it out into the garden or down the toilet but this is not advisable if you are in a cold climate as the oil will set and possibly cause a blockage!
I also add a dollop of coconut oil to my smoothies for extra internal oilation as it gives the smoothie an extra tropical flavour. According to simplegreensmoothies.com 90 percent of coconut oil is composed of medium chain fatty acids (or Triglyerides), which are easily digested and go right to the liver for energy production.
So along with all of the above it can also be used as a tooth paste, it helps with reducing the redness of sunburns and polishes wood furniture too! Amazing, yes? Check it out, experiment, give it a go and see how this abundant and simple fruit can serve you.
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