Everything You Need to Know About Virgin Coconut Oil: How to Use Virgin Coconut Oil and It's Myriad Health Benefits (2020)

You must have come across the term “virgin coconut oil” and wondered what it is. How different is it from the “normal” coconut oil that you use? Well, the main point of difference between virgin coconut oil and “normal” or refined coconut oil lies in the method of extraction. Refined coconut oil is made from processing dried coconut under high temperatures while virgin coconut oil is made from grated fresh coconut meat (which has been dried for just 2 hours) that undergoes a single press in temperatures below 40-degree celsius. This difference in extraction brings forth many changes in the characteristics of the two oils. In simple terms, virgin coconut oil is like farm fresh fruits and refined coconut oil is the tinned version of the same fruits.

Now that we have understood what is virgin coconut oil, let us begin to understand the many ways that we can use it. Besides providing the many benefits of coconut oil, virgin coconut oil gives added benefits on account of it being fresh. Here are 8 ways you can use virgin coconut oil in your daily life:

We are aware of coconut oil being used as a cooking oil but directly consuming coconut oil is unheard of. Virgin coconut oil is highly nutritious and provides a lot of health benefits. VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) is a raw oil and is not exposed to various chemicals, bleach, and high heat that regular coconut oil goes through during the refining process. This makes it perfect for consumption as the antioxidant properties of coconut oil are not damaged by refining. Regular consumption of VCO will sustain cholesterol levels and keep one's heart healthy. Additionally, it will keep your blood pressure and blood sugar level under control. It will also aid in weight loss as research has found that it can dissolve the adamant belly fat. Consume a teaspoon of VCO daily and feel it do wonders for your health.

This is the most widespread use of coconut oil. It is mainly looked at as the best natural moisturising agent for the scalp and hair strands. Massaging your scalp and strands with VCO for 15 minutes before shampooing will do wonders for your hair. It will make it smooth, supple, shiny, and soft, thus making it healthy overall. Follow this routine twice a week and you will get salon finish hair without having to go through the rigours of salon treatments.

We all get irritated if we suffer from dandruff. Not only does it make our scalp itchy but also those white flaky deposits on our hair are not at all a pleasant sight. Dandruff is essentially dry and dead skin cell deposition on the hair and scalp and the answer to it is shampooing and moisturising. Since VCO is the best moisturising agent, it can effectively treat dandruff. But do not apply coconut oil and keep it for too long or venture out as impurities will stick to the scalp and aggravate the dandruff problem.

Virgin coconut oil not only keeps us healthy but also treats many topical conditions. Dry skin can be treated by applying VCO like a lotion before taking a bath. The severity of skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema can be lowered by applying VCO to the affected areas. It can also soothe boils and burns. The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of virgin coconut oil can also accelerate the healing of wounds. Lightly massage some VCO on the wound regularly for best results.

I bet you did not think that VCO can be an alternative to shaving cream. Cold-pressed VCO when applied as a shaving cream, lubricates the skin and allows a smooth glide of the razor thus preventing cuts. The hydrating and moisturising properties of the oil soothe the skin so that it does not form bumps and cause skin irritation.

People who live sedentary lives are prone to muscle aches because of lack of enough movement, bad posture, and less sleep. The opposite side of the spectrum includes muscle aches due to too much running and walking. In either case, a good deep tissue massage is the best cure. Apply lukewarm virgin coconut oil to the affected muscle and proceed to do a slow massage with your fingers. This enables increased blood flow to the concerned muscle and that soothes the aching sensation.

You have understood by now that virgin coconut oil has unparalleled hydrating and moisturising properties. Hence, it would not be difficult for you to fathom how VCO can act as a lip balm. Chapped lips become a problem for most of us, especially during the winter months. This problem is amplified if you have dry skin. The cracks and fissures on the skin is a source of immense irritation and pain, and sometimes they bleed too. Applying virgin coconut oil regularly to your lips will prevent the occurrence of chapped lips. Put a coat of virgin coconut oil on your lips every night before going to bed. Follow this routine throughout the year and keep chapped lips at bay.

Virgin coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that make it effective against bacteria causing dental caries. Regular gargling or swishing virgin coconut oil in your mouth can help against gingivitis and dental plaque. In fact, an ancient Ayurvedic practice called oil pulling calls for swishing oil around in the mouth to clean it, much like a mouthwash. The anti-inflammatory properties of virgin coconut oil can be effective against swollen gums and inflammation caused by cuts and abrasions inside the mouth.

Looking at the dynamic benefits of virgin coconut oil, it would not be an exaggeration to call it 'the liquid gold' in healthcare. It keeps both your internal and external faculties healthy and is effective against many internal and topical conditions. Moreover, virgin coconut oil is organic in the truest sense of the term as it contains absolutely no chemicals so there is no chance of encountering any side effects. You can easily make virgin coconut oil at home. Get a coconut, grate the meat and leave it to dry for 2 hours, but the meat in a food processor with some water, grind until it becomes a fluffy paste, sieve it through a cloth and then boil the liquid in low flame. The water in the coconut mixture will evaporate, the mixture will start solidifying and the oil will get separated from the solids. Collect this oil and store it for use.