Coconuts! The new cure-all of health, cooking and beauty.  In the last five years, the tropical fruit wedged into TV commercials, ads and every grocery store shelf in some way or another. Now products bear the advertisement title “coconut oil infused” or “made with unprocessed coconut.”  So what’s the big deal with coconut?

First, coconuts stand among a select group of fruits declared “super foods”, a food with significant levels of nutrients.  Coconut contains a large amount of good fatty acids, responsible for fat loss and increased levels of brain activity in some cases. The fatty acids sometimes produce ketones ( a chemical the body creates when it breaks down fat into energy) . These ketones reduce the possibility of seizure and are often used for children with epilepsy.

Though the coconut contains high levels of saturated fats, recent studies suggest that these fats metabolize in different ways than the more harmful saturated fats found in some meats and cheeses (Authority Nutrition).

In addition, recent studies found a correlation between coconut oil and a healthy blood pressure.  According to the Coconut Oil Website this factor occurs due to coconut’s antioxidants.

Saturated fats are not prone to oxidation and free radical damage. Certain kinds of Virgin Coconut Oil are actually high in antioxidants which are positively associated with reducing oxidative stress, and thus with lowering blood pressure.” — CoconutOil.com

Due to a compound called Lauric Acid, coconut also fights against bacteria and viruses. An apple a day still keeps the doctor away but a teaspoon of coconut oil may do the trick as well.

Then there’s the beauty world’s practical use of coconut oil to tame frizzy hair and moisturize dry and irritated skin.

Coconut products include water, meat, milk, flour, and oil. There seems to be no limit for these products as useful assets to the modern health market.

Below are five of thousands of practical usages for coconut products in everyday life.

Baking with Coconut

If you thought that the only sort of flour in the world comes from grains you were greatly mistaken. The coconut has been grounded down and transformed into flour.

When baked, coconut flour remains sweet and flavorful. However, one may add another flavor to overcome the coconut in the flour. For example my mom has made chocolate peanut butter coconut flour muffins. They are delicious!

Baking with coconut cuts downs on a significant proportion of the calories in comparison with basic white grain flour. There are thousands of amazing coconut flower recipes to be found online. Love baking but don’t want all the calories? Try coconut flour.

Oil for the Eyes

Regular make-up remover is often expensive and may be potentially harmful to those with sensitive skin, depending on the person and the product. However, coconut oil is usually bought in bulk for a cheap price and actually benefits skin and eyelashes.

From experience, coconut oil cuts through a thick layer of make up just as well as a store bought substance. Coconut oil as a makeup remover is a win win.

Snack Time

Coconut flakes make a nice addition to traditional trail mix or any random mixture of nuts and dried fruit. One of my favorite healthy snacks is almonds, raisins and coconut chips all mixed together. This works great for a snack at school or on the go. It is easy, portable, cost efficient and most importantly good for you.

For Hairy Situations

As mentioned before, coconut oil is reported to result in more smooth and less frizzy hair. However in addition coconut oil acts as a deep conditioner, removes dandruff, protects against damage and may even result in faster growth.

Pouring on a canister of oil may not seem logical to those of us who are constantly fighting against the oily hair look. However, as Self Magazine explains, coconut oil brings unique and extraordinary health benefits to hair.

“Scientists have studied the effects of certain oils on hair (including coconut, sunflower, olive and mineral). And the results for coconut oil are pretty exciting–it has been shown to actually have the ability to penetrate hair. So why does this matter?  Most hair products and ingredients can only coat the surface of the hair to add shine, smoothness, conditioning, etc. However, coconut oil–because of its chemical structure–can actually penetrate the cortex (the inner part of hair) which can help improve its strength and flexibility.” –Self

After a good shampoo coconut oil should not leave any lasting residue and should result in a head full of luscious healthy hair.

ICE CREAM

Yes, I will tell you to make ice cream in my health blog.

Coconut milk can be used as a substitute for regular cream and milk. The mixture usually retains its coconut flavor but can be mixed with other flavorings. My personal favorite is mint chocolate chip.

This majorly cuts down on calories. Plus, for all of you Vegans out there, that’s a dairy free dessert!

Click here for a coconut milk ice cream recipe.

Coconut contains too many unique benefits to go unused and ignored. Take action and join the coconut craze!

The choice is yours. Will you be nutty about health?

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @skylerklee and via Email: Skyler Lee.

For last weeks installment of Health Nut read  Health Nut: Want to run faster? Try this app.