You are probably already well aware of the incredible taste and aroma of coconut, whether eaten raw or cooked. However, you may not have known about the many health and beauty benefits of coconut oil.

In fact, in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, this very oil is considered a key element of health and well-being.

It is said to be the healthiest oil of all, and it could even be argued that its benefits are endless.

Scientific justification

In the 1950s, coconut oil was called “pharmacy in a bottle.” After you consume it, the oil is immediately absorbed by the liver and intestines.

There, it turns into ketones (compounds), which the body uses as fuel for energy production.

This leads to a faster metabolism and reduces the amount of fat that circulates in the blood, as a result, it accumulates more slowly in the body.

Properties of coconut oil

The list of benefits of coconut oil can go on and on, but to start with, we will talk about only a few of them.

1. Coconut oil is a natural antibiotic and antioxidant

The lauric acid found in this oil acts as an antimicrobial and helps fight:

• staphylococci, which cause various skin and blood infections;
• different types of fungus;
• viral diseases;
• consequences of exposure to ordinary yeast.

Several studies conducted at the University of Kerala (India) in 2013 also found that a diet high in virgin coconut oil helped reduce oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is the cause of cell damage and several other diseases, from Alzheimer’s disease to cancer.

2. It fights brain diseases

Coconut oil helps treat brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Thanks to its composition, it immediately improves the condition of patients who have a weak form of this degenerative disease.

Active research is currently underway on how the properties of fatty acids (found in coconut oil) slow down cognitive decline.

3. It has a positive effect on the condition of patients with epilepsy

A hallmark of the ketogenic diet is a diet high in fat, moderate in protein and low in carbohydrates. This diet can reduce the number of seizures in children with epilepsy by 75%.

The medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil increase the concentration of ketones, which helps reduce the symptoms of epilepsy.

4. Coconut oil promotes weight loss and reduces metabolic syndrome

If you want to improve your shape, now is the time to take advantage of the positive effects of coconut oil on metabolism.

On the other hand, this oil reduces metabolic syndrome. If you don’t know what that is, here’s a quick rundown: Metabolic syndrome is a series of diseases and risk factors that increase the chances of heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes or heart attack.

5. It can be used as a natural moisturizer

You may have already noticed that coconut oil is included in many natural cosmetics because it has many useful properties.

Coconut oil can make your skin soft, glowing, and healthy. However, it is not only excellent for moisturizing but also excellent for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis.

6. It softens hair in a natural way

Coconut oil has excellent moisturizing properties. If you use it as a conditioner, the hair will be silky to the touch and have a healthy shine.

The lauric acid contained in this oil has a high affinity for the protein in the hair. That is why the hair easily absorbs it.

Of course, do not forget that it is not enough to simply add coconut oil to your diet and use it for cosmetic procedures, you should also follow a healthy lifestyle in general.

Picture Credit: VistaCreate

The post Coconut Oil: Benefits And Uses appeared first on Just Some Stuff.

Image credit: Pezibear

There are many kinds of vegetable milk. The product is chosen by vegetarians, allergy sufferers, fasting and losing weight. Surprisingly, some types of vegetable milk for nutritional qualities even surpass the customary for all cow. Dairy products from what vegetable raw materials should be included in the diet?

From almonds: for those who are dieting

Almond milk is a product with a slight nutty aroma, a slightly sweet taste. It is believed that this is one of the best options for those who observe a low-calorie diet and strictly follow their figure. In 100 g of almond milk not more than 60 kcal. It contains a lot of folic acid, Omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc. But almond milk can never be a substitute for a cow, because it has very little protein and calcium. If someone claims the opposite, then this is an additional nutrient-rich product.

Ideally, almond milk should be prepared from thermally unprocessed nuts. So in the product there will be more useful substances. Are not sure that in the process of manufacturing industrial milk is used unroasted almonds? Then in the diet, enter your own cooked almond milk. To do this, fill a glass of nuts with water for a night. In the morning, wash them, together with 4 glasses of clean water whip blender. The resultant thick white mass strain. And the remaining almond oil cake can be used as flour. Wasteless production!

Milk from almonds is universal, you can add it to many recipes of dishes and drinks – porridges, smoothies and cocktails, desserts.

From coconut: a source of lauric acid

Image credit: LisaRedfern

Coconut milk is a product with a delicate aroma, with a sweet enveloping taste. But despite its sweetness, in the composition it contains very few fast carbohydrates. A quality natural product will not exactly interfere with your diet.

Useful substances in milk from the pulp of coconut abound – vitamins C and Group B, selenium, iron, zinc. And in it the only (of all non-lactose types of milk) is lauric acid, which helps to strengthen immunity and helps the body to fight viruses. This is an excellent excuse to add the product to the autumn and winter diet. But in coconut milk there is practically no vitamin D and calcium, few proteins. In the composition there are saturated fats, which can not be called useful. If you buy the product in the store, pay attention to those commodity items that are additionally enriched with nutrients.

In addition, you can prepare coconut milk yourself. For half an hour, soak the flesh of one coconut in water. Then add another 2-3 cups of clean water, chop everything with a blender. Strain the mass.

From rice: a food product for fast saturation

Rice milk is not as popular as coconut and almond milk. But it is often chosen by vegetarians if there is an allergy to soy and nuts.

The product is made from brown rice. In ready-made milk, a lot of fiber, useful for digestion. So, it can be introduced into diets – in spite of a sufficiently high caloric content (about 120 kcal per 100 g), the milk will saturate for a long time and help to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

In rice milk, very little protein and vitamin D.

From soy: a large amount of protein in the composition

Image credit: bigfatcat

Soymilk causes the most controversy among consumers. And all because of the bad reputation of plant raw materials used for its preparation. There is an opinion that soy can cause cancer and reduce the level of sex hormones in the body. Even more negative is the fact that a significant amount of soy in the world market is genetically modified vegetable raw materials. And he still does not trust.

And yet, many vegetarians add soy milk to their diet. And this is provided that there are many other kinds of vegetable dairy products on the shelves of stores. Soy milk is affordable, inexpensive. The protein in it is the same as in the cow! And this is at a lower fat content. That’s why soy milk can ideally fit into diet food. It becomes a source of vitamin A and vitamin B12, isoflavones, potassium. Often the product is further enriched with calcium and vitamin D.

From walnuts: pleasant aroma and taste with light bitterness

Everyone knows that walnuts are extremely useful for the human body. So becomes and milk on their basis. The principle of its production is identical to the scheme of preparation of almond milk.

There is practically no calcium and protein in walnut milk. But it is rich in a whole range of vitamins and trace elements.

Milk from walnuts is characterized by pleasant bitterness. When you use it you can sweeten with honey or jam a little.

From oats: protein and fiber in the diet

Milk for a healthy diet can be obtained even from cereals – for example, from oats.

Oat milk is soft, slightly sweet to the taste. It is absorbed by the body faster than others. The composition of a lot of vegetable protein globulin, similar in properties to the animal. But most importantly – this is a large amount of fiber useful for digestion.

Oat milk is not added to food by those who adhere to the gluten-free diet. But it is very fond of athletes who actively build muscle mass.

To make oatmeal, pour oatmeal with water (in a ratio of 1: 3), after a couple of hours, grind the blender and strain.

From pumpkin seeds: for the preparation of cream soups and desserts

Pumpkin milk has a peculiar taste – a little spicy, sweet. It will become an ideal complement of fragrant cream soups, milkshakes, desserts. If you cook pumpkin milk in your own kitchen, take unroasted seeds. The technology is identical to the one on which almond and oat milk is prepared.

In pumpkin milk, there are many antioxidants, microelements, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids.

The post The 7 Best Non-Dairy Substitutes for Milk appeared first on Just Some Stuff.