Nutritionist Aakriti Arora shares a few Coconut Oil Morning Rituals That Will Change Your Life
Coconut oil is considered a superfood all over the world. And rightly so, the unique combination of fatty acids present in coconut oil may have positive effects on your health, such as boosting fat loss, heart health, and brain function. Let's take a look at these age-old Ayurvedic Coconut Oil Rituals that will drastically improve the quality of your life: The wonderful benefits of coconut oil are many.
1. Consuming 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil Empty StomachCoconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that will help one feel more energized throughout the day, balances one’s appetite, and get one’s metabolism revved up for the upcoming day. The MCTs in coconut oil can also increase the number of calories your body burns thus keeping your BMR high all day long. One thing to keep in mind is that coconut oil is extremely high in calories and can easily lead to weight gain if eaten it in large amounts. So stick to 1 tablespoon a day, always! 2. Oil Pulling with Virgin Coconut Oil Oil pulling with Virgin Coconut Oil will clean and brighten teeth, helps strengthen gums, and gives you fresh breath without the added chemicals found in commercial mouthwashes. The best part about oil pulling with coconut oil is that keeps the good bacteria in your mouth intact while getting rid of the bad bacteria! Oil pulling is an easy, inexpensive, way to maintain your oral hygiene which just takes a few minutes a day. Simply pulling coconut oil through your teeth and swishing the oil around loosens plaque and trapped food particles and has proven anti-bacterial effects. How to do it you ask? Just take 1-2 Teaspoon of Virgin Coconut Oil and swish around in your mouth for 5-10 minutes. Gradually build it up to 20 minutes for maximum benefits. Do not swallow! Spit the oil out and brush and floss your teeth as usual! 3. Use Coconut Oil as Post Heat Treatment on your Hair If you find yourself using an iron, curler, or blow dryer every day, you might want to consider adding virgin coconut oil into your daily hair care routine. The heat from hair styling can cause severe damage to your hair, leaving it frizzy and dry. But, applying 4-5 drops of coconut oil to your hands and gently running it through your hair after the styling can help to add moisture back to hair and keep your shiny and fritz free. In fact, many studies have shown that the fats found in coconut oil can protect and even repair the most damaged hair. You can also use coconut oil as a deep conditioner when your hair is tangled or feels like hay! Always remember, to read the label when you buy your coconut oil. It should be organic, virgin and should not have anything else added to it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nutritionist Aakriti Arora is one of the few USA certified nutritionists practising in New Delhi, India. She has completed her graduation with Honours from the University of Delhi and holds Nutrition and Dietetics Certification from Cornell University, Stanford University and T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Her approach towards nutrition is scientific yet true to her Indian Ayurvedic roots. "Make foods you crave work for you, Not against you" is her motto.
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