Benefits of Coconut Oil + Golden Milk Recipe
Recently I've been introducing the use of coconut oil into my life, whether that means cooking with it or as a beauty treatment. Some of my favorite uses for coconut oil include using it as a cooking oil, hair mask, shaving cream, moisturiser and I've also been using it as a natural teeth whitener.
Using coconut oil to help keep your teeth healthy might seem strange but oil pulling as an oral health method has been used for decades. Coconut oil is a great natural substitute for mouthwash as it contains Vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant, and also has anti-bacterial properties. I was kindly given two weeks worth of peppermint infused coconut oil to try from Minty Coco and I have really been enjoying the benefits.
Using coconut oil to help keep your teeth healthy might seem strange but oil pulling as an oral health method has been used for decades. Coconut oil is a great natural substitute for mouthwash as it contains Vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant, and also has anti-bacterial properties. I was kindly given two weeks worth of peppermint infused coconut oil to try from Minty Coco and I have really been enjoying the benefits.
Using coconut oil like you would a mouth wash has many benefits and if you use it for between 10-20 minutes a day you may experience the following improvements...
Whiter teeth • cavity and gingivitis prevention • better breath • stronger teeth and gums • less jaw pain • improvement in sleep problems and sinus issues • Alleviation of headaches • better skin
I didn't find using the oil as strange as I thought I would. I actually found spending around 15 minutes a day gently swishing the oil around very relaxing and meditative. I usually use it in the shower so I could get on with getting clean at the same time, gotta stay productive!
Another of my favourite ways of using coconut oil is to whip up a warm mug of Golden Milk. Golden Milk is an ancient Ayurvedic drink made using turmeric and milk. For this recipe I use a dairy free milk like almond or coconut but you can use normal milk if you prefer.
Turmeric is known to have many health benefits due to curcumin, a powerful polyphenol antioxidant. Piperine, found in black pepper, has been shown to increase curcumin’s absorption by 2000% so popping some pepper into your milk will enhance the fantastic properties of the turmeric whilst adding a gentle heat. Turmeric's benefits include...
anti-inflammatory • aids in digestion • anti-bacterial • aids memory and brain function • clears the skin • improves sleep and aids relaxation
Phew after all that information I think it's time I give you the recipe! I've been drinking this stuff everyday and I promise you it is delicious, a little like a chai latte.
1 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
1 teaspoon of virgin, organic coconut oil
A pinch of crushed black pepper
Honey or maple syrup to taste
1 cup of milk, I use almond milk
Place all the ingredients into a blender and whizz them together for around 30 seconds. Don't worry if you don't have a blender I just like this step and it blends everything together and adds a nice foam to the milk. Once you have whizzed everything up pour the mixture into a small pan and warm up on a gentle heat. Do not boil the milk.
Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
I hope you liked this insight into how I like to use coconut oil and the little Golden Milk recipe. Please let me know how you like to use coconut oil in the comments, I'd love some more tips .
