| Article by Tim Leeming. Exercise Nutritionist. BAppSci (Hons) Coconut oil and its abundance of health benefits are widely known and accepted. If the articles and blog posts flooding your Facebook feed in the past few years haven’t been enough, then your local farmer’s market or health food aisle should have enlightened you. |  |
Just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, I’ll briefly share some of the more advertised advantages of this quintessential natural oil. Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic; it is an excellent source of easily digestible good fats, it detoxifies, can handle high heats for cooking…. The list literally goes on and on.
In the interests of thinking outside the box – as we like to do – I want to share some lesser known uses for coconut oil that can benefit runners like you. The following are just a few simple and practical ideas that you can start using immediately. What do you need? Just a jar of the good stuff, of course.
Add coconut oil to your coffee to give it an extra kick of lasting energy. It’ll also fill you up just a little longer – you might notice you won’t be so hungry in the morning when it’s time for smoko. The medium chain triglycerides (a type of fat) in coconut oil are satiating and energy dense. Just a teaspoon is all you’ll need to start with, and you’ll hardly notice it. Work your way towards a tablespoon. You can take it an extra step by adding butter, too.
Add it to your smoothie, your porridge, your soup, or any other food! For the same reasons as above; coconut oil gives your food a nutrient dense kick, and you’ll notice it even less in your smoothie than you will in your coffee. In the mornings I like to make my Ceres organic grain-free porridge with a tablespoon of coco oil and another of butter. It keeps me full for hours and adds a creamy deliciousness to my breakfast!
Use coconut oil to relieve and even prevent chaffing. We’ve all felt the wrath of a well chaffed nipple, or a tender red rash between the thighs after two too many km’s. A little bit like aloe vera, coconut oil is not only a nourishing food but a soothing skin care salve as well. Lather a little bit over any affected areas and let it breathe for a few minutes. The heat of your skin will melt the oil quickly. Alternatively, apply coconut oil before a race to lubricate those body parts that might spend some hours rubbing while you run. I like to use coconut oil as a lip balm, particularly after long days in the sun when my lips become burnt or chapped.
Massage with coconut oil. It should come as no surprise to you that this super seed (that’s right, coconut is not actually a nut, but a seed) is a great oil for massage. The rich nutrient content – including anti-oxidant vitamin E – offers wonderful healing properties. So get stuck in and nurture your achy muscles.
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Add coconut oil to your coffee to give it an extra kick of lasting energy. It’ll also fill you up just a little longer – you might notice you won’t be so hungry in the morning when it’s time for smoko. The medium chain triglycerides (a type of fat) in coconut oil are satiating and energy dense. Just a teaspoon is all you’ll need to start with, and you’ll hardly notice it. Work your way towards a tablespoon. You can take it an extra step by adding butter, too.
Add it to your smoothie, your porridge, your soup, or any other food! For the same reasons as above; coconut oil gives your food a nutrient dense kick, and you’ll notice it even less in your smoothie than you will in your coffee. In the mornings I like to make my Ceres organic grain-free porridge with a tablespoon of coco oil and another of butter. It keeps me full for hours and adds a creamy deliciousness to my breakfast!
Use coconut oil to relieve and even prevent chaffing. We’ve all felt the wrath of a well chaffed nipple, or a tender red rash between the thighs after two too many km’s. A little bit like aloe vera, coconut oil is not only a nourishing food but a soothing skin care salve as well. Lather a little bit over any affected areas and let it breathe for a few minutes. The heat of your skin will melt the oil quickly. Alternatively, apply coconut oil before a race to lubricate those body parts that might spend some hours rubbing while you run. I like to use coconut oil as a lip balm, particularly after long days in the sun when my lips become burnt or chapped.
Massage with coconut oil. It should come as no surprise to you that this super seed (that’s right, coconut is not actually a nut, but a seed) is a great oil for massage. The rich nutrient content – including anti-oxidant vitamin E – offers wonderful healing properties. So get stuck in and nurture your achy muscles.
If you found this article interesting, you are going to love our rapidly approaching nutrition webinar.
Click here to make sure you don't miss these handy training tips, and that they come direct to your inbox.
