Read the following article about Coconut Oil. Write a summary of the uses of this health oil. Your summary should be about 100 words (no more than 120 words). You should use your own words as far as possible. You will be given up to 6 marks for the content of your summary and up to 4 marks for the style and accuracy of your language. Coconut Oil Coconut oil might just be the most versatile health food on the planet. Not only is it a great cooking oil, but its uses are numerous and can extend to being a form of natural medicine. Coconut is great for cooking at a high heat because of its high smoke point. Many other oils like olive oil can oxidise when heated but because coconut oil is made up of healthy saturated fats, it remains stable under high temperatures. For baking, coconut oil can be used. The same amount of butter or vegetable oil in the recipe is equivalent to the same amount of coconut oil that can be used to replace the unhealthy fats. During the winter season lips can be dry and chapped. Commercial lin halms are packed with unhealthy (and potentially toxic) ingredients, which are a cause for concern since we apply them on our lips. The healing properties of coconut oil helps to nourish the lips, provide a touch of sun protection and most importantly, it is safe to consume. Coconut oil can therefore be used as lip balm. Also, if you experience a cold sore in or around your mouth, try dabbing it with coconut oll several times per day to reduce healing time and pain. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which is effective at entering the virus that lives with cold sores and shutting off their ability to reproduce. This means you experience relief faster and less likely to have scars or discolouration left in the area of the sore too, Coconut oil can be applied to the affected area in the treatment of athlete's foot. It acts as an anti-fungal cream because of its antibiotic capabilities. At room temperature, coconut oil is solid but it quickly melts when it comes into contact with hands. This makes coconut oil suitable as a natural skin moisturizer for the face and it is non- greasy. It does not sting or irritate the eyes when removing make up, making the process much better than using commercial eye make-up removers. It also helps in dehydrating the area around the eyes.
