Olive Oil or Coconut Oil? Which is better?
Olives and coconuts are two amazing plants with proven health benefits for us. Quite versatile in the way we can consume them, either in their original shape, ripped olives or coconut, or through extracted oils. There are probably millions of dishes to which you can add olive oil or coconut oil.
However, some online sources can sometimes exaggerate their benefits. So do critically assess all the reads out there, plus use your own practical experience. They can tell a lot about which of the two oils is better and how to best put it to use.
Olive or coconut oil when cooking
In terms of the main differences between the two oils, especially when thinking about nutrition and moreover, diets, the below could already give some hints on what should be an appropriate usage of the two:
| Olive Oil | Coconut Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke Point | 177°C / 350°F | 210°C /410°F |
| Calories per 100 g | 884 | 862 |
| Saturated fats | 13.8 | 82.5 |
| Minerals | Iron, Potassium | – |
| Vitamins | Vitamin E, K | Vitamin E |
As Harvard Health Publishing also suggests considering a drizzle of olive oil instead of a pat of butter or margarine when cooking vegetables, while keeping the coconut fat for occasional use, to enhance certain food flavors or as a substitute for butter in baked desserts.
Cosmetics usage
The cosmetic industry highly uses and promotes both olive oil and coconut oil. Both are key ingredients in a wide variety of soaps, creams, lotions, shampoos, and other cosmetic products.
Due to their greasy texture, they can easily be used as a base for hydrating creams and face/body masks, make-up removals, hair nutrition, and anti-tangling hair support. Home-made cosmetic treatment is really easy to make having one of the two as a base. Check Pinterest for many useful ideas!
Very important to keep in mind that oils are the most calorie-dense foods on earth and oil can pack even more calories than bacon or butter, so do keep the intake to the minimum possible. Use oils just for flavour and seasoning and not as the main ingredient. For cosmetics usage, it’s highly recommended for their fatty texture that helps hydrate and keep other elements together, plus they are as natural as you can get!
You can order via Amazon, the Garden of Life Organic Coconut Oil, and the Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Reference:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282857#nutrition