It could also have a whole host of other health benefits
A nutritionist has revealed a simple breakfast addition that could help combat constipation and boost your energy levels. Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms, affecting women up to three times more than men, particularly during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
It’s also more prevalent in people over 60 years old. Some individuals even suffer from chronic constipation, which can be exacerbated by travel or time away from home. However, there are home remedies and foods that can help alleviate these symptoms. In the podcast ‘With Ginger and Lemon’, hosted by nutritionist Sandra Moñino (@nutricionat_) and journalist María Pérez Espín (@mariapespin), they share food and nutrition advice with their followers.
In one episode, Moñino suggests a simple trick to avoid constipation – taking a tablespoon of coconut oil on an empty stomach in the morning, or adding it to your coffee. This not only helps with digestion but can also provide an energy boost, especially for those who like to exercise before eating.
“And if you mix it with salt or bicarbonate, it also serves as an exfoliant in the shower to remove impurities,” adds the journalist. In another video, they offer more tips and uses for this product, such as strengthening or moisturising our hair.
“When we need to wash our hair, we take the ends and hydrate them as if it were a mask; just like we do with hair masks, we do with our coconut oil,” explains Sandra Moñino. It’s as simple as making a bun and washing your hair again after two or three hours. “It looks wonderful, hydrated, shiny and with that vitality we often seek,” she comments. Coconut oil is also really useful for moisturising “elbows, knees or feet,” areas that tend “to dehydrate and become rough.”
Nutritionist Sandra Moñino also shares that she uses coconut oil as a mouthwash. “For example, mouthwash contains ingredients that are not beneficial for our oral microbiota because it kills all the good and bad bacteria in our mouth. So coconut oil helps us eliminate those bad bacteria,” she says. Additionally, doing this every morning right after waking up can help with halitosis.
However, it’s important to remember to dispose of it in the bin. “We know that it’s liquid when it’s warm, but in winter, it starts to solidify. When it solidifies, it clogs pipes,” she warns. She clarifies that using coconut oil for rinsing does not interrupt intermittent fasting, explaining: “Since you spit it out afterwards, you don’t need to rinse your mouth with water or anything,”.
