Uses for Coconut Oil

In my previous post, I shared some truly wonderful benefits of Coconut oil. There is an endless list of uses for Coconut Oil of which I am going to share a few.

Dietary:

• Eat a spoonful when you need an energy boost
• Use as a base for chocolate making
• Replace unhealthy oils in cooking and baking recipes
• Take a spoonful with vitamins to improve the absorption of vitamins and minerals
• Taken daily it will improve thyroid function
• Consuming Coconut oil will increase milk flow for nursing mothers.
• Eating a spoonful with meals will increase digestion
• Toss with hot air popcorn to flavor
• Eat daily to help with immune function
• Add to a smoothie for additional flavor and nutrition
• Use to detox the body during a cleanse
• Take a spoonful before mealtime to curb appetite 
• Add a spoonful to your dog or cats food dish
• Take to help reduce or eliminate migraines
• Take a spoonful for heartburn, reflux or indigestion

External Uses:

• Use inside nostrils to help relieve runny or bleeding nose and allergies
• Use on newborns bottom for diaper rash and to prevent meconium from sticking to bottom
• Massage into tired muscles
• Helps to sooth and heal hemorrhoids
• Mix with baking soda for a non toxic Goo Be Gone
• Use as a natural sunscreen
• Mix with a tiny bit of fresh lemon juice for a natural furniture polish. (Always test on a small area first)
• Season Cast iron pans
• Condition leather
• Use as an all over body moisturizer. Great on cracked heals.
• Use to condition hair
• Massage into nails and cuticles to strengthen them
• Apply to bug and bee stings to help sooth the skin
• Use as a make remover
• Use to treat acne
• Use on tissue around your eyes to help prevent wrinkles and sagging.
• Use on stretch marks to help reduce visibility
• Spread a thin layer on cuts and burns to aid in healing
• Use a massage oil, add in essential oil to make it even better
• Use on baby's cradle cap
• Add to bath water for a moisturizing soak
• Makes a great lip moisturizer
• Rub a little on your palms and apply to hair to moisturize
• Use as a conditioner for your hair. Apply and leave on for as long as possible and then shampoo out.
• Use to sooth skin irritations such as eczema, chicken pox and other skin rashes
• Use to treat athletes foot, yeast infections and other fungus
• Brush on eye lashes for an eyelash strengthener
• Use a little on a damp cloth to remove scum from the shower. Wipe with coconut oil and then spray with vinegar and wipe off.
• Use as the carrier oil in homemade baby wipes
• Use on warts and moles
• Mix up in your mixer for a creamy moisturizer
• Use with baking soda for a facial scrub
• Use to help relieve ear infections, melt and put a little drop in the ear
• Use as a base for homemade deodorant, soaps and lotions
• Use on plant leaves to shine
• Dab a little on canker sore to speed up the healing and to soothe
• Use to soothe pink eye infections, rub around the eye and drop a little in the eye
• Use to remove chewing gum from carpet
• After shaving face or legs, use to moisturize and soothe the skin
• Use to treat lice
• Use in homemade toothpaste - Jillie has a great recipe here
• Condition wooden cutting board and cast iron pans
• Homemade Vapor Rub: 3 Tbs. Coconut Oil – melted; 3-5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil; 6-10 drops Rosemary Essential Oil. Place oil into a small container and add in essential oils. Then just rub on chest, under nose or on to feet.

I am amazed by all the uses of coconut oil. There are many, many more out there. 

I would love to hear from you, what do you use coconut oil for?

References
http://www.empowernetwork.com/dreamerchris/files/2012/07/Coconut-oil-Uses.jpg
http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/01/52-uses-for-coconut-oil-the-simple-the-strange-and-the-downright-odd/

Benefits of Coconut Oil

The more I read about Coconut oil, the more impressed I become with it and its many uses. 

Coconut Oil Benefits:

• Anti Bacterial and Anti Microbial- it will aid in fighting off viruses and bacteria.
• Anti Fungal and Anti Viral
• Aides with weight loss by increasing the bodies metabolism and aiding in thyroid functions.  By substituting Coconut oil for other oils, individuals end up eating less because of the beneficals fats in Coconut oil naturally make you feel fuller.
• Moisturizes skin and hair.  Coconut oil is very rich in Vitamin E, which clears skin blockage and diminishes skin infections such as psoriasis, eczema and acne. It is also effect for moisturizing dry skin and eradicates skin flaking. Coconut oil also helps prevent face wrinkling and prevents skin sagging. It is widely used in soaps, creams and lotions. 
• Contains 50% Luaric acid which helps prevent various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. 
• Aides in digestion and helps to prevent  various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. 
• Aides in the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the body.  
• Strengthens the immune system by helping to fight off  viruses and bacteria causing diseases.  
• Facilitates the absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body, which helps with strong teeth and bones. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.
• Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
• Anti Oxidant - protects against free radicals.
• Anti-parasitic - fights to rid the body of lice, tapeworms and other parasites. 
• Anti-inflammatory - appears to suppress inflammation and repair tissue. It may also contribute to inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation. 

Types of Coconut Oil:

• Virgin (unrefined) coconut oil tastes and smells like coconut and is great for cooking and baking where you want that flavor. Unrefined coconut oil has the most nutritional value and is superior to refined oil.
• Expeller pressed (refined) coconut oil can be used for anything. It does not have a coconut smell or taste. It is still beneficial to use but does lose some of it’s health properties during the refining process.

I have only touched on the amazing benefits of Coconut Oil. Look for my follow up post on the uses of Coconut Oil.

What is your favorite way to use Coconut Oil?