7.03.2012

Coconut Oil: is there anything it can't do?

I'm turning into the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," except instead of using Windex as a cure-all, I'm using coconut oil. I swear to you, if the only two beauty products I could use for the rest of my life were Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap & coconut oil, I'd be all set. Oh and maybe mascara, 'cause it makes my eyes pop.


[We use this kind for Flynn, found here]
I already blogged about it being one of the awesome ingredients in Flynn's homemade formula, and it's also become a popular substitute for other oils & butter in cooking recently. The banana bread recipe I make calls for 1/2 cup of canola oil, but I use 1/2 cup coconut oil instead and it tastes great. At room temperature, coconut oil is not a liquid. Don't let this throw you off. If you need it to be a liquid, microwave it for 10 seconds or let it sit on the oven as you preheat it. 

Apparently there are well over 100 uses for coconut oil, according to this website. So far, I cook & bake with it, add it to fruit smoothies, use it as lip balm and on dry skin, and last night I slathered my face with it because my adult acne (ugh) is back with a vengeance. Pregnancy hormones were kind to me and my face was flawless for 9 months. Not anymore.

[We buy this kind for everyday use, available at most grocery stores]
Here are some of the amazing ways coconut oil can be used. I can't wait to try them!
  • The base for a homemade body scrub
  • Nutritious addition to dog or cat food
  • Apply to your underarms as a natural deodorant
  • Use in place of shaving cream
  • Make-up remover
  • Apply to cuts/burns to speed healing
  • Use on baby's diaper rash & cradle cap
  • Mix with baking soda & use as a natural "goo gone"
  • Use instead of WD-40
  • Eating a few spoonfuls a day will help: increase milk flow in nursing moms, digestion, overall immune function, thyroid function, boost energy
  • Guitar string lubricant (gotta tell my husband, who just joined a new band)
  • Helps pimples & acne (uh, yes please!)
  • Mix with baking soda as a facial scrub
  • Lice treatment (hope I don't have to deal with this for a few more years)
  • Prevents stretchmarks during pregnancy
  • Massage into scalp for a dandruff treatment
  • Non-toxic flea treatment
  • Ear infections: add a few drops in the ear at the first sign
  • Soothes pink eye infections
  • Use it to clean the inside of your dogs ears (trying this ASAP! Indy's ears are always dirty)
[You're going to put WHAT in my ears?]
This wasn't on the list, but I think it would make a great nipple butter for nursing moms. It's soothing and it's a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal (thrush!). I have to remember that next time around.

Do you use coconut oil? If so, what's your favorite use for this tropical wonder?

2 comments:

  1. Oh I will have to try this for the WD40!

    I used ghee on the ladies when they were taking a hard hit from nursing in the winter, but I think coconut oil would have worked wonders as well.

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  2. I just googled "is there anything that coconut oil can't do?" and your blog post was the first hit! :-D I've been using it in my hair for a few months (as a kind of conditioner / styling product), and I use it on my skin as well, and I cook and bake with it, but the latest thing... I have recurring yeast infections, and apparently you can use coconut oil (internally and externally). I feel better already. So yeah, there's pretty much nothing this stuff can't do.

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