5 Ways to Multi-task with Coconut Oil
Could anything in this world be more wonderful than coconut oil?
(Ok, besides goat cheese, the Silly Goose, & Jesus?)
In all seriousness though, coconut oil definitely tops the list of must-have products on my list.
Coconut oil (and all coconut products, really) have gotten a terrible, though incredibly undeserved, reputation over the last 50 years or so. People freak out over the caloric intake of coconut products, bemoaning and lamenting the saturated fat found in coconut milk and coconut oil.
Truthfully, eating a low-fat diet is one of the worst things you could possibly do for your body (50% of your cell membranes are made up of saturated fatty acids. No healthy fats=a terrible hormone imbalance=all kinds of problems with weight gain, hair loss, or painful or irregular menstrual cycles). Eating healthy saturated fats can actually help you lose weight!
Sally Fallon (of Weston A. Price fame) gives a laundry list of the benefits of saturated fats:
- Provide our cells with necessary stiffness & integrity
- Play a vital role in bone health (at least 50% of your fat intake should be saturated in order for calcium to be absorbed properly)
- Protects our liver from alcohol and toxins (like Tylenol)
- Enhance the immune system
- Protect the heart during times of stress
- Provide antimicrobial properties
It’s also very interesting to note that coconut products contains lauric acid–the same type of fatty acid found in women’s breast milk. Turns out God knows what He’s doing…
So, why is coconut oil so wonderful?
So glad you asked.
Here are 5 reasons I love coconut oil:
1) I cook with it. Coconut oil has a higher heat threshold, making it ideal for higher temperatures. Oils like vegetable oil, canola oil, and even olive oil, can’t handle high heats and will oxidize (i.e. turn rancid) when the temperature gets too high.
2) I moisturize with it. I threw out all my froo-froo smelling lotions when I learned that the majority of the ingredients were carcinogenic. Coconut oil doesn’t have fake colors, fragrances, aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, or sodium laurel sulfate.
It’s also a myth that people with oily skin should not use oil-based beauty products. What really happens is that washing your face too much and using toxic lotions will strip your skin of it’s natural oils, causing it to produce more. Coconut oil will balance your skin’s natural oil production. I no longer deal with an oily face!
3) I use it as a mousse. I tried quite a few natural mousse/gel products for my curly hair, but nothing impressed me. Especially at the price I paid. But coconut oil works better than anything I’ve tried in the past! I don’t use much, mostly focusing on the ends and the top layer to prevent frizz.
4) I protect from sunburn with it. It’s no secret that I don’t wear sunscreen. But I will put on a layer of coconut oil if I’m going to be in the sun for more than an hour or two. This also works with high quality olive oil (but has the potential to look ridiculous if you aren’t a muscular male from the Mediterranean…)
Coconut oil also works wonders for a sunburn. I rarely peel from a sunburn anymore if I apply coconut oil twice a day to the affected area.
5) I use it on scratches, wounds, breakouts & bug bites. Because coconut oil has antimicrobial products, I apply it to any part of my skin that needs to be kept clean in order to heal properly.
You can find coconut oil at pretty much any natural health food store (always get unrefined!). But you’ll find a much better price if you order it online.
So, do you love coconut oil as much as I do? Have you ever even used it before? Maybe you have a new use. Share away!
This post is also linked to Simple Lives Thursday.
Comments are closed.
Brandi
October 11, 2010 at 3:16 pmGreat message. I love coconut oil also… i use it as a lip gloss and I have mixed it along with L-lysine, Vit C , Zinc, and made a lip balm for when I have cold sores.
Lori
October 12, 2010 at 7:36 amThanks Brandi! That's a great idea for cold sores. I have a family member that gets them quite often, so I'll have to pass this along :)
Sense of Home
October 14, 2010 at 8:57 amTerrific ideas for coconut oil, I was only cooking with it, which of course is good, but… I like the idea of using it on cuts, etc. Thanks!
-Brenda
Sarah
October 14, 2010 at 2:00 pmI love coconut oil!! I use it for all the same, except the hair. My sister shared a trick she learned. She puts it in her kids' hair and on their bodies to reduce the toxins absorbed when they are swimming in chlorine.
Lori
October 14, 2010 at 2:05 pmThanks for the comments! I'm glad things like coconut oil can protect us from swimming pool toxicity. As much as I hate chlorine, I love to swim in the summer!
Jenny
October 14, 2010 at 5:07 pmYup…coconut oil has many uses. Your skin will "eat" coconut oil when applied as a moisturizer and can help with weight loss in addition to cooking with it.
Melynda
October 14, 2010 at 8:28 pmGreat information, thanks so much.
crunchy mom
October 14, 2010 at 10:04 pmOOOOH I'm totally trying that on my hair! I have curly frizzy hair too and use a ton of product. KY jelly would work best. I'll have to try the coconut oil! Thanks for sharing today.
xo, Sustainable Eats
Ashley
October 15, 2010 at 2:22 amGreat ideas Lori! I started cooking with the coconut oil, but I'm going to try and incorporate all of these uses as well!
Renee
October 15, 2010 at 5:23 ami've never used coconut oil but i'm going to pick some up next time i go to the store! i'm really interested to see if it will work in my hair–its really thick and wavy and i hate using gel since it makes it feel "crunchy" a lot of times.
Renee
October 15, 2010 at 7:06 amoh and question–do you put the coconut oil in your hair when it is wet or when it is dry?
Lori
October 18, 2010 at 7:46 amIt's true–coconut oil is wonderful! :)
Renee, I usually apply it to wet hair (towel dried though, not sopping wet). You don't want to use too much or risk looking greasy. Just enough to keep the frizz away!
MandyDY
October 18, 2010 at 11:59 amI actually take coconut oil daily…I have the actual coconut oil and if you take that then it is (I believe) two teaspoons a day. I just couldnt take it straight so I got it in pill form and take 4 pills a day. I also drink coconut water…ever heard of it? IT IS WONDERFUL STUFF!! I take it when I am working out or if I am just tired. It is made by ONE and gives you a boost of energy but without all the other gunk in it that Gatorade has in it. I see a rheumatologist once a month for something else going on with me but when I told him I was taking both Coconut oil and drinking coconut water he said DONT STOP it is wonderful for you!
Here is an interesting link out there for everyone on coconut oil…
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
Thanks for the other tips Lori! I am definitely going to try them!!!
Chocho-Banana-Nut Ice Cream (Sugar and Dairy Free, but you won’t miss those) | takeitback.me
December 19, 2010 at 3:09 am[…] On a similar note: Our good friend Lori gives some more info about the glory of the coconut! […]
HaleyLeann
February 16, 2011 at 3:26 pmI have used coconut oil as a substitute for butter while baking. Also, it can be used to help relieve poison ivy irritations.
Rebecca Troelstra
May 24, 2011 at 11:21 amI just read this article last week and started using coconut oil on my eczema. I’ve had eczema for 15 years. So far, it seems to be working! I love how it makes my skin feel, too. I will have to try it in my hair next!
Lori Winter
May 24, 2011 at 11:32 pmThat’s fantastic Rebecca! So glad it’s helping :)
Taking a high quality probiotic supplement can help with eczema as well.
kk
July 31, 2012 at 4:22 pmHave you exprienced breakouts or a healing crisis when you first started using it as a moisturizer? I’m about to become a convert, but I’m also rather scared…
Lori Winter
July 31, 2012 at 4:37 pmI don’t honestly recall that I did! But if you’re looking for more natural remedies to clear up acne and breakouts, you might want to try honey: https://www.laurelofleaves.com/2011/09/honey-face-mask-for-clear-glowing-skin/
Bronwyn
September 2, 2012 at 11:36 pmHi! I was wondering what the benefits of refined coconut oil are. I went to the store today and bought Lou An’s Pure Coconut Oil, but it does not specify whether or not it is refined. Is it still ok to use this for skin?
The Miraculous Coconut Oil | Modern Alternative Kitchen
November 2, 2012 at 2:14 am[…] kitchen pantry, but it’s also always in my bathroom (of all places)! I use coconut oil as a moisturizer, anti-frizz hair gel, make-up remover, and as a mild sunscreen. Don’t forget that whatever you put on your skin […]
Chelsea
January 27, 2013 at 4:12 pmHi Lori-just found your site and love it!! Im changing my lifestyle and going more natural and homeopathic for various life and health reasons. I have been using coconut oil for a while now, but do you have any reccomendations on quality brands? I do use Extra-virgin but wasnt sure is the brand mattered?
Thanks!
Temeka
April 4, 2013 at 12:26 amI love Coconut oil. I use it for deodorant and moisturize with it as well.