The Amazing Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

I was asked to do an article on coconut oil the other week on my facebook page. I have not really used this oil before, except in making my products, so I was really happy to discover another healthy oil that I can incorporate into my families diet.

There is a LOT of information on the benefits of coconut oil available on the internet and I have chosen the following to share with you on things about it that interested ME about this oil. Please note before we begin that if you are allergic to coconut, then it’s also likely that you will not have a good experience using coconut oil, so please consult your doctor before using it on your skin or in your food.

Coconut Oil is full of Vitamin E and fatty acids (Lauric, Myristic, Capric and more). These are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidising and these properties are what makes is so good for us to use in a wide variety of applications. These properties boost our immune system and helps us to heal viruses like herpes, influenza and candida.

Coconut oil can be easily found in most local shops, health food stores or pharmacies, but if you can’t find any near you, it is also available for purchase online. When you are buying coconut oil you want to make sure you are getting a good quality one, so look for a pure virgin or extra-virgin, non-hydrogenated oil that has been cold pressed and if possible an organic brand.

DID YOU KNOW: If your coconut oil hardens, simply pop the bottle into a warm water bath to melt it for use, or if you have a jar of it, simply remove a bit by spoon and it will quickly melt in your hands with the warmth of your skin, similar to  shea butter. You also only need to use a very small amount as a little goes a long way!

You don’t need any special storage instructions for coconut oil, it has an approximate 2 year shelf life so just keep it in its original container in a cool, dark place like your pantry.

Coconut oil is also a great oil to use in your diet for so many reasons – SOME of which are the following:

Coconut oil contains medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFA) and this basically means that it is a healthy saturated fat compared to the ‘trans’ fat and that when we eat these healthy fats, our livers metabolise them and immediately converts them into energy, not fat.

Coconut oil is easy to digest and protects the body from insulin resistance as well, which makes it useful to help control your weight and keep you healthy.

Coconut oil is also beneficial to you if you have any digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome. This is because the fatty acids in the coconut oil contain anti microbial properties.

Recent research (a study by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research) has also found that coconut oil can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by protecting us against insulin resistance.

 

DID YOU KNOW: that coconut oil is hydrating for your skin? By applying virgin coconut oil daily directly to your skin you help it to keep your skins connective tissues strong and this in turn helps to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin.

Coconut oil is wonderful for our hair as well - If your hair is dry or damaged just massage some coconut oil into the damaged ends of your hair 30 minutes before showering.

If you want glossy hair or want to stop your hair being frizzy just put a few drops of coconut oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together and then lightly wipe them over your hair. Do this after you have washed and dried your hair how you like it.

 

You can rub coconut oil into areas affected by eczema, psoriasis, extreme dryness or rashes daily to help soothe and heal.

You can apply coconut oil twice a day to help heal and soothe athletes foot and nail fungus. Simply make sure the area is covered well with coconut oil.

Here is a list of things we found online at http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/ under the heading Coconut In Modern Medicine. I thought it best to put the link here with the blog so people could go and read even more in depth into what coconut oil is good for.

·    Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.

·    Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.

·    Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.

·    Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.

·    Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

·    Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

·    Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

·    Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.

·    Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.

·    Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.

·    Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.

·    Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

·    Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.

·    Helps protect against osteoporosis.

·    Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

·    Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.

·    Improves digestion and bowel function.

·    Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

·    Reduces inflammation.

·    Supports tissue healing and repair.

·    Supports and aids immune system function.

·    Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

·    Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.

·    Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.

·    Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.

·    Functions as a protective antioxidant.

·    Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.

·    Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.

·    Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.

·    Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

·    Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).

·    Reduces epileptic seizures.

·    Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.

·    Dissolves kidney stones.

·    Helps prevent liver disease.

·    Is lower in calories than all other fats.

·    Supports thyroid function.

·    Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.

·    Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.

·    Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.

·    Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

·    Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

·    Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.

·    Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.

·    Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.

·    Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.

·    Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

·    Helps control dandruff.

·    Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.

·    Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.

·    Is completely non-toxic to humans.

 

This is a really comprehensive list of things that coconut oil can help us with in our lives if we wanted to use it. I am in awe of this humble oil. Before today I really had NO idea of the benefits of coconut oil besides being a fantastic oil for soapmaking!

Just before we go here is our last little bit of information on coconut oil. If you are not used to having coconut oil in your diet and would like to start using it and reaping the rewards, its best to start with a small amount and work your way up to avoid unwanted effects, like diarrhea. A common amount of coconut oil suggested for an adult is around 3 ½ tablespoons a day, but remember when you are starting out with it, it’s best to start slowly a little bit at a time and spread that amount out during the course of the whole day, not take it in one hit.

I have also had permission from the lovely Jessica at www.deliciousobsessions.com to post her wonderful and visual charts for coconut use. I have printed these out and put them on my fridge now to help me learn to incorporate coconut oil into my own families diet. Thank you Jessica and I would like to also send you a bar of luscious handmade soap (made with coconut oil of course!) to enjoy as a thank you for sharing your wonderful charts with us here at Bodelicious Ramblings. Here are the charts for you to print out or save. Included in these charts are the benefits for those with animals!

 

 

 

 

 

If you are having trouble reading these charts you can download them here: http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/09/coconut-oil-uses-new-images/


I hope you have enjoyed our little delve into coconut oil and I thank Terri-Anne for asking me to do a post on it. Terri-Anne, to say thank you for asking me to do this blog post I would like to send you out a bar of soap that has coconut oil in it! Let me know your address so I can pop that in the mail for you! Here is one way that Terri-Anne likes to use her coconut oil..she says..."...I use it for lots of stuff!
It is great for oil pulling. (http://oilpulling.com/oilpullingmethod.htm)
I also use it as a moisturiser, and melt a couple of tablespoons down to use as a conditioner in my hair.
I also make a beeswax & calendula salve with a few tablespoons of coconut oil. That's great for nappy rash.
We also use it on burns and stings. Just a little dab of it directly on the wound.

I've also heard it's great for ear infections, but I haven't tried that out. Worth looking in to though.

Oh and rubbed directly on to a teething baby's gums.

 

I would be very interested if anyone else out there is using coconut oil and in what applications..if you would like to share, we would love to hear from you!

 

Take care and stay safe –

 

Amanda xox