In the past, I had regularly used vegetable and olive oils for all of my cooking needs. Then in 2014, I started a Paleo lifestyle and everyone was raving about coconut oil. When I bought my first container of coconut oil, I had no idea what to do with it. Since buying that tiny jar of coconut oil, I have found a plethora of uses for this remarkable superfood.
Coconut oil is such an incredibly item to always keep in your home.
The healthy fat in coconut oil encompasses a host of health benefits. Coconut oil has medium-chain triglycerides that are shorter than those found in animal fats, which means the body quickly metabolizes coconut oil and does not store it as fat in the body. In fact, coconut oil is can fight off bacteria and viruses, as well as aid in healthy digestion and increased energy.
The unique fat content in coconut oil makes it a particularly valuable tool for your health and wellness. Here are a few practical tips–from health to home–for getting the most from coconut oil.
In the Kitchen
1. Great for baking, stir-fry’s or as a dairy-free replacement to butter.
2. As a dairy-free coffee creamer
3. In homemade healthy Mayonnaise
4. As a replacement for vegetable oils in any recipe
5. Foeasy-whole30paleo-mayonnaise/homemadr deep-frying, better for high-temperature cooking than olive or vegetable oils
6. Pop your popcorn on the stove with coconut vs. traditional vegetable oils
7. Mix with butter and toss your popcorn in it.
General Health and Wellness
8. To help with heartburn, acid reflux, or indigestion.
9. To support healthy thyroid function.
10. To help with allergy symptoms, if taken daily.
11. To increase mental alertness, if taken daily.
12. To help digestion and kills intestinal parasites or yeast.
13. To improve insulin levels.
14. To improve cholesterol ratios.
15. To help lessen arthritis.
16. To help improve sleep, if taken daily.
17. To speed healing of fungal infections when taken internally and used externally.
18. To increase absorption of calcium and magnesium.
19. To help with depression and anxiety.
20. To topically relieve hemorrhoid pain.
21. To boost circulation.
22. To give smoothies a nutritional boost.
23. To help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
24. To help improve digestion, if taken before a meal.
25. To help improve absorption, if taken together.
Energy
26. As an immediate source of energy that is not stored as fat.
27. Mixed with chia seeds for an all-day energy boost.
Women’s Health
28. To boost hormone production, if taken daily.
29. To speed recovery from UTIs, when consumed and externally applied.
30. To help give baby necessary fats for development during pregnancy.
31. To heal after birth when applied on the perineum .
32. Nursing moms can take 4 tablespoons daily to increase milk supply.
33. To help speed healing of vaginal yeast infections, when consumed and externally applied.
34. As a natural personal lubricant that does not disturb vaginal flora (Not safe for latex).
Babies
35. To help keep meconium from sticking to a newborn’s bottom skin.
36. To help soothe mom’s nipple s (instead of Lanolin cream) and baby’s mouth to help treat thrush.
37. As a diaper cream (safe for cloth and disposable diapers).
38. To rid baby of cradle cap. Massage into head, leave on for 5 minutes and gently rinse in a circular motion with a warm wash cloth.
39. As a natural baby lotion.
40. As a carrier oil for homemade baby wipes.
Kids
41. As a natural head lice treatment when mixed with apple cider vinegar.
42. To help speed ear infection healing.
43. As a natural bug repellent when mixed with rosemary or mint essential oils.
44. To help with Autism and ADHD.
Skin: Body
45. On the skin as an essential skin lotion.
46. As a natural SPF 4 sunscreen.
47. To help topically kill yeast or yeast infections.
48. As a tropical massage oil.
49. To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
50. To help skin heal faster after injury or infection, when applied topically.
51. To help ease dry, flaky elbows.
52. To fight athlete’s foot or tor fungus.
53. To help reduce appearance of varicose veins.
54. To help speed healing of sunburn.
55. As a natural antibacterial skin cream.
56. As a natural shave cream for face and body.
57. As an after shave lotion.
58. To help get rid of cellulite.
59. To reduce the itch of mosquito bites.
60. To help decrease acne, when used regularly.
61. As a natural deodorant.
62. As a natural whitening toothpaste.
63. To speed up healing from skin cuts and burns.
64. To help with healing a new tattoo.
65. As an after shower bath oil.
Skin: Face
66. To help prevent wrinkles and sagging on the delicate tissue around the eyes.
67. As a natural lip balm.
68. As a concentrated nighttime facial moisturizer.
69. As an anti-aging facial moisturizer.
70. To help naturally clear up cold sores.
71. As an eye-makeup remover.
72. To help lighten age spots used topically.
73. To help sooth psoriasis and eczema.
74. To strengthen eyelashes. Brush or rub on eyelashes
75. To help heal an eyelid sty.
Skin: Hands and Feet
76. To remove dry skin on feet when mixed with salt.
77. As a cuticle moisturizer to help nails grow.
78. To help with/avoid dry skin on hands after doing dishes.
79. To soothe and prevent hangnails and ingrown nails.
Hair
80. To help control frizz
81. As an intensive natural hair conditioner
82. To help stimulate hair growth, when rubbed into scalp daily
83. To decrease split ends
Pets
84. To help with skin issues when used externally.
85. To help balance good to bad bacteria issue.
86. To help with arthritis, joint/ligament problems, digestion issues, and weight control.
87. As a non-toxic flea treatment.
88. To help clean the inside of a dog’s ears.
Weight Loss
89. To help speed weight loss, when consumed daily.
90. To help boost metabolism.
91. To help detox the body during a cleanse/fast.
92. To help curb your appetite, when taken 20 minutes before a meal.
Illness
93. In hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu.
94. To help soothe a sore throat
95. To help soothe the itch of chicken pox, poison ivy, shingles, or other rashes or skin irritations.
96. As a carrier oil in homemade vapor rub.
97. To help ease allergy symptoms, when rubbed on the inside of the nose.
98. To help treat ringworm.
99. To help soften and pass kidney stones.
In the Home
100. To season cast iron skillets.
101. To soften and condition real leather (must be shiny leather).
102. To condition your wooden/butcher block cutting boards.
103. As a non-toxic “Goo Gone” when mixed with baking soda.
104. As a metal polish (test a small area first).
105. To oil pans and baking dishes instead of cooking spray.
106. As a non-toxic WD-40.
107. As a furniture polish when mixed with a few drops of fresh lemon juice (always test a small area first).
108. To lubricate kitchen scissors when cutting sticky foods.
109. As a non-toxic leaf shine.
110. To remove chewing gum from furniture, carpet, hair.
Other
111. As a mascara brush cleaner.
112. In place of mineral spirits to clean oil-based paints off of hands and brushes.
113. To detail the inside of your car.
114. To keep car door locks from freezing in the winter. Place a dab over the key hole.
115. As a lubricant on small motors/electronics.
Nice article! Crazy how many benefits there are to using coconut oil. I knew there were a few but I was surprised to see so many in this list. Great stuff!