http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-healthy-uses-for-coconut-oil.html
6 Healthy Uses for Coconut Oil
Dry skin, a paper cut, maybe even a tummy ache? Try a drop of coconut oil. Offering a myriad of health benefits, coconut oil is affordable, readily available and completely natural. Here are six reasons to give it a try:
1. Skin Care: Wanna look like you just came back from an hour of yoga? Coconut oil works wonders as a moisturizer for all skin types, especially dry skin and aging skin, leaving you refreshed and looking wide-awake. No headstand required! The fat in the oil helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation. Coconut oil can also help with skin problems like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin conditions. In fact, the oil is frequently used in expensive skin care products. Try our easy, inexpensive recipe for a great honey and coconut oil moisturizer.
2. Stress Relief: Long day at the office, kids won’t stop screaming and your dog left a little “present” on your vintage bedspread? Relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
3. Digestion: The saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around. Try this delicious vegan, creamed spinach recipe.
4. Fitness: Coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat, while increasing muscle. Because of this, coconut oil has shot to popularity by being the world’s only natural low-calorie fat. Sign me up!
5. Healing: When applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.
6. Hair Care: $20 hair conditioners? I don’t think so! Coconut oil is one of the most nutritious products you can put on your hair. Massage a bit of the oil onto your scalp and presto – no more dandruff. Since it provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair, it’s used in a ton of over-the-counter hair products anyway. Why not cut to the chase and skip all the unnecessary chemicals? Check out our easy conditioning recipe.
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39 comments
add your comment »I have recently (in the last couple of weeks) suffered from mild-moderate psoriasis of my elbows and cuticles. I'm not sure what brought this about. Possibly the hormones in a new birth control I'm taking, possibly the stress of being in my first semester of grad school. I tried cetaphyl, which soothed the condition temporarily without doing any lasting good. I tried a prescription cream that contained a cortisone/steroid combination, and that did absolutely nothing. I then tried COCONUT OIL. I have been using it for three days now, and the dryness and itching have completely stopped and I SWEAR I see signs that it is healing. I am fairly patient, and as long as I am seeing steady results I will continue to apply coconut oil until it is gone. I believe in this stuff!
M
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i love coconut oil -- use it on my hair and skin. it really works.
thank you for such a great article,
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Great for pet skin problems too. I rubbed some through our cat's fur and the dandruff went away. She loved it - like a little massage!
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Great for pet skin problems too. I rubbed some through our cat's fur and the dandruff went away. She loved it - like a little massage!
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2 weeks ago my granddaughters came to spend some time with us. The oldest has what was diagnosed as "Atopic Dermatitis" several years ago. Summer is horrible for her, she gets spots that look and act like chicken pox but nothing relieves the itch. Her parents had spent $60 on a small tube of prescription treatment and she was getting absolutely no relief.
Being the holistic type I tend to be I immediately got to work.
1 cup coconut oil
I teaspoon Vitamin E oil,
1 teaspoon Tea Tree oil
20 drops of Lavender Essential oil
Mix well and apply as often as needed.
The inflammation disappeared within a couple of hours and by the next morning you could visibly see her skin starting to heal. We keep it in the refrigerator and have been using it for 2 weeks. Her skin looks great and she feels wonderful. We can't wait for her parents to get here and see her skin they were both practically in tears (this has been the worst year yet).
The best part? Its cheap, safe and natural enough that when her little sisters want some too we just say sure no problem. It seems to work wonders on mosquito bites too.
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thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
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thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
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Cocoanut oil, unlike every other type of oil including olive oil, does not burn when reaching high temps, therefore it does not breakdown and does not destroy the good fats.
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Coconut oil is an excellent substitute for going to the dental hygienist and is lots cheaper too!
Recommended is 1 teaspoon, but I can only do 1/4 tsp. Once in the am and once before bed. Swish around mouth for as long as you can 5 - 20 mins spit and brush. It removes plaque and whitens your teeth and also gets rid of the different types of plaque that cause Halitosis and heart problems.
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Oh! I forgot to add a "pinch" of sea salt to my recipe for sweetened coconut milk! Sorry :o)
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