30 Uses for Coconut Oil

I’ve mentioned Coconut Oil in a couple of different posts this week, and it really is an amazing substance. So beyond Making Your Own Deodorant and oil pulling, what are some other uses for this incredible oil?

1. Coconut oil is great as a cooking oil. It has a high smoke point, and can be used in baking, stir frys, and deep frying.
2. It can be used as a dairy free replacement to butter/margarine.
3. It can be used in place of vegetable oil in any recipe.
4. It’s an immediate source of energy when eaten, and isn’t stored in the body as fat.
5. Coconut oil can be used to season cast iron skillets.
6. Soothe a sore throat and cold symptoms by dissolving a tablespoon in warm tea.
7. Consuming a tablespoon of coconut oil before each meal can help improve digestion.
8. It can be added to smoothies to give them a nutritional boost.
9. Daily ingestion of coconut oil can help alleviate allergy symptoms.
10. Rub it into your skin as a basic lotion.
11. As mentioned above, it can be used in homemade deodorant.
12. Can help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy when rubbed on the belly.
13. Coconut oil can be used as a night time moisturizer.
14. It can be rubbed on your lips as a natural chapstick and to clear up cold sores.
15. Coconut oil applied to the skin acts as a natural SPF 4 sunscreen.
16. It can help heal a sunburn (after the initial heat of the burn is gone).
17. It can reduce the itch of insect bites, chicken pox, or poison ivy.
18. It can soothe irritated skin caused by eczema or psoriasis.
19. It can improve general oral health through oil pulling.
20. Coconut oil can be used by itself, or combined with baking soda, as a naturally whitening toothpaste.
21. Mix a small amount with salt and rub on feet to remove dry skin.
22. Consumption of coconut oil can improve insulin levels.
23. It has been shown to increase the level of absorption of calcium and magnesium.
24. A tiny amount rubbed on hands, and then run through hair can help reduce frizz.
25. When mixed with an equal part of sugar it can be used as a body scrub in the shower.
26. Nursing moms can take 3-4 tablespoons a day to help increase milk supply.
27. Coconut oil can be used in place of lanolin cream for nursing mothers.
28. It can be used on mom, and in baby’s mouth to treat thrush.
29. It can be used as a cloth diaper safe diaper cream, simply rub on baby’s bum.
30. Coconut oil can help remove cradle cap – massage the oil into baby’s head, and rinse with a warm washcloth.

There are numerous other uses, but this will give you an idea of how truly versatile this oil is! Try it out for yourself!!

Adventures in Oil Pulling

I first heard of oil pulling a couple of months ago, when an internet search brought up the unrelated topic of oil pulling. Intrigued, I read the information that appeared in my search, and then thirsting for more information I searched for more information about this curious phenomenon. After much reading, I decided that there wouldn’t be any harm in trying it myself, but I was skeptical of the reported results.

A Brief History of Oil Pulling:
Oil pulling has been a practice in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, but became much more common in the United States after the 1992 report by Dr. F. Karach, MD in which he stated that the act of oil pulling cured him of a blood disease that he had been battling for years. During his study, Dr. Karach noted that oil has healing properties that can treat many medical ailments.

What is Oil Pulling?
Quite simply, oil pulling is the act of rinsing your mouth with oil. Various types of oil can be used effectively; the most common oils used in oil pulling are sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil has become a more common oil for use due to its naturally occurring anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties (and the fact that it tastes better than other oils).

How it works:
Bacteria build up on your teeth makes your gums more prone to infection and inflammation. Overtime if left untreated, this infection and inflammation can eat away at your gums and bone structure. This gum disease is known as periodontis. Periodontis has been linked with diabetes, heart disease, increased pain for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, worsening lung conditions (thought to be caused by the increase in bacteria in the lungs for those suffering from pneumonia or ailments such as COPD), and during pregnancy periodontis has been linked to low-birth weight babies.

Your mouth is teeming with bacteria, some of which are beneficial and some of which are not. While oil pulling, the bacteria in your mouth become trapped in the liquid oil. In the most basic sense, the act of oil pulling is done to remove bacteria from your mouth. Many sites state that other toxins are pulled from your body and become trapped in the oil as well, though I find that more difficult to believe.

Studies regarding oil pulling:
In a study published in 2008 that followed 20 adolescent boys, oil pulling was found to significantly reduce the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans (the primary cause for plaque build up and tooth decay) in as little as two weeks.

Another study, again using 20 adolescents, found that oil pulling greatly reduced all of the markers for halitosis (bad breath), and was just as effective as a chlorhexidine mouthwash.

How is Oil Pulling done?
The act of oil pulling is quite simple.
1. Put about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil in your mouth.
2. Gently swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, pulling it back and forth through your teeth.
3. Spit out the oil. (Note: if using coconut oil, or any oil that is a solid at room temperature, you will want to spit into the trash, and not down a sink drain. The oil can resolidify in your pipes and cause a blockage)
4. Rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

My experience with Oil Pulling:
I’ve been Oil Pulling for a couple of weeks now. I do my Oil Pulling while I’m showering in the morning, it’s the part of my day where I’m least likely to be interrupted by the demands of my family. As I mentioned in the opening of this article, I was skeptical in regards to Oil Pulling. I went into this “experiment” fully expecting that it would fail, but I had nothing to lose by trying.

The results were almost immediate. After my first session of oil pulling I was amazed at how clean my mouth and teeth felt. The clean feeling lasted the entire day. My breath was fresher, and my teeth just felt cleaner. Having done it for a couple of weeks now, it’s become a part of my morning ritual. My gums feel tighter (not that they felt loose before, but they feel healthier now), my teeth feel clean all day, and flossing is not nearly as daunting as it had been.

While I’m still not convinced that Oil Pulling is capable of curing cancer, AIDS, or kidney disease by itself, I am convinced that it does have great benefits for one’s oral health.

I am not a runner...

I haven’t run “for fun” since high-school. In fact in recent years, the only time I run is because I’m chasing after a wayward toddler, or being chased by a big scary insect. For the past two years, my New Year’s Resolutions have included getting back into running, yet I haven’t. I even went so far as to buy some super comfy running shoes last summer, in hopes that they would inspire me to move. The shoes didn’t do it though, they just sat there looking at me longingly, and I ignored them.

I’m inspired now though. Unfortunately, it took a semi-scary diagnosis of pre-diabetes to inspire me. A visit to my doctor for routine blood tests revealed that my fasting glucose was borderline diabetic. I have a follow up appointment in three months to retest, and hopefully remove that diagnosis from my charts. In the meantime, I’m tracking my blood sugar levels, and trying to get more exercise. That’s where the latest attempt at running comes in.

Why running? Well, the weather is nice this time of year, and it’s free. I already invested in the shoes, and really, what more do I need (aside from the motivation to actually get out there and do it)? Running at home is near impossible; we live on a main route with traffic traveling between 50-70mph, and no shoulder to run on. However, since we spend the majority of our weekends during the summer at my in-laws’ camp, where traffic is a non-issue, I thought I would give it a try while we were there on vacation.

Admittedly, I had grand intentions of lacing up my running shoes and running every morning. It didn't quite work out that way though, and finally with only two days left of our vacation, I made myself get out of bed before the rest of the family and with much anticipation laced up my shoes. There is something amazing about toddler intuition though, since my son decided to wake up at 6:30 that morning, just as I was approaching the door to leave. My run temporarily thwarted, I snuggled with the little guy on the couch and watched an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. When my in laws later awoke, I pawned the dear boy off on them, and snuck out of the house quickly before another obstacle had a chance to get in my way.

My feet hit the pavement, and I was off! Granted, I wasn't breaking any land-speed records, nor was I able to run the entire two and a half miles that I set out to accomplish, but I did run nearly two-thirds of it, which I deemed a huge success!

I'm by no means ready to run a marathon, but it felt great to run again, and it makes me wonder why I ever stopped. It's unfortunate that it took a scare at the doctor's office to get me out there again, but I look forward to my next visit to camp, and the opportunity to work on my running. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for the stationary bike, and chasing my children.