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MyFitnessPal Community

Coconut oil

pamwhite712

I bought some organic coconut oil today for my skin and hair. While googling it, I came across an article on the Huffington post which claimed, among other things, that consuming coconut oil would boost your metabolism. Of course it didn't say how much you would need to consume?

Anyone heard anything like this? Or is it another fairy tale?

Replies

BigGuy47

I saw someone on GMA the other day talking about using it as a moisturizer for your face! I'm scared to try it, though. I'm afraid it will make me break out.

My face gets really dry in the winter. I've been putting on my face everyother day for about six weeks now and so far it has really helped with the dry skin. I plan on continuing the experiment for another month or two.

For cooking, I use it when frying eggs and on rare ocassions I have put some in my morning coffee.

eyeshuh

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

absoluttif1

My face gets really dry in the winter. I've been putting on my face everyother day for about six weeks now and so far it has really helped with the dry skin. I plan on continuing the experiment for another month or two.

Where do you get it? What type/brand?

EEpling89

When I ate coconut oil mixed in with oatmeal, I was violently ill for the rest of the day. No, I don't have a coconut allergy and I actually love eating coconut in other forms. But something about the oil just didn't agree with me.

BUT ... I use it as a facial moisturizer when I get out of the shower and it makes my makeup go on super smooth and doesn't break me out.

BigGuy47

I found it in the health food aisle at Kroger. Spectrum Virgin Coconut Oil.

I also think Nutivia sells coconut oil online if you can't find it locally.

pamwhite712

I bought mine at Walmart, of all places- the Spectrum brand.

Danielle_2013

Yup! I will never use another lotion again. I use coconut oit all over my body including face sometimes, and hair only at night (my hair is very fine). My skin is SO much softer than ever before. I actually get compliments on how soft my skin is. I always thought I had quite rough skin..so apparently it is working!

Make sure you get the most pure kind with no additional chemicals or ingredients.

leopardjunkie

i use it for my facewash, face scrub with baking soda, use it for shaving my legs with sugar (softest shave you will ever get!), face and body lotion, and I mix it with tea tree oil and ground oatmeal for exzema

oh and great on cuticles and as lip gloss and for hair , if you have kids it does wonders on cradle cap and diaper rash!:)

I also keep a jar for pan frying foods like fish or other things that I would use butter for, I prefer it over olive or grape seed oil for flavor. A spoonful in your smoothie will make it super creamy, and in your coffee is a treat

ha ha I am a fan.

i have actually had less break outs since starting with coconut oil as a face scrub, wash and lotion, I use it to clean my face right after working out even...even though it sounds crazy. I occasionally get a zit but they are gone way sooner and way less dramatic then in the past with other lotions etc.

if you are buying the right stuff it should have a great fragrant coconut smell and a light coconut taste...very light. my reflexologist told me if it has not taste at all and no scent its not the right stuff

anodyness

No clue about the benefits of increasing your metabolism but I use it occasionally in my morning coffee. Something else to consider is having a little Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar daily.

You put coconut OIL in your coffee?

Sure do, try it

I also put coconut oil in my coffee, pretty much every morning. Add in some almond milk and stevia and it's delightful. Then again, I put butter and oil in everything. It's definitely helped me lose weight, as I'm doing the whole paleo thing and getting healthy sources of fat is essential. I think I should start using it on my skin, though; sounds like a lot of people have had good luck healing dry winter skin with the stuff.

vickilm1976

I put it in my hot cereal at breakfast and also use it as a moisturizer in the winter (apply it while still damp from the shower). I get the organic virgin stuff. I

it.

tracymat

I use it for everything! My nutritionist says that if you wouldn't eat it, then don't put it on your skin since you absorb everything. So I use this as a lotion. I also use it for cooking (I have two separate bottles, one for body, one for cooking). Almost anywhere I would use butter, I use coconut oil instead. Much healthier.

It is also good on exema (Sp?) and many rashes

I saw someone on GMA the other day talking about using it as a moisturizer for your face! I'm scared to try it, though. I'm afraid it will make me break out.

Use Jojoba oil on your face.

pamperedhen

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

Yes, both! I deep moisturize with it 1 per week and when I co~wash every other day I put it in {about dime sized} when it is wet. :flowerforyou:

RavenBeauty87

I use a table spoon on coconut oil a day. I freak out when I forget because it truly has worked for me. Even the days I mess up royally on calories it seems to maintain me. I preach about coconut oil all the time and I can't find one thing bad about it..... well maybe the price but that's my problem

chelledawg14

I use it in my whirly pop popcorn maker that I got for Christmas, but I don't know anything about it.

jknoell

Wow! I'm learning a LOT on here! I've used coconut oil for a lot of recipes and I love it. I always have some on hand. But my father-in-law has had a bad heart attack and his heart doctor said he should NOT consume coconut or coconut oil (assuming b/c of the saturated fats).

Never knew about the uses for coffee and skin! I LOVE coconut-flavored coffee - I will have to try this! Thanks for the suggestion! Also interesting about the skin... I'll have to try that too!

cmrow1

When you use coconut oil for your face as a moisturizer, do you wash it off or just let it dry?

Has it helped anyone with acne?

CrazyTrackLady

I use it for everything! My nutritionist says that if you wouldn't eat it, then don't put it on your skin since you absorb everything. So I use this as a lotion. I also use it for cooking (I have two separate bottles, one for body, one for cooking). Almost anywhere I would use butter, I use coconut oil instead. Much healthier.

It is also good on exema (Sp?) and many rashes

There is a lot of clinical research out there that suggests Emu oil is a fantastic product to use on one's skin. I've been using Emu oil in my face for years, and have used it on eczema, sore joints and cuts.

Emu oil is very transdermal, so it absorbs easily into the skin and does not leave a greasy residue. It also contains some antiseptic/antibacterial properties (kind of like honey) that have proven beneficial with skin issues.

I haven't heard much about coconut oil, but I do like coconut milk. I remember a few years ago when the movie theater butter turned out to be coconut oil, and the critics were bashing it for its high fat content. Now it seems as though they have reversed their condemnation of it and it's now a "safe" food.

Softrbreeze

I use it for everything! My nutritionist says that if you wouldn't eat it, then don't put it on your skin since you absorb everything. So I use this as a lotion. I also use it for cooking (I have two separate bottles, one for body, one for cooking). Almost anywhere I would use butter, I use coconut oil instead. Much healthier.

It is also good on exema (Sp?) and many rashes

I saw someone on GMA the other day talking about using it as a moisturizer for your face! I'm scared to try it, though. I'm afraid it will make me break out.

I use it as an all-over moisturizer, including my face. Haven't had any breakouts from it yet.

cleanjerksnatch

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

Yes, both! I deep moisturize with it 1 per week and when I co~wash every other day I put it in {about dime sized} when it is wet. :flowerforyou:

Thats great. I use it for cooking as well as moisturizer for skin and hair. Someone mentioned apple cider vinegar and I definitely use braggs apple cider vinegar a lot too with cooking as well. Not only that, I use the vinegar to soften my super hardened callous hands whenever I want to give a "soft" (well not that soft but softer) touch as opposed to my normal rigid small rough hands once in a while.
For deodorant I use the salt/mineral which works excellent, vinegar works too but the smell isn't too attractive so I do not use that.

Touchdown73

I've managed to lose 90lbs and use a tablespoon every morning to fry my eggs.

leopardjunkie

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

it works as a great detangler for curly hair on the ends, I don"t use it on the roots, only scalp if needed and not often. but that is my hair type.

Actually I have been using a homade conditioner that consist of apple cider vinegar, food grade aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and honey It helps clean with out stripping and it keep my hair soft and shiny and I can run my finger through it.

and for shampoo about 1x a month I use a mix of baking soda and water that is boiled and cooled

and then I rinse with cool water not hot. my hair is in great shape and unless the humidity is horribly high it is way less frizzy

I have been doing this for about 2 1/2 years and am finally happy with my curly hair.

eyeshuh

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

Yes, both! I deep moisturize with it 1 per week and when I co~wash every other day I put it in {about dime sized} when it is wet. :flowerforyou:

Thank you!! I am going to have to try it! I have not taken good care of my poor curls. >.<

leopardjunkie

I didn't see it on Dr Oz, I was shown the book by a friend - the recipies are good and if you do the smoothie recipie it tastes great - I use coconut oil in place of regular oil when cooking - cakes turn out alot moister and even when grilling or frying chicken the meat isn't full of oil when you fry with a coconut oil in the pan.
coconut oil is a triple chain fatty acid so it is broken down more readily for energy .

The mostly used polyunsaturated oils such as soybean, corn, grapeseed, cottonseed, safflower, etc, are the least healthy for cooking or baking.

heres a website with some more information including peer reviewed research
http://coconutoil.com/peer_reviewed/

do you warm up the oil to liquid state then for use in cakes and then measure the same as you would vegetable oil?

Confuzzled4ever

Uses for Cocnout oil..

1. Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.
2. Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags, and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.
3. Preshave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.
4. Aftershave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores.
5. Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!
6. Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment – use as a leave in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.
7. Hair Gel/Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).
8. Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.
9. Make up remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!
10. Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!
11. Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!
12. Lubricant – it is an all natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!
13. Sunscreen – see my post on natural sunscreen for more detailed information.
14. Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.
15. Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore, or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.
16. Diaper salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.
17. Cradle cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.
18. Body scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.
19. 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.
20. Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.
21. Skin problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
22. Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.

General Health and Wellness

23. Stress Relief – 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme hotness and extreme coldness. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.
27. For breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich your milk supply.
28. Helps with weight loss & controlling cravings.
29. Helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings in those with diabetes.

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when taken internally)

30. Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, some don’t
31. Skin problems
32. Toenail fungus
33. Hot flashes
34. Bleeding hemorrhoids (can also be applied externally twice a day)
35. HIV
36. Head lice
37. Improvements in menstruation regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow
38. Migraines (with regular use)
39. Mononucleosis
40. Parasites
41. Thrush
42. Relieve gallbladder pain
43. Has helped some people improve symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal
44. Energy boost
45. Flaky, dry skin
46. May relieve acid reflux and indigestion when taken with each meal
47. Adrenal fatigue
48. Alzheimers
49. H. pylori
50. Candida albicans
51. Asthma, even in children
52. Autism
53. Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to HDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol
54. Chronic fatigue
55. Circulation/feeling cold all the time
56. Stronger immune system
57. Mental Clarity
58. Depression
59. Helps with inflammation in Crohns

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when applied topically)

60. Athletes foot
61. Back pain/sore muscles
62. Canker sores
63. Acne
64. Cellulite
65. Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)
66. Genital warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)
67. Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.

Cooking

68. Use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing other oils/butter in recipes with coconut oil.
69. Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in it’s solid form – greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.
70. Replacement for various oils in liquid form – baking, cooking, sautéing, etc.
71. Nutritional supplement – melt and add to smoothies.

Other Uses
72. Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with Deet! Tons safer too.
73. Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.
74. Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.
75. Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!
76. Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.
77. Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.
78. Seasoning animal hide drums
79. Seasoning cookware
80. Moisturizing and cleaning leather products

Seems like a great food and product. Hopefully you have no problem using it up.

angelfish80

I use it as body oil, hair conditioner and yes I use it on my face, just not as much as I put on my body. I have not had an breakout problems....and I have acne.

Mauralc2

There was a very good article about it on Spark People. Basically, they have no findings to support its benefits. I am getting frustrated hearing about a new miracle every week. I don't think any of them work. I do use Krill oil on the advice of my eye doctor. I have very dry eyes and it does seem to help. As for Dr. Oz, I don't pay any attention to him either. I feel he's more involved with being a celebrity than a physician. I was particularly irritated with him after the school shootings in Conn. He has no knowledge of mental illness and it was painfully obvious when he was speaking about it during interviews. He should have declined the interviews, allowing real experts to speak. I actually am making a point here and not going off on Dr Oz. I just feel bad when some new miracle comes along giving false hope to so many. It's worse when some celebrity endorses it.

Safati

Hi, can ypu please share how to use it as deodorent?

eyeshuh

I use coconut oil on my skin {face}, my curly hair, body, my homemade soaps & deodorant, and food! I LOVE IT!:drinker:

Does it help with curly hair? Like, de-frizzing it or just makes hair healthier in general?

it works as a great detangler for curly hair on the ends, I don"t use it on the roots, only scalp if needed and not often. but that is my hair type.

Actually I have been using a homade conditioner that consist of apple cider vinegar, food grade aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and honey It helps clean with out stripping and it keep my hair soft and shiny and I can run my finger through it.

and for shampoo about 1x a month I use a mix of baking soda and water that is boiled and cooled and then I rinse with cool water not hot. my hair is in great shape and unless the humidity is horribly high it is way less frizzy

I have been doing this for about 2 1/2 years and am finally happy with my curly hair.

What are the portions on those? Like, how much of each do you mix?

Softrbreeze

No clue about the benefits of increasing your metabolism but I use it occasionally in my morning coffee. Something else to consider is having a little Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar daily.

What are the benefits of the apple cider vinegar!!?

Definitely look this up because there are more uses than I could possibly cite to you! But basically, it is a great way to make your body more alkaline and therefore more resistant to disease. People use it to increase their immunity, regulate their blood sugar, help clear plaque away from arteries, etc. Cancer cells cannot survive in an alkaline environment, so some people use ACV just for preventative measures. If you use it for that reason, though, please be aware that the best thing you can do to keep your body alkaline is to eat an alkaline diet (lots and fruits and veggies and very little if any animal products).

porcelain_doll

My wife consumes 2tbs/day. One with breakfast and the other with dinner. She was having some joint pain in one of her fingers and one of her hips prior to this and those issues have gone away.

How long after she started doing this did she feel some relief?