{tipsy tuesday}

What can't you do do with Coconut oil?? 

Well... I'm not really sure but there is so much you can do with it!
It's: natural, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-viral, and an antioxidant! It is said to have many health benefits too! READ THIS BLOG about that!

according to wikipedia:  "Coconut oil is very heat-stable, which makes it suited to methods of cooking at high temperatures like frying. Because of its stability, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years owing to the high saturated fat content."

But buyer beware!.... not all coconut oils are created equal...the good stuff is the virgin or extra virgin UNREFINED stuff.. (this basically means it is in its natural state and has not been chemically changed with heat methods etc.) I use the Garden of Life brand. I like to shop local and get it at our local health food store...however, I've heard that the cheapest you can find it is at Trader Joe's.

THIS BLOGGER has definitely done her research! Follow the link to her post on coconut oil...it's a great read with a wealth of information including 333 uses for coconut oil!!

I'm going to share with you ways I personally use it and have great results.

Before I do here's a quick tip:
Coconut oil will be solid at room temperature & will liquefy at higher room temp temperatures.

(Coconut oil has a high amount of saturated fatty acids.... and so it has a high melting point. Above 76 degrees ....coconut oil is a colorless liquid. Below this temperature it solidifies into a pure white solid)  Therefore,  your body heat is enough to liquefy solid coconut oil
(don't believe me?... just rub a bit between your fingers and watch it turn into a drip....

Because  there’s no need to melt it  in the microwave (which could possibly change the chemistry and eliminate any benefits.... etc)
 

....if you need to melt some: (of course if you are cooking with it just throw it into the pan.) my suggestion is to put some into a shot glass and then dip that shot glass into hot water until melted.

You can also do a zip-lock baggie...and I have before .... only I really can't help but think about the plastics that may leach into this natural wonder stuff... so get creative and use glass when you can.

 

 

 

how I use coconut oil....

 

~ I eat it on toast instead of butter! it's so yummy!

~ I use as an after shower moisturizer...sometimes I'll add an essential oil such as lavender to it.
Here's a tip: a little goes a LONG way.. it feels a little greasy at first like baby oil (which I hate)...but it absorbs really quickly, and leaves my skins glowing and soft.
side note: my daughter has always had eczema  and as soon as we started using this regularly her symptoms went away.

~use coconut oil place of other oils to cook. It's especially great tasting with veggies!

~I drop a tablespoon into hot tea along with some local honey to soothe a sore throat.

~mixed with baking soda and spearmint oil it makes a refreshing tooth paste.

~use it for diaper rash cream

~had amazing results using it instead of lanolin as a nursing mother.

~a personal lubricant (yes...that kind.. ;) It works better than the usual brand without all the chemicals...
side note: I 'm not sure if it's been tested to work safely with latex, spermicides etc.

~mix with peppermint oil, lemon balm, rosemary and water...put into a spray bottle to use as an insect repellent

~I use it as a lip balm for dry or chapped lips...you can also whisk in a little Crystal Light powder to make a lip stain.

~use as a hot oil treatment....put a few tablespoons in a shot glass and dip to heat  in a coffee cup of hot water....apply to dry hair, leave in as long as possible and then shampoo as normal.

~use to tame frizz and fly-aways by rubbing a tiny bit on your palms and apply to your hair staying away from the roots the style as normal. I do this most mornings.

~makes a killer eye-make-up remover.... just dab a little on your eyes and wipe-off with cotton pads like usual...... I swear when I use it regularly this way my lashes get thicker!
hint: dab a bit to the delicate parts under your eyes when done and sleep in it for a night-time anti-aging eye treatment.

~dab a small amount onto burns. bites, and cuts... to help aid in less itching/quicker healing.

~used to oil my pans and baking dishes instead of PAM spray....and to "season" cast iron and butcher block.

~use as a cuticle cream by massaging into and around the nail bed.

~use it to calm a poison ivy itch...cause you know, I get it a few times a year ! & I swear that it clears it up faster too!

~use it to soothe and heal a sunburn


I know there are more... because I use this stuff almost everyday... I would love to hear your suggestions/ uses.... leave me a comment....perhaps we will re-visit coconut again on Tipsy Tuesday!?...


xoxo
Dejah